Best screensaver ever.

[xyzzysqrl]

So, leaving behind that previous post in a damn hurry, I want to ask the more retrotechnical of you folk the following:

Defragmenting.
I used to love to do it. My computer was meticulously, VIOLENTLY defragmented. Why? Because the MSDOS defrag program was fun to watch. A full-screen visual representation of your drive (in ANSI) chugging away, data-segments shuffled around... it was fun to watch. I'd sit and stare at it for hours.

Windows XP defrag? Not so great actually. Dull to watch. No fun at all.

So... does anyone know of a program that'll give me a MSDOS-style or otherwise AWESOME and vaguely hypnotic defragmentation experience?

Comments

[porsupah.livejournal.com]

Weelll.. I did have great fun compacting the drive on my BBC Micro with hard drive. If I went into Mode 7 (Teletext compatible, 24x40 characters, occupying 1K) and let it use all available memory, it'd merrily use the display memory as well - so I'd be treated to this retro-Matrix display of rapidly changing characters as it pulled sectors out for dumping elsewhere. Fascinating light show. ^_^

(Now, I don't even have such a utility)

[xyzzysqrl]

... Admittedly, that's not quite what I'm looking for, but I am fascinated by this concept and would love to see it on video. I always loved the various tricks you could do with old computers. I dimly recall a program I had for the TRS-80 that would change the colors on the video memory randomly, and occasionally cause weird boops and beeps from the onboard sound as it accessed sound memory. And then it would crash, presumably from playing with memory that shouldn't be used.

I loved that program. My father was convinced it was going to make the computer explode, though.

[ionotter.livejournal.com]

SpinRite 6.0, available at GRC.com

It's $99.00, but you'll never spend a more useful and drive-saving program in your life.

[momentrabbit.livejournal.com]

AusLogics Disk Defrag. Free, and very, very bloopy. Strongest Recommendation. :)

[xyzzysqrl]

Very Bloopy is -exactly- what I was fishing for. YESvery. I shall yoink it with haste.

[loiosh-de-talto.livejournal.com]

I miss those displays. The Vista defragger is even MORE boring. It doesn't have any animation or display. Just a simple button and some information.

[austin-dern.livejournal.com]

I think, way back in MS-DOS days, our family relied on Norton Disk Doctor, but that had a satisfying display of the defragmented, the fragmented, and the progress from one to the other. But that only really helps you if you're going to be using your hard drive in 1988 again, I'm afraid.

[relee.livejournal.com]

I don't remember the disk defrag being much different on MS-DOS than it is on Windows XP, except, you know, in lower resolution.

Also it was annoying 'cause it took so long and I wanted to play computer! XD

[xyzzysqrl]

But it was. It would go "NOM NOM NOM." and blocks of data would vanish, and then it would go "PTOO" and blocks of data would appear somewhere else, and it was AWESOME to watch.

The one MomentRabbit pointed at isn't as awesome, but it IS very colorful. I approve vastly.