By John J. Yacono

Once controversial, disk defragmentation utilities have gone mainstream wherever driver performance is paramount. Diskeeper for NT effectively defragments FAT and NTFS (not HPFS) drives in the background.

This utility comes in separate workstation and server editions. The server version lets you defrag a disk across networks. You can defragment manually or on a schedule system that adds defrag events to NT's Application Event log. However, the program's drop-down schedule lists are harder to use than a flexible log-on scheduler such as NT's.

Diskeeper's Exclusion window lets you select the files to defragment or exclude, but its navigation tools are awkward. Once you've identified the defrag area, Diskeeper checks the hard drive status, activating the Fragmentation Monitor to graphically depict defragmentation as it progresses. You can freeze the FM to reduce overhead. One drawback: Remote drive information isn't displayed on either the analysis or Fragmentation Monitor screens.

Defragging across a network can be a powerful tool for the network administrator. Be careful, though; the program can have trouble working with NT 4.0. Executive Software has promised an upgrade soon.

Diskeeper's scheduled nature will make it particularly useful for active servers. It could be a little more user-friendly, flexible and less invasive. But then again, so could NT 3.51.

--Info File--
Diskeeper for Windows NT 1.06
Price: $399, server; $125, workstation
Pros: Works with system online; functions over a network
Cons: Poor user interface; overwrites important files
Platforms: NT 3.51
Disk Space: 2MB (on x86)
RAM: 16MB (server); 12MB (workstation)
Executive Software International
800-829-6468, 818-547-2050
WinMag Box Score: 2.5