Multiple coying at the same time

Question

Level 1

45 points

Multiple coying at the same time

Just curious. When copying multiple large files to one drive at once, is it best to copy them one at a time to eliminate defraging issues, or is it ok to copy all the files at once in multiple finder copy windows? Hope that was clear.

20" Core 2 Duo Imac, 2 gb ram, Mac OS X (10.5.6), ilife 08, FCE 3.5.1

Posted on Apr 20, 2009 1:23 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Camelot

Level 9

54,333 points

Apr 20, 2009 1:32 PM in response to Joe Herth

It shouldn't make any difference. The OS automatically tries to limit fragmentation as files are copied and opened.

Reply

Answer 2

Apr 20, 2009 2:14 PM in response to Joe Herth

Joe,

When you select multiple files, then copy them in one operation, those files are copied sequentially. This eliminates any fragmentation.

When you copy one file at a time, waiting to initiate each successive operation until the first completes, the files are copied sequentially. This, too, eliminates fragmentation.

If you drag files separately but do not wait for the earlier operations to complete, files are copied concurrently, thereby causing fragmentation. This is the only scenario that one would want to avoid.

Scott

Reply

Answer 3

Joe Herth Author

Level 1

45 points

Apr 20, 2009 4:15 PM in response to Scott Radloff

Very good. Thanks for taking the time in clearifying this for me.

Reply