[RESOLVED] Can You Use your Computer when you ran Defrag or Anti-Virus Scan ?
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Thread: [RESOLVED] Can You Use your Computer when you ran Defrag or Anti-Virus Scan ?

  1. #1
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    Resolved [RESOLVED] Can You Use your Computer when you ran Defrag or Anti-Virus Scan ?

    ok, I know to some this is basic. But of late, I have been pondering about these and the more I search, the more confusing it gets, especially about degrag. I hope maybe there is a definitive answers to the questions on these 2 issues as follows:

    1. Can you use your computer when defrag is running ?
    Some says it is ok to still use your computer when this is running. Others says if defrag is running on C drive, you can still use the drives that is not being defrag, eg. D drive if there are c and D drives on your system.

    There are some who also said it depends on the defrag program as some program allows you to use the computer when the defrag is running. But if you don't know whether the program allows it or not, then should the computer be used when defrag is running ? (Obviously this already assumes that you should not use your computer when defrag is running !).

    So which is correct ?

    2. Can you still use your computer when YOU RUN Anti-Virus/Anti-Malware, as oppose to the SCHEDULE SCAN that you set to run ?

    I have seen answers similar to the defrag question in (1) above. Aslo there are those who said these should be run in SAFE MODE - if you manually run the scan.

    What is the correct answer and best practise ?

    All clarifications and views greatly appreciated.

    Many thanks.
    Last edited by slickcondo; December 18th, 2012 at 12:33 PM.

  2. #2
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    1. It does depend....more to do with writing files to it... Meaning - I wouldn't copy a 2 gig file to the drive while it's in use.

    I generally always avoid using my pc while defrag is running.


    2. Again - it kind of depends.... I run anti virus software as I'm leaving for lunch.

    A typical scan can be run in regular mode... Infected pc - it should be run in safe mode.


    EDIT: Both issues are something you can test on your own machine
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  3. #3
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    Steve R Jones -
    EDIT: Both issues are something you can test on your own machine

    I think you may have misunderstood what I meant or I am not making what I was asking clear enough to be understood after having read your Edit: comment. Sorry about this.

    I can still use my computer - in that it still works as normal, but perhaps a bit slower, while either defrag and/or antivirus is running. But what I meant was if the computer is in use while either of these are running, does the scan give a accurate result since using the computer while these are running may interfer (or would it) with the scanning/defrag process.
    Last edited by slickcondo; December 18th, 2012 at 02:27 PM.

  4. #4
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    Using your computer will slow down the a/v scan and the defrag considerably but the results won't be different. It will just take a lot longer to get there.

    Most defrag programs are designed to pause temporarily while working in the background when the computer is in normal use so as to cause as little disruption as possible but most a/v's will just continue to scan away regardless... so an a/v scan will often cause things to slow down more than a defrag in process.

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    Adding to the previous comments,

    When defragging, any file transfers that you start while doing this may cause more fragmentation, and may cause the defrag program to have to restart, depending on where the new files are put and how large they are. That is one reason why Steve suggested that you defrag at a time when you are not doing anything else on the computer. You can still use the computer while defragging, but the process may take longer.

    When scanning files for malware, again, any new files you transfer to your drive may miss being scanned by the full scan. If you have an active scanner, they might get scanned while being transferrred though. As with defragging, the scanning process may take longer, and may slow down other processes.

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    fink and jd2000 - thanks for your comments. You all seem to say the same and support what each said despite what some said, especially on defrag. Your comments including what Steve said clears up any uncertainties I have.

    What about scanning in Safe Mode. Steve said this should be done if the computer is infected. Does this mean if during regular scan a virus is detected, after the normal scan and the av have deleted the virus, I should run another scan in Safe Mode ?

  7. #7
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    I would scan in safe mode as a last option if the computer does not boot or run in normal mode. If an infection is found in a normal scan and deleted then I would not run a scan in safe mode unless specifically instructed as part of our multi-scanner regime in the intensive care forum for eg... and even then it would be one of the specialty scanners and not a regular installed a/v.

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  8. #8
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    Specialty programs can be a lot different. Nothing to worry about though. The do the trick for what they were designed for neatly.

  9. #9
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    fink - thanks for your comment on Safe Mode scanning. Noted.

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