Recently, i've been using software to create MP3 files on my Mac. I've heard that this causes the hard drive to become fragmented pretty bad, as well as regular creation and deletion of files. Is it really necessary to defrag the HD and if so does anyone know of a good defragmentation utility for the Mac?

while it is true that file dletion can cause free space fragmentation, the mac HFS file system doesnt use the same metord to find files that windows copmuter does. It does what called a b-tree search. Skipping the details you really dont need to defragment anyway, you arent going to get any significant preformace increase out of any modern computer by doing it, and it can be very hazardous should a failure occur doing the defragmenting. regardless Symantec and Alsoft both make programs to do this

I have a PowerMacintosh 6100/66 with a 350 MB hard disk. After three or four years of frequent creating/deleting I began noticing a slow-down. Bought Symantec's Norton DiskDoctor (or something like that). The computer speeded up significantly, especially at startup. Also the hard disk became much quieter. Have been using Norton regularly for quite some time now, and no problems.

defragmentation is necessary. i am a web designer/ student who does a lot of creating and deleting files. recently, my hd became fragmented to the point of no return-- fortunately, a good computer store in my area was around to save my data. now i use tech tool pro regularly to protect my

You definitely need something like Nortons to defragment. Use Speeddisk in Nortons to Opmitize your Hard Drive.

You know, I can't get Norton System Works to do Speed Disk on the iMac -- it says that there are "system folders" on that drive, so it can't do a defrag. Anyone else managed to get past this hurdle?