Optimizing disks

The Vault can be used to optimize disks, that is, to pack files together on consecutive sectors of the disk and to eliminate ``holes". Since the floppies it writes are fully optimized, use Full Copy to copy all files from one floppy to another.

To use The Vault as a hard disk optimizer, first back up the hard disk, then zero it using the hard disk utilities that came with your disk, and then copy all the files back using The Key (the restore program provided with The Vault). This method is more reliable than a special purpose hard disk optimizer. If the power goes out while you are using a disk optimizer you will probably lose all the data on the drive. It is therefore a good idea to back up your hard disk before you optimize! But if you are going to back up anyway, you might as well clear the disk and restore it from the backup set.

You will probably find other uses for The Vault. In the meantime, happy backing!