Is there ever a need to "defrag" a Mac, or even a way to?

[ssledoux]

I'm wondering where all this downloaded stuff went.

Last night, I stayed up to download the update to my pad during my "free window" of downloads (satellite internet bites). It was 660 mb in when I last looked, but an error came up and said it couldn't be downloaded. HELLOOOOO - you've downloaded 660 mb already, but it can't be downloaded?!?

I unplugged and replugged my router, in case it was a connection issue, then started it again at 3:30 a.m. I let it go and went to bed. This morning, same message.

So now I'm figuring I have this random 1200-1300 mb of stuff just lingering around somewhere. What happens to it? Should I be concerned about it? Or does it NOT go onto my computer at all because it didn't finish, therefore nothing was ever really downloaded?

My poor iPad is STILL without its new software. Of course, my 3 arrives Friday and should already have the new software, but I'm sending the 2 with my dd to Hawaii and wanted to get it updated for her.

[space-time]

you should find the unfinished download file in the Downloads folder, it will have a Safari icon. Not sure why you get those errors, but it sucks. I did some favors years ago when I downloaded soem large files for some MRF fellows on dialup, I don't have time to do this kind of favours these days but maybe you can find someone willing to download and burn a DVD for you.

No need to defrag as I undertsnad it, OS X is pretty good with that.

[Gareth]

iDefrag if you wanted to defrag a Mac, but it isn't going to delete partial downloads (which should show up as a file if it hasn't already been deleted automatically). It'll just optimize the partially downloaded file into one contiguous block of space on the hard drive.

[Lew Zealand]

I've been having problems with Safari breaking occasional large downloads of this size and found that an old copy of Firefox 3.5 works great for this use. Maybe 3.6.x (currently available) will work for you as well.

[haikuman]

"""I'm wondering where all this downloaded stuff went.

Last night, I stayed up to download the update to my pad during my "free window" of downloads (satellite internet bites). It was 660 mb in when I last looked, but an error came up and said it couldn't be downloaded. HELLOOOOO - you've downloaded 660 mb already, but it can't be downloaded?!?

I unplugged and replugged my router, in case it was a connection issue, then started it again at 3:30 a.m. I let it go and went to bed. This morning, same message."""

I think this issue is indicative of a poor connection and possible timeouts.
You could open Network Utility ~>Ping ~>Ping and then keep an eye on
your connection for a while.

As mentioned check your Downloafs File *(:>* The incomplete downloafs are there.
Rudie

[Racer X]

I have used iDefrag and it works fine. I run it from an external FW drive with my back-up on it.

I can tell you beyond a shadow of a doubt that after doing updates from 10.1.5 all the way through 10.3.9 on my B&W G4, that after I ran iDefrag it seemed like a G5 speed wise. HUGE difference in drive speed.

The easiest way to defrag if you have a second drive, is to clone your drive to drive #2, wipe drive #1, and clone drive #2 back onto drive #1. It will do a clean write into one general area.