>>I tried this in the CHATTER forum, but an absence of response prompts me to re-try here.
>>
>>Keeping in mind:
>>1) Modern Windows systems are multi-tasking systems.
>>2) Windows itself (and its components, like IE) make significant 'quiet' use of your HD space for all manner of files, large and small.
>>3) Other applications (MS Word for example) can use HD space 'quietly' too.
>>4) Modern HDs are fast, processors are faster yet, and RAM is plentiful.
>>... what hard facts are there to back up the axiom (it is essentially an axiom today) that fragmentation is bad?
>>
>>That fragmentation is bad is so prevalent a concept that I must be missing something obvious. What is it?
>>
>>Thanks for any/all input on this issue.
>>Jim Nelson
>
>I just discovered a site with an excellent overview of hard drive technology and an overview of operating systems and file systems: http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/

Thanks Al, it does look promising.
I'll have a read today and probably get back here answering some things.

cheers, and Happy New Year.