PRESS RELEASE
SSDs are here to stay but need a little TLC says TuneUp
London, November 14, 2011 - TuneUp, the PC optimisation software company, recommends the use of solid state drives (SSDs) to boost performance, but warns users about their potential wear. The company gives some advice on how to prolong the lifespan and achieve better SSD performance: "SSDs are definitely on the rise, but they do need a bit of special care", said Tibor Schiemann, President & Managing Director at TuneUp. "Following a few simple tips should help users to get the best possible performance from them."
Tip one: go straight to Windows 7
If you're using an SSD, avoid Windows XP or Vista - they come from a time when SSDs were not widespread, and are therefore not designed to work with them. XP and Vista, for example, do not support the TRIM command, which is important to boost system performance and lifespans.
Tip two: make sure you've got TRIM turned on
It might sound obvious, but while Windows 7 officially supports TRIM, there have been cases in which it's not enabled (or maybe not supported). To see if TRIM is enabled, open up a command prompt by clicking on the Start button and typing "cmd" into the search bar. Hit Enter. A window should appear with a command prompt. Type in "fsutil behavior query DisableDeleteNotify" and hit Enter. If this returns the result "= 0′′, you're good to go! Otherwise, TRIM isn't supported and needs to be enabled.
Tip three: never defrag your SSD
Defragmentation is one of the more useful steps to keep a mechanical hard disk at its best. However, with SSD, defragmentation is not necessary. Read operations are incredibly fast throughout the entire disk. Thanks to the flash-based nature of SSDs, it simply doesn't matter if data is stored in a non-contiguous manner. What most users don't know is that defragmentation can actually be harmful to the SSD as the thousands of disk operations that occur during defrag reduce the life span of solid state cells. This can be even easier regulated with the new TuneUp version TuneUp Utilities 2012. It recognizes the SSD drive and excludes automatically from defragmentation.
"SSDs are perfect for anyone with a need for raw performance, but you'll need to treat them right to get the most out of them", concluded Tibor Schiemann. "If users follow our advice and avoid unnecessary file operations, they should maintain their system's performance and prolong its lifespan."
About TuneUp
TuneUp, based in Darmstadt, Germany, is the leading provider of intelligent software tools that enable users to get optimal use of their operating systems and programs. TuneUp protects users from pc problems while helping them to increase the performance and security of their computers.
Since 1997, the TuneUp brand has been synonymous with "best in class": high-quality products with the highest customer value. In order to maintain high standards while at the same time not being bound to patents, licences and third-party suppliers, all TuneUp solutions are developed in-house. This, in addition to keeping close contact with customers and using their feedback, enables TuneUp to continuously grow as a company as well as develop products which meet customers' needs.
TuneUp Utilities is available in English, German, French, Spanish, Dutch, Italian, Portuguese, Polish, Japanese, Russian, Korean and Chinese. End users can find TuneUp Utilities on the company homepage at: www.tuneup- software.co.uk,
