What is the datdefrag tool?
The utility “datdefrag.exe” is a tool that can aid in decreasing load times of files for LOTRO. It does so by defragmenting the largest of the game files (the ones ending in .dat) in the installation folder and defragging the “internal” files contained within these dat files.
The "datdefrag.exe" tool has been shown to:
* Speed up game loads
* Speed up teleports
* Reduce hitching (not all hitching, just load-related hitches)
Due to patching, the contents of these large files often get fragmented within the containing “.dat” file itself. This tool addresses this issue because, unlike Windows Defrag, it also defrags the files internal structure, better enabling the game to load the contents of these files.
NOTE: This tool creates a brute force degramentation, which means that it is copying the defragmented .dat files to a new file before deleting the old one. Due to the brute force defragmentation, you must have at least the space of the largest .dat file available free on your game drive.
NOTE: There are issues downloading with Internet Explorer at the moment. [June 13, 2010] Please try downloading the zip with alternate browsers for now.
Note: Mozilla Firefox had no problem. Varda's notes show here in italics..
To use this utility, please download this zip file
content.turbine.com/sites/turbine/support/turbine_datdefrag.zip , saving it to the folder:
C:\Program Files\Turbine\The Lord of the Rings Online
If you're on a 64bit version of Windows, save it here:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Turbine\The Lord of the Rings Online
Once the “turbine_datdefrag.zip” file has fully downloaded and saved in that folder:
1. Open that folder up
2. Right-click on the “turbine_datdefrag.zip" file
3. Choose “Extract Here”. (Note: You may receive a “file exists” message about “datexport.dll” file, which you can choose to leave the existing file or overwrite with this one, either way is fine)
Once the files have extracted:
1. Exit the game and game launcher (also “Turbine Download Manager” as well) if they are currently open
2. Next, either double-click the “datdefrag.exe” file itself (it may display without the “.exe”) and it will run a small command prompt window that will close when the program completes defragmentation of the files (note it can be cancelled at any time using the “Ctrl” and “C” keys), or if you wish to get a “full status” report from it, you can launch it manually in command prompt via the steps below:
To begin, launch Command Prompt:
1. Click on the Windows “Start” button
2. Click on “All Programs”
3. Click on “Accessories”
4. Click on “Command Prompt”
When the Command Prompt screen opens, type the following command and press ENTER:
CD C:\Program Files\Turbine\The Lord of the Rings Online
If you are on a 64bit version of Windows, type the following command and press ENTER:
CD C:\Program Files (x86)\Turbine\The Lord of the Rings Online
Note: The DOS screen shows the changed directory:C:\>CD C:\Program Files (x86)\Turbine\The Lord of the Rings Online
C:\Program Files (x86)\Turbine\The Lord of the Rings Online>
Note: When Varda tried this, she had to type the folder name also thus:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Turbine\The Lord of the Rings Online\turbine_datdefrag
Now type “datdefrag” (no quotes, and hit ENTER).
Once the process has completed, just launch LOTRO!
Additional notes about the datdefrag program:
* This tool will only defrag the game's .dat files, and will do so only if it is detected that they need to be defragged. This process can take some time to run. If needed, the process can be cancelled by pressing the “Ctrl” and “C” keys on your keyboard.
* Do NOT attempt to launch the game while datdefrag is running.
* You only need to run this tool once (although you could run the tool after any large content update).
* This tool is for LOTRO only! Please do not use this tool on DDO or Asheron's Call.
* This tool can be combined with Windows Defrag or other third-party large disk defragmenter programs. However, these programs should never be running simultaneously to prevent "file in use" errors.
* If you have difficulty downloading the datdefrag tool and you are using Internet Explorer, please feel free to download it in .rar format from the following link.
content.turbine.com/sites/turbine/support/turbine_datdefrag.rarFor more information on this tool, please go to the forum discussion at:
forums.lotro.com/showthread.php?t=316502
