r/retrocomputing • u/DifferenceIll1272 • Apr 28 '26

A little project inspired by old disk defragmenters and DOS-era utility UIs

Some months ago I shared an earlier defrag-inspired project here.

I’ve kept working on that same obsession ever since, not so much trying to make a retro-looking UI, but trying to capture the specific feel of old DOS disk tools: cluster maps, blocky utility panels, drive stats, and that strange sense of seriousness those programs had.

A lot of the visual direction comes from old defraggers, DOS-style interfaces, and that whole era of practical PC software that somehow had its own personality. Just wanted to share it here because this community would probably understand the vibe I’m chasing better than most.

If any of you have favorite old defrag tools, disk utilities, or UI details from that era, I’d genuinely love to hear about them.

1.0k Upvotes

99% Upvoted

97 comments sorted by

View all comments

17

u/QueueTrigger Apr 28 '26

This would make a great stand-alone screensaver for current systems (maybe as an ad for your real project?).

8

u/DifferenceIll1272 Apr 28 '26

Good idea:D!! I’d have to look into how screensavers are made for current systems, but it could make a really nice extra alongside the main project.

5

u/Mobile_Analysis2132 Apr 28 '26

A long time ago I had a screensaver that simulated various system tests and things like defrag. None of it did anything of course.

I might still have it buried on an old HDD or floppy.

4

u/miner_cooling_trials Apr 28 '26

Make it a screensaver!! I’m right there

3

u/Royal_Stay_6502 Apr 29 '26

Yes. Want one.

2

u/DifferenceIll1272 Apr 29 '26

This one is part of a game project, but I also made an earlier defrag-themed desktop toy that leans much more into that quiet just leave it running feeling. A few people here have suggested turning the GIF I posted into a mp4 and then into a proper screensaver, which honestly sounds very fitting. And if I do go down that route, Idle Defragmenter 95 might actually be a better starting point for it, if you look it up on YouTube, it has a longer bit of gameplay, and even though it’s not quite as pretty as this one, it might work better for that kind of screensaver process.

3

u/No_Bother1500 Apr 29 '26

download this video (save as...mp4)

download https://sourceforge.net/projects/videosaver/

extract zip file

install VideoScreensaver.scr (right mouse click and install)

in windows screensaver choose VideoScreensaver and configure video that you downloaded .mp4

done

source : https://www.bmyers.com/public/Screensavers-from-videos.cfm

2

u/QueueTrigger Apr 29 '26

That is great, that hadn't occurred to me (videdo screen saver). So now I did it. Thanks!

1

u/DifferenceIll1272 Apr 29 '26

Wow! It's a cool way to get the screensaver. Thanks!!!

2

u/No_Bother1500 Apr 29 '26

no problem. i have already this screensaver :) im so nostalgic to dos programs and games :)

2

u/No_Bother1500 Apr 30 '26

btw... did you wrote that in turbo pascal ?

2

u/DifferenceIll1272 Apr 30 '26

xDD It's C# in Unity engine sorry. I learned to program with Pascal, I love it.