Disk Defragmentation
"Defraging" a hard drive simply optimises or organises the placement of files on the physical surface of the drive itself. In the course of using your machine your system writes data to the HDD, your computer automatically writes your data to the first available spot on your HDD. As the days and months pass your HDD will tend to get very "messy" or fragmented.
A fragmented HDD takes a little more time to read then a defragmented drive. Your HDD will have to grab some data from one part of the disk then grab some other data from another part. In a nutshell your HDD becomes disorganised and the HDD has a rough time finding things easily, this ultimately causes your machine to run slower
When the 'defrag' program is run it really just puts the pieces back together, and organises your HDD so that your data loads faster. It's generally considered a good idea for the average user to defrag once every 3 months or so.
This can take anywhere from 30 minutes to 4 hours depending on the size of your Hard Drive and the Amount of information and programs stored on it
DO NOT have any programs running when you run Defragmenter
Windows 98 and ME
First turn off your Screen saver.
- Right click anywhere on your Desktop. This will bring up a menu.
- Select Properties at the bottom of the menu.
- On the top tabs, select Screen Saver.
- Under Screen Saver, drop the arrow down.
- On the right of this little window, scroll up to the top and select None.
- Select on ok down the bottom to close this off.
Next Run Scan Disk.
Click on Start - Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Scandisk.
Now you are ready to run Disk Defragmenter
Click on Start - Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Defragmenter.
- This will bring up two windows. First the top window:
- Under "Which Drive do you want to Defragment?" make sure 'Drive C Physical Drive is selected'. If not, drop arrow down and select this.
- Click on OK.
- On the second window, Select Show Details. This way you can watch your Hard Drive rearrange itself.
- On the bottom right corner, you can Select 'Legend' if wish. This will give you details of what all the box colours represent.
- DO NOT play or run any other programs while Defragmenter is running. This will alter the Hard Disk and thus the Defragmenter will start again from the beginning.
- You may leave your computer now to perform this task and peel potatoes..... :)
- As stated this can take a while. But is well worth it.
- When Complete, your computer will ask whether you wish to 'Exit Defragmenter', Select OK. If you have more than one Hard Disk, then say No which will return you to 'Which Drive do you wish to Defragment'. Drop the arrow down and chose your D Drive. The same process as above will be repeated. Once completed, Select ok to Exit.
- All is done
Don't forget to go back and turn your Screen Saver back on using the same method we did, to turn it off. There are many cool screen savers, if you have not tried any of the others, now is a good time
Windows XP
First turn off your Screen saver.
- Right click anywhere on your Desktop. This will bring up a menu.
- Select Properties at the bottom of the menu.
- On the top tabs, select Screen Saver.
- Under Screen Saver, drop the arrow down.
- On the right of this little window, scroll up to the top and select None.
- Select on ok down the bottom to close this off.
Disk Defragmenter.
Click on Start - Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Defragmenter.
- This will open the DeFragmenter Window.
- Your Hard Drives will be listed in order with the C Drive first.
- Click on C Drive
- Left Click on Defragment near the bottom.
- DO NOT play or run any other programs while Defragmenter is running. This will alter the Hard Disk and thus the Defragmenter will start again from the beginning.
- You may leave your computer now to perform this task and peel potatoes..... :)
- As stated this can take a while. But is well worth it.
- When Complete, your computer will ask whether you wish to 'View Report' or 'Close'. Select Close. If you have more than one Hard Disk, then click on the next Hard Drive at the top which would usually be D Drive. Select Defragment at the bottom and the same process will be repeated. Once completed, Select close again.
- All is done. close off the Defragmenter window using the X at the top right.
Don't forget to go back and turn your Screen Saver back on using the same method we did, to turn it off. There are many cool screen savers, if you have not tried any of the others, now is a good time.
Windows Vista and Windows 7
Disk Defragmenter.
Click on Start - All Programs - Accessories - System Tools - Disk Defragmenter.
- This will open the DeFragmenter Window.
- Your Hard Drives will be listed in order with the C Drive first.
- Click on C Drive
- Left Click on Disk Defragmenter near the bottom.
- DO NOT play or run any other programs while Defragmenter is running. This will alter the Hard Disk and thus the Defragmenter will start again from the beginning.
- You may leave your computer now to perform this task and mow the lawns..... :)
- As stated this can take a while. But is well worth it.
- When Complete, if you have more than one Hard Disk, then click on the next Hard Drive at the top which would usually be D Drive. Select Defragment at the bottom and the same process will be repeated.
- All is done. close off the Defragmenter window using the X at the top right.
- While you have this window open you may wish to configure defrag to automatically complete this task for you. Select Configure Schedule, top right and make changes to suit. I suggest selecting a monthly defrag as this should be sufficient.