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8. Defrag your hard drive
Files saved on a Windows PC get broken up in pieces and scattered (physically) in different locations on your hard drive. Thus, half of a file may be on the opposite end of a disk from its other half. This happens because, rather than re-save an entire file, Windows only writes the new data, placing it in the hard drive's next available empty space.
Initially, this improves speed. Sometimes, though, the next empty spot is not in the same location as the original file and your document becomes fragmented. As your files become more fragmented, your computer needs to work harder to find all the pieces. As a result, performance slows over time.
Defragmenting (or "defragging" for short) rearranges the files on your disk, reuniting the disparate parts to make your files more quickly accessible. It won't make your three-year-old bargain Dell capable of playing 'Crysis,' but it should noticeably speed up the launch of programs and searches.
Windows XP and Vista both have a built-in defragmenting solution. While it's better than nothing, we do suggest you try a free, third-party solution like Auslogics Disk Defrag or ioBit's Smart Defrag for optimum results. Thankfully, fragmenting isn't an issue for Linux and Mac users.
Comments
8
Subscribe to commentsDenaFeb 12th 2009 4:08PM
While defragmenting the disk is not needed as much for a Mac user, it still helps. I had a 6 year old G4 that was getting very slow so I upgraded to a G5. A friend mentioned Drive Genius and after looking into it, I purchased it and gave it a try. The old G4 now boots almost as fast as the G5 and runs like it used to. It took over 8 hours to do the initial defragment but if you run it every few months it should take less than an hour. Also, you could get by running it once a year if you don’t mind a little slow down.
peteFeb 16th 2009 1:21PM
this information is a little advanced. I do not have a clue how to do anything that has been suggested
WindmillObsessedMar 24th 2009 4:29PM
This article is a nice introduction to the idea of defragging a drive, which is somewhat rare. Every user could use to understand how and why defragging helps, and should know how to clean their drives without killing them.
As far as using "anything that's been suggested", find local tutorials and help files for each program. Of course the article isn't going to go step-by-step through a defrag process, because the process is different for every user and every machine. This article's purpose is simply to help point in the right direction.
KENFeb 16th 2009 1:53PM
Right, the 10% that understand this crap, don't need this info.The other 90% of us will just hire it done.
WindmillObsessedMar 24th 2009 4:24PM
If you don't understand this, you do need to hire someone ... to patiently sit down and explain it to you. Defragging your hard drive -without killing it - is something even the most basic of users needs to know.
This is a nice introduction to the idea of defragging. Don't believe me? Google it and see what you get.
tovanipoFeb 16th 2009 3:59PM
Click on Start-Programs-Accessories-System Utilities-Defragment-
Choose the volume C. NOTE: DO NOT EVER DEFRAG A FLASH DRIVE OR JUMP DRIVE (USUALLY LABELED E:) THIS WILL COMPLETELY ERASE THAT DEVICE.
SunShineMay 15th 2009 1:32AM
This is not true, I defrag my flash drive, my ipod, and everything else, and I have no problems. Everything stays on the drive.
WindmillObsessedMar 24th 2009 4:21PM
A CNet review suggested that there is false advertising in the Auslogics Disk Defrag information.
The program has caused problems. CNet has been advised.
Apparently, it moves the fragments without telling the computer where it's moved them. This means that the computer cannot find the rest of a file - and if it takes a long time to run a file when the computer knows where the rest of the file is, think about what happens when the computer is utterly lost!
Smart Defrag, however, has only good reviews.