Defragmenting a hard drive is important for computer maintenance as it recombines scattered files into one contiguous space, improving performance. Operating systems have built-in defragmenters, but third-party programs like Diskeeper and UltraDefrag are also available. Regular defragmentation is recommended, and backups should be made before performing maintenance.
During normal use of a computer, files and folders become fragmented on hard drives. This means that the files are not in one contiguous space intact but are scattered here and there in bits. Retrieving and even saving files takes more time and in extreme cases can lead to errors. To improve performance, you should defragment your drives as part of routine computer maintenance.
Software designed for defragmentation reads the data and writes the fragments into the available space, recombining the fragments into complete files. Some types of defrag programs will transfer program files together and move the data to the front of the drive, leaving all available space to occupy a single contiguous location behind the stored data. Other programs do not condense the available space, or in some cases it is a user-configurable option.
Many factors play into the time it takes to defrag a drive. The software design itself can increase the time factor or speed along the process. A large drive with lots of data will obviously take longer to defragment than a small drive with little data, and a nearly full drive, be it small or large, also adds to the time factor because there is so little space available to work within the defragmentation process. Regardless, regular defragmentation cuts down on the time it takes to get the job done and, at best, will only take a few minutes. If you have never defragmented a large storage space, it might be a good idea to leave defragmentation running overnight.
Most operating systems (OS) such as Windows® include a built-in defragmenter. You can reach it through different paths, depending on the operating system. In XP® try the Start button, Programs, Accessories, highlight System Tools and search for Disk Defragmenter. If you can’t find it, go to the main Help menu of your system and search for “disk defragmentation”.
Some people prefer to use a third-party program to defrag. A popular commercial program is Diskeeper®, which includes the ability to defrag on shutdown or startup. This allows the program to defragment the paging file, which is not available when started in Windows. You can also choose to have defragmentation run continuously in the background, preventing disks from being fragmented in the first place; although some believe this causes wear and tear on the unit. If you prefer lean software, an optional free open source program is UltraDefrag©.
In addition to these two programs being on opposite ends of the spectrum, there are many proprietary shareware programs that fall in between. Read reviews of reputable websites to get an idea of which program you might like.
While defragmentation shouldn’t cause any problems, it’s always a good idea to back up your system before performing maintenance, then back up when you’re done. Since the process can slow down your system depending on the program you use and other factors, it might be best to start the process manually when you won’t be working on your computer. Otherwise, the scheduler should be set to defragment at least once a month and preferably every two weeks or as needed.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
