Defragmenting a hard drive can speed up a slow computer. Windows systems have a built-in defragmenter, while other operating systems require third-party software. Fragmentation occurs when files are spread across the drive, slowing down the read/write head. FAT systems are more affected than NTFS. Adding storage reduces fragmentation.
Taking the time to defragment a hard drive will help speed up a slow computer. Personal computers (PCs) or laptops running Microsoft® Windows® come with defragmentation software, but a third-party program may be required for other operating systems. The software used to defrag a hard drive is easy to run, but it will effectively tie up the computer’s processor and memory, and you should wait to use it at a time when the computer isn’t needed.
Your computer’s operating system will determine the steps to take to defragment a hard drive. With Windows® systems, simply open and run the defragmenter. Running this program to defrag a hard drive regularly will help keep your computer running smoothly, especially when the hard drive fills up. Other operating systems do not include similar programs, but third-party software is available for download.
A typical computer hard drive uses a read/write head to store and use information on a disk. When programs and files are loaded into the computer for the first time, the data is written to the same area of the disk. With use, files are commonly altered or removed and files begin to spread across the entire drive. As the disk fills up, it becomes more difficult to keep files together, and the computer records information about any available free space.
The computer keeps track of the location of all this information using a file management system. Old PCs used a system called File Allocation Table (FAT), but this system has been replaced by the New Technology File System (NTFS). Fragmentation is usually more problematic for computers that use FAT, and speed is likely to improve dramatically when defragmenting a hard drive that uses FAT. NTFS reduces the effects of fragmentation, and while there will also be benefits, the improvement will be more subtle.
To use a program or open a file, the read/write head must collect all relevant information. This is quick and easy when the file exists as a single chunk, but as the pieces of the file expand, the read/write head has to physically move to each portion of the disk, which slows down the process. Gathering bits and pieces of fragmented files can increase wear and tear on your computer, eventually leading to costly repairs.
As your computer’s memory grows, fragmentation becomes less harmful. Fragmentation occurs more often as memory approaches its maximum capacity. Adding storage, through the use of internal or external drives, greatly increases available memory so that files are less likely to be split and it becomes less necessary to defragment a hard drive. When files or programs are transferred, they will be written to the new disk as a defragmented file.
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