When your computer writes information onto your hard drive, it does not always write information in the same location on the actual hardware. A section of a file can be written near the beginning of the disc, whereas the rest of that file could be written near the end. This causes programs to run slowly, as the computer spends time in retrieving these file clusters from all over the disc. Defragmenting your computer sorts all of your files [as well as free space] in an orderly manner, in effort to reduce loading time. Here is how to do it.
- Start Windows in Safe Mode. This is not mandatory, but it helps to avoid complications from other programs that are running in the background. This also speeds up and streamlines the process.
- Uninstall any programs you do not use or need. It is best to uninstall programs prior to a defragmentation, as the newly-acquired free space will generally be located all over the hard drive, thereby giving rise to fragmentation.
- Make sure that all unnecessary programs are closed. If you have already started in Safe Mode, then this has already been done.
- Cancel any programs that are scheduled to run. If you have not manually scheduled any programs to run, then skip this step.
- Delete any temporary files. This is done by running Disk Cleanup. To run the program, go to: START -> Run, and enter cleanmgr in the window.
- Run the Disk Defragmenter Program. Go to START -> Run, and enter dfrg.msc in the window. A window that is similar to the one
- Make sure that your desired drive is selected [C: being the default drive], and click on the Defragment button.
- Sit back and relax as your computer organizes your fragmented files.
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An automatic defragmenter makes life easier! Because it runs in the background constantly, it attacks fragmentation as soon as possible, automatically, and without compromising system resources. So you don’t have to manually run an anaylsis and then defrag the drives via the old-fashioned manual or scheduled process, both of which can be a bit of a bother and make the PC unavailable during that time (can be a few hours depending on the number, size and fragmentation of the disks). Automatic defragmentation is the easiest and most effective solution for keeping the drives optimized!
Your article relies on the built-in Windows Defragmenter, which is not particularly thorough or helpful. I can recommend PerfectDisk 8 (commercial) and/or JkDefrag (freeware). I have reviewed 15 commercial and 16 freeware utilities in “The Great Defrag Shootout” and these two are my “winners“. You can also find detailed reviews and download links at this site.
PerfectDisk 8 has the ability to defrag files that are in use once Windows starts up (even in safe mode) and it has a simple but highly effective method of placing all the files to speed up both file access times and file write times, by defragging the free space on your hard drive.
JkDefrag takes a different approach, and has a screen saver option that works really well, especially when your PC is not being used. It’s extremely effective and works much better than the built-in Windows program.