Slow Computer Solutions, Defrag That Hard Drive For a Faster PC
Slow Computer Solutions, Defrag That Hard Drive For a Faster PC
One of the big selling points of computer optimization software when considering their ‘bring back that speedy new computer feel’ type comments, is the defragment feature. Defragmenting a hard drive reorganizes everything so that it is easier for the computer to find what it’s looking for. If files, folders and programs are easier to find, a slow computer will naturally operate faster. But why run out to buy computer optimization software to defrag the hard driver when most computers come with this ability already installed.
Defrag the Hard Drive – What is It?
To ‘defrag’ (short for defragment) a computer hard drive quite literally means “to reorganize or reallocate the storage on a computer’s hard disk by bringing together files or parts of files to optimize the machine’s performance.” To put it more plainly, one could think of their hard drive like a bookshelf full of DVDs (or books) that needs organizing. Organizing the titles by genre/alphabet allows a person to find them faster. During hard drive defragmentation, the computer’s files are physically reorganized into an optimal order.
Defrag the Hard Drive – Beyond Organization
Defragging the hard drive goes beyond simply reorganizing the files into an easier to access format. Defragging, further increases computer performance by compacting files into a smaller size, organizing commonly accessed files together and placing files towards the outer tracks of the hard drive (where the transfer rate is higher). Not going too deep into the technicalities, what’s important to take from this is that defragging the hard drive is essential to peak computer performance optimization.
How To ‘Natively’ Defrag the Hard Drive
As most Windows operating system’s include defragmentation as part of its software, there is no need to buy additional defragmentation programs.
- Widows XP – Open My Computer. Right-click the local disk volume that you want to defragment, and then click Properties. On the Tools tab, click Defragment Now. Click Defragment.
- Windows Vista – Click the Start button, clicking All Programs, clicking Accessories, clicking System Tools, and then clicking Disk Defragmenter. Administrator permission required If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation. Click Defragment Now.
- Windows 7 – Click the Start button. In the search box, type Disk Defragmenter, and then, in the list of results, click Disk Defragmenter. Under Current status, select the disk you want to defragment. To determine if the disk needs to be defragmented or not, click Analyze disk. Once Windows is finished analyzing the disk, you can check the percentage of fragmentation on the disk in the Last Run column. Click Defragment disk.
Defrag the Hard Drive – Freeware & Commercial Software
It must be noted that some feel the native defrag utility within Windows is slow and unfriendly, and as result prefer to use third-party defrag software. The advantages to this is that the user does not need to remember how to access the utility (simply open the program), and many are designed to keep the amount of time needed to completed the defrag process to a minimum. Additionally, many can be set to run automatically while some run as soon as fragmentation is detected.
- Defrag Freeware – Contig, CCleaner, Defraggler, Diskkeeper Lite, DiskTune, MyDefrag, Quicksys Disk Defrag, Auslogics and more
- Commercial Defrag – Diskeeper, Norton SpeedDisk, O&O Defrag, Perfect Disk, Ultimate Defrag, Vopt, Ashampoo Magical Defrag and more.
- Open Source Defrag – Ultra Defrag, JkDefrag and more
Defrag the Hard Drive – Knowing is Power
Regardless of whether one decides to use the defrag utility included in their Windows software or chooses to use and alternative defrag program, the point is to do so knowing why it’s important. The hard drive is one of several systems that can contribute to a slow computer if neglected. Defragging the hard drive on a regular basis will ensure optimal performance.
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