What does defragmentation do to computer system?

What does defragmentation do to computer system?

Hi Ashlyn,

Defragmentation is a process that reduces the amount of fragmentation in file systems inside a laptop or desktop. Fragmentation happen if the operating system unable to or will not allocate enough contiguous space to store a complete file as a unit, but instead puts parts of it in gaps between other files (usually those gaps exist because they formerly held a file that the operating system has subsequently deleted or because the operating system allocated excess space for the file in the first place). Larger files and greater numbers of files also contribute to fragmentation and consequent performance loss.

In the different way, I will put a house as an example. In a house concede of many things, such as furniture, kitchen stuff, toys for child, and etc. At the first day you move to your new house, everything takes places neatly and accordingly. Day by day pass, one by one those thing move out or children played with their toys and it’s become messy. When it come totally mess up, you as the person who life there will be uncomfortable with it. Same also desktop or laptop, it will affect to their performance. So, defrag is rearrange of your house in the different meaning.

Defrag your machine depend on your usage. No need to apply it if you’re not a heavy usage user. Let say you only use it 5 to 6 hours daily, I don’t think so you need to defrag your machine in monthly basis. One time in 2 or 3 months also possible but again depend on your usage. If you think your machine become slow, then try to defrag it. Defrag your laptop or desktop weekly basis if you are a heavy user which always online 24/7, for example a maniac gamer.

The process of defragmentation places all parts of a file together in the same place on the drive. So it’s up to either you need to defrag both of your partition or only the one contain with all program. Normally people only defrag the drive C or the primary. Defragmentation wills organizes all the directories and files according to your computer. After this process is complete, your computer will most likely run faster rather than before. To begin this process, you need to check several things:

1. Make sure every important data such as all work files, photos, and any important things are backed up already to another media for example to another hard drive, CDROM, DVD or other type of media.
2. Make sure the hard drive is healthy. Use CHKDSK to scan and fix the drive.
3. Close programs currently open. Including virus scanners and other programs that have icons in the system tray because you are going to places everything to the correct position.
4. Assure your computer has a constant source of power. The important thing is to be able to stop the defragmentation process, if there is a power outage. If you have frequent power brown outs or other outages, you should not use a defragmentation program without a battery backup. If your machine loss power with out any back up, most likely it will burn out everything. Meaning to say your laptop or desktop condemned.

There is much software for defragmentation. Norton and disk keeper are one of it. It’s depend on you actually, some of them will cost money but worth it to use. Use the default system within windows for defrag also possible, since it saving cost.

Best Regards,

Brown