When your computer writes data to your drive, it does so in "blocks" that are ordered sequentially from one side of the drive's platter to the other. Fragmentation happens when those files get split between blocks that are far away from each other. The hard drive then takes longer to read that file because the read head has to "visit" multiple spots on the platter.
Defragmentation puts those blocks back in sequential order, so your drive head doesn't have to run around the entire platter to read a single file. Image by XZise. Relax and be free from anxiety Take back good sleep and help alleviate pain. Fragmentation doesn't cause your computer to slow down as much as it used to—at least not until it's very fragmented—but the simple answer is yes, you should still defragment your computer.
However, your computer may already do it automatically. Here's what you need to know. If you have a solid-state drive SSD in your computer, you do not need to defragment it. Solid-state drives, unlike regular hard drives, don't use a spinning platter to store data, and it doesn't take any extra time to read from different parts of the drive. So, defragmentation won't offer any performance increases though SSDs do require their own maintenance.
Of course, if you have other non-solid-state drives in your computer, those will still need defragmentation. Will it affect their getting on my computer or their affect on it at all? Defragging will help your computer run more efficiently, but will have no impact at all on spyware or virus infestations. For spyware particularly, the only real defense is, as you have been doing, running a spyware scanner periodically, and avoiding the sites and software that carry spyware when you can.
How large is the log file going to become that is being created giving the results of defrag? Does this overwrite with each scheduled defrag or will it over time consume lots of space? Actually in the example above, the file is created anew each time.
Along the lines of my earlier question about the size of the log file, is it possible to get it so it has a date stamp. TMP 16, TMP i dont know how to get rid of those can you please help me? I defrag regularly once a week. Plus, it helps — it really does. HI, Can you defrag too many times? I notice that there seems to be and increase in fragmentted files if I repeatedly defrag. I now recommend once a week. Nice Article Leo.
I wonder why there is even a debate whether fragmentation affects systems or not. I cannot imagine servers performing at their best if this disease were to afflict them. Hi Leo, I find this article quite informative, I never knew that there is such an option available and I am the computer guy at my house. Wow, this is really informative. Now I think I will go and do some defragging.
Some files on this volume could not be defragmented. Please check the defragmentation report for the list of these files can you tell me why this comes up and the defragmentation does not finish? Thank you.
Couple of points of clarification. Defrag CAN free up some space in 2 ways. So when the file is defragged the only freespace left is at the end of the file. They perform defrag in several discrete steps.
Strange, unexpected, things can happen such as defrag programs abending unexpectedly. I defragmented my drive and it improved the speed a lot. I used the trial version of Diskeeper09 which a friend suggested. Its really easy to use as its automatic. My personal opinion is that defragging daily is way unnecessary…maybe monthly at most? Just my 2 cents.
Leo, is it safe to defrag an encrypted portable hard drive? If it is safe, should the drive be un-encrypted first — before starting the defrag process? Great advice, but.. It is a bad habit to leave your computer on overnight. Not only does it harm the environment by unnecessarily draining electricity, you harm the computer by having it constantly powered on. Give your computer a break, and save yourself some money.
Turn it OFF when you are not using it. Hi Leo Good article and mostly good posts. But instead of putting my 2 cents worth in Europe now too!! I would like to ask one question which has intrigued me for some time now, as you have dealt more or less with this question before. How can defragging, even once a week wear the HDD out more than the Head flying round like a maniac every time the computer is run. I like to chop videos up and splice parts together to see what I can make and that scatters parts of files all over.
So I disabled it and installed Auslogics Disk Defrag, which does the same job that the Win 7 defragger does in about 3 minutes. I provide tech support to a dozen families, and do the same on their computers.
In short, I recommend against using the Win 7 defragger and instead using the Auslogics product, which is free. Wow, OK, defragging… I can finally explain it to easirer my family and freinds, Thanks again for the continuing pearls of wisdom Leo!!! Every user will be different, and most users will differ from time to time. When using this I just click Analise first. If the figures are low I do not defrag and therefore reduce HDD wear and tear.
If the figures are high I do defrag and paradoxically also reduce HDD wear and tear. Whole thing just takes a little practice. When that done try out the advanced options. These to me speed up the comp. Luck All!!! Use auslogics on demand defragger, no schedules for me. I never practiced the idea of leaving anything on when I am not using it and my hard drive is just fine for now. While theoretically it should be possible by shuffling individual sectors around, most tools require enough free space to contain at least the largest file being defragmented.
Dom I believe when Leo said shuffling sectors around was referring to shuffling the contents of those sectors. Mac is a trademark of Apple, Inc. All other trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.
Find a product Part no. Your search did not match any active Crucial part numbers or configuration IDs. Find articles and site content Enter keywords. Back to results. How to defrag your hard drive. Pick a date and time that the computer will be on but no one is typically using it. The computer can be asleep.
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