Saving Time and Money with Computer Defragmentation

Whether your computer is a starving-student model or the gold standard of technology, disk fragmentation can take your system from speedy to sputtering in no time. If you frequently surf the Web or simply add and delete files on a regular basis, you are likely to have computer performance issues related to disk fragmentation.

 

One way to prevent and repair a slow computer is through defragmentation. Though it sounds intimidating, computer defragmentation doesn't take a significant amount of time, thought or skill. The following is more information on how to free up disk space and increase your computer's performance through defragmentation.

Before answering the question, "What is defragmentation?" it is helpful to understand the basic concept of fragmentation.

 

Fragmentation refers to the state of data when it is scattered into many different places on your computer's hard disk. This information is stored on the hard disk in "blocks" of data. Some programs or files might require multiple blocks to run efficiently, and your computer naturally wants to put all those blocks in one place so that they are quick and easy to locate.

 

Disk fragmentation occurs when some blocks are deleted from your hard disk, leaving empty spaces in the middle of other blocks. When you install a new program onto your computer, your computer starts filling in those empty spaces first. Any leftover blocks are then placed in spaces elsewhere on the disk. When you go to run a fragmented program, the computer has to search multiple places on the hard disk for all of the files it needs to get started.

 

Since the computer is working harder and taking more steps to run a fragmented program, it takes more time and energy to process the information. All functions of your computer are then bogged down, causing programs to run slowly and making systems errors more likely. When your computer is slow or unable to keep programs open, even simple tasks become difficult and time-consuming.

 

Home computers with fragmented hard disks can lead to slow loading times for programs and files, or a decrease in performance when playing games, watching movies and carrying out similar activities. For businesses that rely on computers as part of their daily operations, disk fragmentation can mean:

In both cases, defragmentation can help eliminate lost time and reoccurring frustration.

Defragmentation is the process of cleaning up a fragmented hard disk by grouping related program files and organizing them into a single, consolidated space. While some computers come preloaded with basic defragmentation tools, you can purchase professional defragmentation software that has extra functions and utilities.

 

Whether you are a daily computer user or an occasional one, regular defragmentation is an important part of keeping your computer running at optimum speed. Many computer programs create new files each time you use them, and defragmentation helps to keep everything organized and efficient.

 

 

Danoh123 (2009). How to improve performance of slow PC (defragmentation and registry-fix). Retrieved March 1, 2009, from the eHow Web site: http://www.ehow.com/how_4722768_performance-slow-pc-defragmentation-registryfix.html.

 

Jason (2008). Five ways to improve your computer's speed. Retrieved March 1, 2009, from the PC Tips Box Web site: http://www.pctipsbox.com/five-ways-to-improve-your-computer%E2%80%99s-speed/.

 

Toumayan, C. (2008). Automatic defrag: savings hours of it time. Retrieved March 1, 2009, from the Articles Base Web site: http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/automatic-defrag-saving-hours-of-it-time-688846.html.