This is how to defrag a PC and the reason why

viv0147

What is defragging a computer?
I think the easiest way to explain it is take a look around you living room maybe in one corner you have your TV in another you have your table and chairs in another you have your 3 piece suite in the middle you have your coffee table now to go from one to another takes a little time, and that is the situation on your computer before you defrag. Now imagine you put all your furniture together in one corner of the room, now to go from your TV to the coffee table is instant and takes far less time, so when you defrag your computer that’s what happens it becomes much faster to go from one program to another. So its well worth doing about once a month, the first time you do it you will find it takes quite a while, so it could be a good idea to defrag just before you go to bed, after the first time the other times you defrag will be a lot quicker.

How to do it

1. Click on start
2. Click the Programs icon
3. Click the Accessories icon
4. Click the System Tools icon
5. Click the Disk Defragmentation icon
6. Once complete your computer will run much faster.

savemoney

Or get a program that automatically defrags like O&O defrag

closed

Or just don't bother - it makes little difference to the speed of a pc.;)

pcombo

What is the point to this thread lol.

I dont see how it will make your computer faster. Ok it may open files and folders etc quicker due it relocating everything to 1 section.

viv0147

Disk Defrag will speed up your computer by optimizing file system. It can defragment files, consolidate free space and move system files to the faster part of the disk. With Disk Defrag you'll get the maximum out of your hard drive performance.
Well my idea was to help people who know very little about computer's obviously not for the people who know all about computers like the poster's above.

fwor

viv0147 wrote: »

Well my idea was to help people who know very little about computer's obviously not for the people who know all about computers like the poster's above.

And why not? You're right that file access will probably be quicker on average, though the defragmenting tool that's built into Windows is reputed to be not very good at the job.

An alternative is to use a file system such as ext3 or ext4 that doesn't need defragmenting, but if you're using Windows, you can't.

I believe that fragmentation is less of a problem from Vista onwards, as the OS automates defragging in some way that I don't understand (and don't need to).

superscaper

fwor wrote: »

An alternative is to use a file system such as ext3 or ext4 that doesn't need defragmenting, but if you're using Windows, you can't.

Another example is that no matter the OS if a user has an SSD (solid state drive), which is certainly popular in netbooks, then not only is there no need to deframent but defragmenting uselessly reduces the usable lifespan of the device.

Hence, if the point of the thread is to help inform those with little knowledge of computers then it does need to be more explanatory as defragmenting is only useful under certain circumstances and in some cases can have a negative/damaging effect in the long term. Also more up to date information as the specific steps given are for a decade old OS.

BillScarab

fwor wrote: »

And why not? You're right that file access will probably be quicker on average, though the defragmenting tool that's built into Windows is reputed to be not very good at the job.

An alternative is to use a file system such as ext3 or ext4 that doesn't need defragmenting, but if you're using Windows, you can't.

I believe that fragmentation is less of a problem from Vista onwards, as the OS automates defragging in some way that I don't understand (and don't need to).

It automatically defrags in the bckground.

Personally I've never understood the obsession with defragging. It makes very little noticable difference to performance.

superscaper

BillScarab wrote: »

It automatically defrags in the bckground.

And this should be switched OFF in the case of using an SSD.

busenbust

Personally I've never understood the obsession with defragging. It makes very little noticable difference to performance.

Agreed. Especially so with the new breed of hard drives :cool:

viv0147

Whatever came into my mind, I should have not have started this thread, because has someone stated times have moved on in the PC world. I haven’t had a Pc for the last three years I bought an Apple Mac instead. My only defence is that was the train of thought 3 years ago, most of my friends have PC’s and they often ask me for advice and as I can now see I have been giving them the wrong advice. So from that angle I have learned by posting this thread how out of touch I really am with the PC, and I will in future direct them to the relevant forums for up-to-date advice. So thank you all for your input and I wish you all a Happy New Year. Viv