Windows Defrag

You have probably heard the term ‘windows defrag’ before and may have even gone as far as running it on your computer in an attempt to increase computer speed. I am willing to bet though that after running it, you really didn’t notice an increase in performance on your pc.

I would like to give a quick synopsis of what file fragmentation is and the effects it can have on your computer. I also want to give you some sound advice on whether windows defrag is worth running, and if it is, how often you should run it to increase computer speed.

What is file fragmentation and can you increase computer speed by fixing it?

Whenever a new computer is built and the OS is installed, files are pretty much written to the hard drive in a continuous manner…one right after another. The same can really be said about all of the programs that are then installed to complete the new computer setup. File fragmentation occurs when we(users) start to install and uninstall new/old programs, create/delete files and do something as simple as surfing the web. When a program is deleted, the portion of the hard drive where that program was stored is now open for use. Let’s say you then download another program and install it. There may be bits and pieces of that piece of software installed on those random open spots of the hard drive.

So how does file fragmentation effect the ability to increase computer speed?

If a program or file is installed on many different parts of a hard drive, the result can be that the hard drive works extra hard at I/O (input/output). As a result, the hard drive takes resources away from other read/write functions it needs to perform leaving you with a slower computer.

How often should you run windows defrag to increase computer speed?

I would recommend running windows defrag about once every month. Your not going to see an increased computer speed that blows your socks off, but over the long haul, your computer will work much more efficiently. It will do so because the files written to the drive will be in good order.

In the end, don’t over-estimate or under-estimate the effectiveness of windows defrag. If your looking to increase computer speed over the long term and keep your computer in proper running order, then windows defrag should be a staple in your computer maintenance routine.

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photo credit: everdred