Speed up access to data

Disk fragmentation slows the overall performance of your system. When files are fragmented, the computer must search the hard disk as a file is opened (to piece it back together). The response time can be significantly longer.

Disk Defragmenter (sometimes shortened to Defrag by users) is a Windows utility that consolidates fragmented files and folders on your computer's hard disk so that each occupies a single space on the disk. With your files stored neatly end to end, without fragmentation, reading and writing to the disk speeds up.

When to run Disk Defragmenter
In addition to running Disk Defragmenter at regular intervals (weekly is optimal), there are other times you should run it, too, such as when:

    *You add a large number of files.
    *Your free disk space totals 15 percent or less.
    *You install new programs or a new version of the Windows operating system.

Click the Start Button
Find the Disk Defragmentation program and open it.
         1. Click the Programs icon
         2. Click the Accessories icon
         3. Click the System Tools icon
         4. Click the Disk Defragmentation icon