Why Is Defragging Hard Drive Important?

Defragging Simplified

Defragging simplified is a tool in MS Windows that helps improved hard drive performance and in some cases, recovery of lost space. A hard drive that hasn’t been defragged will data stored across many parts of the disk which makes the computer work harder to access them. An un-defragged drive usually occurs with very frequent copy and file deletion.

Does Defragging Improve Performance?

The answer is definite “yes!”. Whenever a defrag is performed, data is re-organized together in the order whereby the computer can easily access.

An ideal situation of course would be a blank hard drive newly installed with MS Windows where the computer automatically compacts data fragments together. However when a file (usually temporary installation files) is deleted, it leaves a gap of for example – 2 spaces in between. And when a new file of probably 3 space size comes along, it probably takes up the 2 spaces and push the remaining space right to the end or some place where it can accommodate that space.

This process when repeated numerous times leaves your hard drive with gaps and file fragments in different areas of the drive. The computer takes a longer time to go through the hard drive and accessing files takes a slightly longer time. I’d recommend to defrag regularly although the slowness is insignificant and one usually wouldn’t notice it.

Does Defragging Increase Disk Space?

Defragging doesn’t create any free space on your hard drive. Although it appears to look like it from the graphics you see from defrag programs. All that’s done is actually moving data about and not removing any. Any disk space gain is negligible and is caused when the defrag program puts together half clusters of data.

In summary, MS Windows bundles with a defrag program. To access it, you’ll have to quit any programs or open files on that particular drive. Otherwise MS will prompt you to defrag it on the next PC reboot.

That’s all folks, stay tuned for more.