Ever since we started using our home computers, we have been faced with a problem that tends to make the PC do more work each time we use it. In the earlier days of computing, there was a process we used frequently that helped us keep our computers from doing unnecessary work and therefore running fast. What this process is, which helps us keep our computers fine-tuned, why it is necessary and how to implement the process is what we will discuss in this article.
As we use our computers, files are constantly being copied to the hard drive. Also, as we use our computers, files are always being erased. This copying to and deleting from our hard drives comes from many sources. Some of the things that cause us to copy files to and erase them from the hard drive are:
· temporary Internet files stored and erased
· Word documents saved and deleted
· installed and uninstalled software programs
· e-mail, both received and deleted and
· emptying of the recycling bin
When the computer is new and there is very little stored on the hard drive, it is easy for windows to find a place to save our next file. Windows will always choose to save a new file to the next available space on the hard drive. Before files are erased, this next available space is always immediately following the last file that was saved to the hard drive.
Fragmentation Develops
As time goes on, files are deleted from the hard drive. Unfortunately, these files are almost always deleted randomly from somewhere amongst all the stored files. Almost never are these deleted files taken from the very end of the chain of stored files.
What this means is the next file to be stored will be copied to one of the holes left behind by deleted files. Sometimes, an entire file will not have room to be stored in one of these holes. So part of it will be stored in one of them and the rest of it will be stored in the next hole Windows finds. Possibly, some of it will be stored in one of the holes left behind by an erased file and the rest at the end of the chain of stored files.
As time goes on, your hard drive will have many files stored in a non-contiguous manner. Therefore, looking for a file will take an effort on Windows part. This effort will make the computer perform more slowly.
Disk Defragmentation is an all too Often Overlooked Maintenance Process
The technical term for this non-contiguous file storing is fragmentation. When the files on the hard drive become fragmented, they need to be defragmented in order to put everything on the disk in order. This is done by using a disk defragmentation program; which is also known as a defragger.
Defragging a hard drive can easily be done. Every version of Windows has a defragmenter program. It is usually found in accessories- system tools. Also, there are commercial defragmentation programs available which seem to work a little more quickly and have some more bells and whistles than the Windows built-in defragger. Still, they are all easy to use. In other words, defragging is a self explanatory, click-one-button process.
Defragging is very important because a fragmented disk can make a computer run very poorly. Unfortunately, a lot of people never defragment their hard drives because the process can take hours to complete. It can actually take longer than a day to defragment a hard drive. This is why many people who actually do defragment regularly rely on a commercial defragmenting program. Either way, don't overlook using this important tool to keep your computer running at its best.
The author, Ed Lathrop is a comp TIA A+/Network+ certified computer technician familiar with the operation, repair and upkeep of today's PC's. His site, Repair Slow Computer shows you how to keep your computer running fast and error free. Also, don't forget to visit Speed Up Computer Performance.
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