What is Defrag

We’ve all probably heard the advice from geeks that we need to defrag our computers now and again to keep them running efficiently, but what is defrag?

Defrag, sometimes called defragging or defragmentation, is the process of cleaning up the files in your computer, by taking all of the file fragments that have been scattered across your hard disk, and rejoining them into files that occupy the same area. The result of defrag is that it will usually speed up your computer, saving you time and also extending the hard disk’s lifetime. While defrag can sometimes be a time consuming process, it is nevertheless a regular component of computer maintenance.

In order to fully understand what is defrag, we need to know why it is performed. Most people think that their computer stores files in the same way we store them in a cabinet, meaning one file goes in one folder, and everything in that file is one collective piece of information. However, this is not the case with your hard disk. Your computer will store files more in the manner of a jigsaw puzzle, with bits and pieces of each file scattered all over the drive it’s stored on. These files are only brought together once the user accesses the file. After weeks and weeks of use, the amount of files you have stored will build up, causing your computer to take longer to find the bits of each file. This is what slows the computer down over time.

Your defrag program will scan the hard disk piece by piece, collecting all the bits of a lost file as it goes and placing them into a new place on the hard disk. Defrag can also identify any lost fragments or any parts of a damaged or deleted file that cannot be repaired or restored. The process is also able to identify any errors on the hard disk. Once defrag is completed, the hard disk won’t need to work so hard to find your files as they will all be in the same place.

Everyone should have a regular maintenance plan for their computer, and defrag should be performed as the last step in this. You could do it each month, or even just once or twice annually. Before defragging, it’s a good idea to uninstall any programs that you don’t use or need. You should also check for any major errors or damage before you defrag by using the ‘Disk Cleanup’ utility. Lastly, always remember to back up your files on a separate platform before commencing any computer maintenance.

If you are running any Windows system, then you already have one installed. In virtually all of the Windows versions the defrag program is located within the ‘Accessories’ folder, which you can access via ‘System Tools’. Once there, you will see what is defrag. Defrag doesn’t require you to download anything, nor be connected to the internet.

Even though defrag is a simple enough process, it can take quite a while to perform. While smaller hard disks or systems that are well maintained can be done in under an hour, a larger drive space that is cluttered up with many files and programs could take quite a few hours. You may prefer to defrag overnight. While you defrag, you should make sure that all other programs are turned off so that defrag program can run as fast as possible.

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