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Using the Windows onboard defragmentation utility is simple. Here's how to launch the program:
In Windows XP (any variety):
* Open My Computer.
* Right-click the local disk volume you wish to defragment.
* Click Properties.
* On the Tools tab, click Defragment Now.
* Click Defragment.
There are several limitations to the defrag function in XP. For instance, it's only possible to defrag one volume at a time. The utility does not include a scheduling function, however, it is possible to use the Windows Scheduler utility to run Defrag from the command line. This is a somewhat complicated process and it's really only appropriate for advanced users and IT professionals. Information is available on microsoft.com.
In Windows Vista, type "defrag" into the start menu search box and press Enter. Note that you must be logged in as an administrator to run the Defrag utility.
The Vista Defrag utility is easier to use and offers some significant advantages over the XP version. When you launch the application using the above command, you'll be presented with a screen that allows you to control many aspects of the defragmentation process. The most useful of these is the ability to schedule defragmentation to run at a time that is convenient for you.
Defrag for Other Operating Systems
As you might suspect, operating systems such as Mac OS and Linux use different file management systems and have different requirements in terms of defragmentation.
The operating system for Apple's Macintosh computers doesn't include a built-in defragmentation application, although third-party utilities are available. According to Apple, Mac OS is designed to reduce fragmentation by writing new data to larger open areas of the disk. Smaller segments, such as those left over when a file is deleted, are only used when necessary. Macintosh software developers are taking advantage of faster hard drives to eliminate fragmentation by always writing complete files to the disk rather than adding data to existing files. Mac OS (10.3 Panther) and later versions defragment files on an ongoing basis, making batch defragmentation unnecessary.
As for Linux, there are two major reasons defragging is less of an issue. First, Linux doesn't store files in order, so there's often room to append data to an existing file in its current location. Linux also places the disk reading head at the center of the platter. Unless a file is fragmented to opposite sides of the disk, the head can reach multiple clusters quickly. Linux isn't, however, immune to fragmentation, particularly when a disk nears its maximum capacity. The bad news is, when the disk is nearly full (more than 75 percent of space used), it becomes more difficult for a defrag utility to operate effectively. So, by the time a Linux disk becomes fragmented enough to slow things down, it's difficult to solve the problem. For many users, this paradox provides a reason to defragment Linux hard drives on an ongoing basis.
Third-party defrag applications are available for all operating systems. In addition to defragmentation, many of these utilities provide additional capabilities, such as:
* Simplified scheduling
* Background defragmentation
* File storage optimization/fragmentation prevention
* Optimization of other system elements such as the registry
* Permanent removal of sensitive files
* Elimination of cookies and temporary Internet files
But what about non-mechanical disk technologies such as solid state or thumb drives? Some computer manufacturers are already putting them in laptops and other electronic devices. Do those need to be defragged, too?
The reason defragmenting a hard drive can increase computing speed is because the drive uses moving parts (the disk and drive head) to access data. A solid state drive has no moving parts, so retrieving any specific bit of data requires the same access time no matter where the file clusters are stored. In fact, some experts claim that defragmenting a solid state drive may actually be harmful. Solid state memory can be written and overwritten many times, but there is a limit. Each time data are written to a bit of memory, its lifespan is decreased slightly. Therefore, continuously defragmenting a thumb drive could hasten its demise with no real benefit.
Disk Defragmentation Tips
Given everything we've learned, is it worthwhile to defragment your hard drive? The answer is yes, but newer drive technology is likely to reduce the speed gains. With that in mind, here are a few suggestions regarding defragmentation:
* Defrag early and fairly often. If you believe the best defense is a good offense, it's probably wise to set up a defragmentation schedule beginning when you've installed software on a new system. If you're running Windows Vista, this is simple. If not, you can use the Windows Scheduler to do the job. The defrag utility will do its best work when there's plenty of free space on the drive. This also allows key system files to be written to the disk in order. Most experts seem to feel defragmentation should be run no more than once a week, but no less than once per month.
* Add more memory. It's not nearly as costly as it used to be and it will improve your computer's performance in virtually every way. In terms of disk storage, more memory enables the system to cache more data, reducing the effects of fragmentation.
* Clean up and add disk capacity. As we've seen, a disk drive that's less than 50 percent full is less likely to be slowed by fragmentation. It's also easier to defragment. Given the vastly reduced cost of disk drives, adding more capacity is a quick and easy speed booster. Don't forget to delete unused files from your hard drive from time to time. The more free space there is, the faster your programs will run.
* Replace old drives. If your disk drive is more than two or three years old, you could speed processing up considerably by replacing it with a new drive that is faster and offers enhanced file caching capabilities. As a bonus, when you copy your existing files to the new drive, they'll be defragmented automatically as an integral part of the process.
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Sherman Hand