Defragging??? what does that mean? I keep seeing that and I don't understand.?

Question

I know it has something to do with computers. Is it deleting things you don't need any more? Please explain how to Defrag.

Answer 1

When you put files on your computer, the go on one after another (just imagine building blocks, one after another in a row). Ok, now let's say you remove a file that is 5 blocks long. Now, theres a 5 block hole isn't there? The next file you put on is 8 blocks long. Well, a computer will put the 1st 5 blocks in the hole and then the next 3 at the end. This happens dozens, hundreds of times..

Defragmenting a Hard Drive means that it puts those files that are in pieces on the hard drive all together.

How to do it? Programs / Accessories / System Tools / Defragmentation.

Answer 2

I'm assuming you're using windows. The idea is that files are stored in "blocks" on your harddisk, and most files take up lots of these. If you have a newly formatted computer, the disk is mostly empty, and the computer saves files in nearby blocks, so it can be read quickly. But as time goes by, files are added and removed, and since the computer always finds the nearest space on the disk to start writing, it might have to split up the file in different locations on the disk: thus, the file is fragmented. Defragging shuffles the blocks around, so that once again all the blocks for a file are adjacent. You run it by right clicking on your disk, going to properties, tools, then "Defragment Now". This can take a couple hours/days, depending on just how bad it is (ie, how long since you last ran, which for you is never), so might be worth starting just before going to bed. Cheers.

Answer 3

Defrag doesn't delete anything. It scans the selected drive and basically rearranges all the data stored on it. All files are comprised of bytes. With continued computer use, the files are not stored whole, or in consecutive bytes. When you access a file, the processor must then retrieve all the bits and pieces (fragments) from different areas on the drive. Defrag rearranges everything stored on the drive so the files are stored in consecutive bytes again and the processor doesn't have to work as hard to retrieve the file when you access it.

Answer 4

It is when Files are scattered all around the drive affecting your Hard drives perfromance when A drive is Fragmented it has to work harder finding all the data cause its scattered all around the drive and its taking alot longer to open your files here is a example of a fragmented drive http://www.pcstats.com/articleimages/200312/101tips_4.jpg you see files are everywhere scatterd affecting performace a drive has to be defragmented at least once a week installing and unistalling programs fragments your drive so best way is to defrag your drive put files together and the performace boost is very noticable very good your hard drive will work better and have better response time.

Answer 5

This is defragging in a nutshell. When you download anything onto your hard drive it leaves little areas of blank memory. In since nothing can fit in these little fragments it's wasted. Defragging puts everything in nice neat order so you end up getting more memory usage. Simple answer: gives you more free space in your hard drive.

Answer 6

Defragmenting your c (hard drive) simply puts all fragments of files back into their right folders and such. When you use programmes over a period of time files can become fragmented and your pc might run slower. It is good to defragment before you do a virus scan.

Answer 7

Whenever a file is written to your computer, sometimes it must be broken up because there isn't enough room to keep it together in one space on your hard drive, which is fragmenting. Unfortunately, that can leave gaps in your hard drive that might not be big enough to put anything else in, so you're left with essentially dead space on the drive.

Defragging your hard drive puts all of the pieces back together, thus freeing up more hard drive space.

Answer 8

It breaks down unecessary memory that is being used up and reorganizes the information to make more ''space''. You need to do that like once a week. My dad does it like once every three weeks.

Answer 9

It breaks down your harddrive's stuff and it reagranges it so the harddrive can access it faster than if you didn't
it can also save some space
but that doesn't happen too much

Answer 10

it has to do with your hard drive... when files are deleted and copied onto your hard drive they go to a location on your drive. dfragmention will move the files closer together on your drive so it can read them faster... that's pretty much it without getting all techy on you.