what actually happens during the defragment process of files?

Answer 1

When you add a file or a new program to a brand new computer, the hard disk is relatively empty so new data is written to the hard disk in one contiguous block. When you need to use that information, the computer can quickly access it because it is all in one place.

As you use your computer adding files and programs, the hard disk begins to fill up. Deleting files or removing programs creates small empty areas among the other data that the computer will reuse. After awhile, the computer is no longer saving information in large blocks. Instead, it stores information in the many little empty nooks and crannies of your hard disk. The result is that one program or file is broken up, or fragmented, into little pieces and stored in many different areas of the hard disk. The computer ingeniously keeps track of the addresses of each piece of data and puts it all together when it is needed. Yet, obviously, the more broken up the information is, the longer it takes to access the data and the slower the computer becomes.

Answer 2

When storing information on a computer, the data is spread all over the hard drive. It isn't put in a neat and tidy pile. Its' scattered
all over the hard drive.

Defragmenting takes these scattered files and places them together for faster data access, searching, etc.

Answer 3

Files are moved on the disk drive to make it faster for windows to find them. By placing them all in the same place it means faster read/write times therefore improving the speed.

Answer 4

defragmenting is like a mother of a toddler. the toddler throws his/her toys all over the house. then the mother has to put them away where they belong.

a drive is like the toddler and defrag is like that poor weary momma

Answer 5

GO to http://computer.howstuffworks.com/question548.htm they have a superb breakdown of the process.