2006-09-27 08:04:42 · 8 answers · asked by Uub 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Other - Computers
It finds the empty spaces on your computer so the memory stays functioning at the proper level.
2006-09-27 08:06:36 · answer #1 · answered by betterlife_travel 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
Files are written on disk in the first available disk sectors. If the sectors aren't contiguous the files are fragmented and written in parts to several locations which requires more time to read and write to these files.
Since reading and writing on disk is a mechanical process it's the slowest possible way to access files and when the files are fragmented the mechanical heads have to search out and read from multiple disk locations to access a file. Files on disk are constantly being added, modified and erased performance will decline over time as more and more files fragment.
It is usually a good idea to defragment your drive regularly and especially a good idea to defragment before installing new programs.
Defragmenting should not be confused with removing cached files. No files are removed during defragmantation. It should also not be confused with memory (RAM), defragmenting is a disk process not memory related.
2006-09-27 15:23:46 · answer #2 · answered by Brian K² 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The hard-drive on your computer is constantly writing and erasing files and programs as it runs. The files it is writing are usually not the same size as the erased space available. The hard drive will then Fragment the file - putting a piece of it here and there whereever space is available. Over time, what happens is that a significant number of files are fragmented in various locations physically on the drive.
This fragmentation can cause performance issues because the drive heads literally need to move all over the place in order to read the entire file. With todays fast drives, it isn't as pronouced as it used to be, but there is a performance hit.
Defragmenting is a process that finds all of these pieces of files and reorders everything so that as many files as possible are contiguous on the hard-drive platters. This way, the heads don't have to move as far to read the data, and your performance is generally increased a bit - you'll notice less drive activity and everything will run a bit faster.
2006-09-27 15:11:46 · answer #3 · answered by qetyl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a simple answer if you don't your machine will rapidly slow down, what it does is it moves all related files on your p.c. into one place so that your p.c. is not clogged up with random rubbish, although you might not realise this, all the time yourp.c. is switched on and everytime you click it uses a folder or application somewhere and it doesn't always get put back properly, it mainly happens when putting things on or btaking things off your p.c. my advice is defrag every couple of days!
2006-09-27 15:09:50 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It places all related files together, so when a program uses them, it will work faster.
Defragmenting your computer will increase your computer's performance.
2006-09-27 15:09:55 · answer #5 · answered by IO 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the purpose of defragmentation is to get your programs back into line on your disk so the computer does not have to search all over creation to find it's files, just like cleaning your room and reorganising your desk makes finding your stuff a whole lot easier!
2006-09-27 15:07:33 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You're getting rid of all the junk files in your computer to make more space.
2006-09-27 15:13:01 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Just in case gay porn gets on it.
2006-09-27 15:06:38 · answer #8 · answered by ? 5 · 0⤊ 2⤋