what is meant by contiguous and fragmented files?

Answer 1

A contiguous file is located on consecutive blocks, where a fragmented one is spread over non consecutive blocks.

Answer 2

contiguous is the files that are not touched, renamed, moved, or updated. fragmented are touched, renamed, moved, and/or updated.

pretty much contiguous files are the same way since the last defragmentation was done. the fragmented have been modified.

Answer 3

Contiguous - connected. As in the file is in a single area on the disk.

Fragmented - broken. As in the file is broken up into multiple areas on the disk.

Answer 4

It refers to how files are physically located on your local hard disk. If files are fragmented, then these files is spread across the drive with open spaces between them, for instance: if you had 3 files on your drive, and you would delete file no.2, then your hard drive will be fragmented. When you de-fragment your hard drive, it copies these files into these open spaces, it also tries to copy files that is uses one another closely together,not only does it make the speed at which your hard disk reads information faster, it also increases the life span of your hard disk because it uses less effort to get information.

Answer 5

When you use your PC the files you use get broken up and left all over the place so next time you use a programme the PC has to run around grabbing them all to make the programme work. Defragmenting just gets all the bits of files and puts them back next to each other so it can find the bits quicker and easier. Contiguous means close to but not touching. Imagine a messy bedroom with everything on the floor, draped over the chair, under the bed and so on. If you defragmented it, you'd put the dirty washing in the laundry, pair up your socks and shoes and put them away, hang up your clothes, put books on the shelf etc. so that everything is easier to find next time you need them.