Why do I have to defrag my pc?

Question

Why is it fragged in the FIRST PLACE?!!

Answer 1

What is file fragmentation?

Sometimes when you install a program or create a data file, the file ends up chopped up into chunks and stored in multiple locations on the disk. This is called fragmentation.

What makes this happen?

When you first install your operating system and programs on your hard disk, they are written to the disk, for the most part, in one contiguous block without any gaps. The exceptions are certain system files that must be stored in specific locations. Over time, as you create and then delete documents or uninstall programs, once-filled locations are left empty and you end up with files dotted all over the disk.

Now, when Windows is writing a file to the disk, it looks for a suitable piece of free space in which to store it. What happens, then, when you copy a 40M database or audio file to the disk and the biggest slice of free space is only 30M? Or say you modify an existing file, appending a whole bunch of data so the file now takes up more space on the disk. To accommodate the files, Windows writes the first part of the file in one section of the disk and then scouts around for other places to store the rest of the file. The end result is that a single file may be stored in several chunks scattered about the disk. http://www.geekgirls.com/windows_defrag.htm

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Make it a great day!

Answer 2

The reason why there are fragmented files in the first place is because you keep moving files in different locations. You delete old files, relocate music tracks to a new location, etc. Once there are more fragmented files, the computer will become slow. But once you select the defrag command, the computer will rearrange everything. Its like putting everything into alphabetical order. Once the fragmented files have been defragmented the speed of the computer will gradually be restored.

Answer 3

All your data is stored in your hard disc in a properly arranged form called File System. When you delete a file, edit a file etc the file system expands and looks for additional memory or frees up memory. If additional memory required is right next to the existing chunk it is easier to fetch that data immediately, so by defragmenting you are basically alligning the free pool data & arranging them in order for faster processing.
Imagine a collection of red, green & blue balls (your data on your PC). If they are all stacked up together (or atleast closer), it is easier (increses performance of PC) to fetch them faster when you say ...get me all the red balls.
Why is it fragged in the first place: When more memory is needed and not found right next the existing chunk additional memory is reserved somewhere far in a disc (said to be fragged). Defrag - get it closer & packed.

Answer 4

Most hard disks store data in a non-contiguous manner, i.e, in fragments. Even a single file can be stored in 100 fragments!! So, when you want to access that file, the OS first of all collects all those fragments, joins them and then opens the file. All these takes quite some time. However, by defragmenting, the data are all brought together and the free space is tucked to the other corner. Hence, data retrieval becomes faster.

Answer 5

Over time, files on your hardrive get moved all over the hard drive which means that when you use a program the computer has to pull all the files together before starting the app. which slows it down.

The Defrag pulls all the files together so that all the files for each application are stored in the same place. Its a computer version of tidying up.

Answer 6

fragmented is basically meaning that the information is broke into small files or parts. When you save information your computer stores the files on your hard drive and in a logical order. Overtime and if you multitask a lot the hardrive can get overwhelmed and some times store information unlogically. When the information is stored unlogically it's harder for you pc to find or process that information. When you defrag the computer it returns the files and places them back it logical order so you can access information more efficiently.

Answer 7

Well, over time the "blocks" on your hardrive "move out of place" and become bad and are no longer able to have things installed on them. So, over time they will get worse and if you try to install something ontu your computer, it will just fail because the computer doesnt know they are bad. Defragging your computer finds what blocks are bad and fixes them so you dont have to buy a whole new hardrive and transfer all your current stuff over to the new hardrive (which is a real pain and takes a long time)

I think i covered everything.... hoped i helped :)

Answer 8

Because the clusters that make up any txt or document get broken or disassembled during the operation of your PC.

Eventually your computer will slow down trying to find the words you want to type. The defragging process reassembles these broken clusters so that your hard drive does not LABOUR uncessarily.

Think of it as general housekeeping, putting everything in place, just as you would your home or office.

Answer 9

Defrag is short of deframenting

When you add and delete files they're not put on the hard drive in an oredered manner.

For example, sa you delete 10 meg file. Then you save a 15 meg file. Your OS will save the first 10 megs (usually) in the empty space of the deleted file and go to "end" of files stored on your hard rive and save the other 5 egs of the file.

Now, whenever you access the 15 meg file the hqrd drive will ave to move around the hard drive to load al of the file which takes more time than if the file was saved in "sequence"

Answer 10

from time to time files that are on our computers are shuffled and move out of its rightful place, in which in these instances these active drives needs to be defragged so that the files are sorted and filed back in to place. Files may also get corrupted when we remove particular software from our computers. Sometime the software that is removed may have some files that are lingering and left behind without all of the correct components that it originally came with.