what exactly does defragmenting your computer do??

Question

had this three month from new,i use this sight,ebay and google,is there any thing i should do,only a novice. many thanks.

Answer 1

Your hard drive is divided into small compartments (I think they're 512kb each but can't remember!). If a file is biogger it is spread over several compartments. Your pc uses the first free slot it finds.
That means the files can be split. So when you want to open one, it takes your pc a bit longer to collect the pieces and open the file.
Defragmenting puts them all together. I would do it once a month, it only takes a few minutes. If you leave it, it can take hours.
Defragment your hard drive from Start - programs - accessories - system tools - disc defragmenter. Leave the machine while it runs.


Also, as you're a newbie, try these programs, they're all legal and free;
You need all these anti spyware programs;
http://www.ewido.net - AVG(Ewido) anti trojan.
http://www.safer-networking.org - Spybot Search and Destroy anti spyware. Use the Teatimer settings to protect Internet Explorer, and the Immuniser to stop malware getting on your pc.
Spywareblaster works with Internet Explorer and Firefox. It won't uninstall spyware that is already on your pc, but it will prevent hijacks and other malicious changes to your browser.
http://www.javacoolsoftware.com
Plus;
http://www.lavasoft.com - Ad-Aware SE Personal anti adware

And these are useful utilities;
http://www.mozilla.com/ - Firefox web browser.
https://addons.mozilla.org/search.php?q=ad+block&type=A&app=firefox - Adblock Plus
http://www.ccleaner.com - Cr*pcleaner Registry cleaner and privacy tool. Run the Cleaner at least once a week and see how much rubbish it clears out!
http://www.winpatrol.com - Use Winpatrol to cut down the programs that load on startup to speed up your pc.
http://www.siteadvisor.com -MacAffee Site Advisor warns about malware on sites you are about to visit.

Theres a list of freeware on my 360 blog (click on my picture and follow the link from my profile page.)

Answer 2

In the context of administering computer systems, defragmentation (or defragging) is a process that reduces the amount of fragmentation in file systems. It does this by physically reorganizing the contents of the disk in order to store the pieces of each file close together and in order (contiguously). It also attempts to create larger regions of free space using compaction to impede the return of fragmentation. Some defragmenters also try to keep smaller files within a single directory together, as they are often accessed in sequence.

Answer 3

Basically it just sorts all the files and other bits and bobs back into some semblance of order - Windows is renowned for losing or misplacing file fragments all over the hard drive - defrag just puts them back in the right place. In theory it should make the computer run faster when done - although in all honesty I have never really noticed a great deal of change!

Just run it and let it do it's thing - won't do any harm

Answer 4

When you install things onto your computer sometimes little spaces are left where there is no information. The spaces get lost in amongst everything else and so you waste this space.
When you defragment your computer it takes all of the empty spaces and puts them all back together so that you can use them again.
When you do the defragmentation you can see this happening.
If you have not put loads of stuff on and are not having any problems then you should not need to defragment having said that it can't do any harm to tidy things up.

Answer 5

it helps your computer to run fast by consolidating fragmented files in your computer. It will help you open your programs and documents faster. Files become fragmented over time every time you delete or move something in your computer and because of this fragmentation, your computer will take more time in looking for the right codes or files to open a program or document. Disk defragmenter helps you arrange those files again... get it now?

Answer 6

Drfragging will basically move your programs around so that they are together.
When you save info on your computer it gets saved at the first avaiable place, not always next to the program that you are using. The program marks where the info is so when you need it the program knows where to find it.
Defrag will put the info near the program. This will normally result in faster response time from that program, and speeding up your computers time in getting you the info.

Answer 7

Think of it this way. You have a file cabinet that you throw all your documents in. Now imagine trying to find something. You'll eventually find it because you know it's in there. Now imagine you throwing financial paper work in the first drawer, your personal paperwork in the second drawer...etc. Now it's easier to find. Now imagine in each drawer, you actually have folders to separate documents. For example in your first drawer (financial) you have separate folders for bank statements, loans, mortages...etc. Now when you need bank info, you know you need to open the first drawer and take out your bank folder and there you will find the doument ou are looking for. Done

Answer 8

A 3 month old computer shouldn't need defragmentation. If you use the defragmentation installed on your computer, it will tell you what % of your drive is fragmented, and either recommend or tell you to wait on it.

In Win XP... Start Button -- Programs -- Accessories -- System Tools -- Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter.

Basically... files are stored on your computer not as one whole unit, but as bits and bytes. Those bits sometimes get a bit scattered around your hard drive, as other files get saved, etc. Defragmentation pulls all of the used space on your hard drive into clumps, making it easier for the computer to find files, store new files, and so forth.

Answer 9

Make a practice of doing it once a month and your work
with the computer will be a lot easier

Answer 10

it basically puts the programs you use the most towards the front of the drive for easier access.
when you delete a file it just takes the front letter of the file name off so it appears not to be there thus leaving behind file fragments defragging removes these deleted files completely