New, fresh out of the box your computer was fast, but as time passed it became slower and slower. Now it slogs along making you wait for the simplest task to complete. Disk fragmentation contributes to slow computer performance.
As computers run, files are split into smaller and smaller pieces by the operating system. As the computer runs, it seeks to write data to disk as fast as possible. The standard method for doing this is to keep a free space list. The OS pulls space from the list as necessary, but do not look for a block of free space to write the entire file. The problem compounds when the Operating System leaves extra space around what it has writer so there is room to expand.
Who caused this problem? Well, no one, priority is given to writing data to the disk which means slower read speed and slow computer operation and as fragmenting increases, even write speed degrade. Data must be collected from multiple locations and sorted into order before it usage when a disk is high fragmented. There is always a balance be read and write speeds to disk drive.
Disk drives are mechanical devices and the more locations it must go to read or write information means slower computer performance.
The good news, fixing a slow computer caused by disk fragmenting is easy. We just have to run Disk Cleanup and Disk Defragmenter.
First, we must cleanup the disk drive, which reduces the Disk Defrag execution time. This removes most of the temporary and cache files left by the Operating System, Application Programs, and Internet. The click sequence is:
Start or Windows 7 Icon > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Cleanup
The disk analysis starts and then opens a new Window in which the following should be check:
- Temporary Internet File;
- Offline WebPages;
- Recycle Bin;
- Temporary files;
- Thumbnails; and
- Per user Archived Windows Error.
Then click the button Cleanup System Files followed by OK.
Running the Disk Defragmenter is very similar to the cleanup. Click the sequence:
Start or Windows 7 Icon > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter
A new window will open, select the disk you want to defragment and OK. The defragmenter will run from minutes to hours depending upon the degree of fragmentation.
Disk Defragmentation is always the first step and an excellent start to fix slow computers.