Several Easy Steps to Boost Your Computer's Speed

Step 9 Disk Defragmenter

Windows Disk Defragmenter is a computer program included in Microsoft Windows, designed to increase access speed (and sometimes increase the amount of usable space) by rearranging files stored on a disk to occupy contiguous storage locations, or defragmenting. The purpose is to optimize the time it takes to read and write files to/from the disk by minimizing head travel time and maximizing the transfer rate.

Here is where you can find it:
Start Menu
All Programs
Accessories
System Tools
Disk Defragmenter

You normally want to run this at night before you go to bed. Let it run while you sleep, and then restart your computer when it's finished.

Comments

[vicvelcro]

Defragging makes no noticeable improvement on SATA hard drives. It helps a lot on older PATA drives, especially the 33 and 66 class PATAs.

NEVER defrag an SSD. I have 6 of these. The manufacturer states that the flash technology will access any data in any location at the same speed. Repeatedly writing data (as happens in defrag movements) will decrease the life expectancy of the solid state itself.

I believe this step should be removed due to the PROBABILITY of readers misapplying the instructions to the wrong media. It should only be for PATA drives.

[daemonfist]

You may also wish to check out MyDefrag...it is a script based defrag util that comes with scripts that are easily scheduled via the windows task scheduler...or if you are even too lazy for that, it comes with a screen saver that will defrag you disk...

[lordyoyo]

This is useless. The Windows Defragmenter is kind of worthless compared to defragmenting programs, like the one even you mentioned, SmartDefrag. I'd recommend to remove this step...

[lukethebook333]

I can see what you mean, but I am going to leave it up because there are a lot of people that can't or won't download anything to speed up their computer. I'm thinking that I should combine the 2 steps.....

[Briguy9]

I would second that.