How to Defrag a Computer at No Cost

If a computer is running slowly, then you might want to try running a defrag on the computer. Whether the computer is a desktop or a laptop, running a defrag on a computer can help the computer run more efficiently, which results in the computer running faster. There is no cost to run a defrag on a computer, because the software needed to run a defrag is already installed on any computer with a Windows operating system. It only takes a couple of minutes to begin the defrag process at no cost to you. The computer runs the defrag automatically. Here is how to defrag a computer at no cost.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Understand why you should defrag a computer. When you add and delete files to a computer, the hard drive becomes fragmented, which causes the computer to run sluggishly. If you defrag a computer regularly, then it will run faster. Because there is no cost to defrag a computer, there is no reason to limit how frequently you run a defrag on a computer.

2. 
    
   Start menu

   Open the My Computer window. To do this on a computer, click on the "Start" button at the bottom of the screen. Then, click "My Computer".

3. 
    
   My Computer window

   Choose the hard disk drive you want to defrag. Locate the section entitled “Hard Disk Drives.” In this section is a list of hard drives on the computer. For most computers, the hard disk drive you will want to defrag is "Local Disk (C:)".

4. 
    
   Menu bar

   Right-click on the hard disk drive you want to defrag on a computer. For example, if you want to defrag the C: drive, then right-click on "Local Disk (C:)". A menu bar will appear.

5. 
    
   Properties window

   Click on “Properties.” “Properties” is the last option on the menu bar. This opens the Local Disk (C:) Properties window.

6. 
    
   Tools tab

   Click the "Tools" tab. The Tools tab is the second tab in the Local Disk (C:) Properties window. The tabs are located on the top of the window.

7. 
    
   Disk Defrag window

   Click the “Defragment Now” button. The “Defragment Now” button is in the Defragmentation section of the window. This opens the Disk Defragmenter window.

8. 
    
   Disk Defrag window

   Click to select the disk drive you want to defrag on a computer and then click “Defragment.” For most computers, this will be (C:). After you click “Defragment,” the computer will first analyze the disk drive you selected and then begin defragging the computer at no cost.

9. 
    
   Completion message

   Wait for the “Defragmentation is Complete” message. If you have not defragged the computer in a long time, then the defragging process might take a while, even as long as an hour for very fragmented computers. Allow the computer to run the defrag until the process is completed. You will know that the computer has completed the defrag process at no cost when the “Defragmentation is Complete” message appears.

10. 
     
    Defrag report

    View the defrag report and then close the window. If you want to view the defrag report, click “View Report.” Otherwise, click “Close” to close the window.

Tips & Warnings

• It is a good idea to run an error check before running a defrag on a computer. There is no cost to run an error check, because the software for doing this is included with Windows. While running an error check is not necessary in order to defrag a computer at no cost, running an error check is another computer maintenance task that should be completed as frequently as the computer is defragged.
• Defrag a computer on a regular basis. Because there is no cost to defrag a computer, there is no reason to limit how frequently you run a defrag on a computer. Ideally, you should defrag a computer at least weekly.
• The more frequently you defrag a computer, the less time the defrag process will take. The defrag process can take a significant amount of time on a computer that has not been defragged in a while.