How to Defrag a Dell Computer

If you have a Dell computer, then everything you need to defrag your computer is already loaded onto your Dell computer. Dell computers come with Windows already installed, and Windows includes the software needed to defrag a Dell computer. It is important to defrag a Dell computer regularly (preferably weekly) in order to keep your Dell computer running in peak condition. It only takes a couple of minutes to begin the defrag process, and then the Dell computer takes care of the defragging automatically. Here is how to defrag a Dell computer.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Understand why you should defrag a Dell computer regularly. When you add and delete files to a Dell computer, the hard drive becomes fragmented, which can cause the Dell computer to run sluggishly. Defrag a Dell computer regularly in order to keep it running more efficiently.

2. 
    
   Start menu

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

3. 
    
   MyComputer window

   Choose the hard disk drive that 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 Dell 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 the Dell computer. If you want to defrag your 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 Dell computer and then click “Defragment.” For most Dell computers, this will be (C:). After you click “Defragment,” the Dell computer will first analyze the disk drive you selected and then beginning defragging the Dell computer.

9. 
    
   Completion message

   Wait for the “Defragmentation is Complete” message. If you have not defragged a Dell computer in a long time, then the defragging process might take a while, even as long as an hour for very fragmented Dell computers. Allow the Dell computer to run the defrag until the process is completed. You will know that the Dell computer has completed the defrag process 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 Dell computer. While running an error check is not necessary in order to defrag a Dell computer, running an error check is another computer maintenance task that should be completed as frequently as the Dell computer is defragged.
• Defrag a Dell computer on a regular basis. Ideally, you should defrag a Dell computer at least weekly.
• The more frequently you defrag a Dell computer, the less time the defrag process will take. The defrag process can take a significant amount of time on a Dell computer that has not been defragged in a while.

Resources

• Dell Computer Coupons