How to Defrag a Laptop

If a laptop computer is running slowly, then you might want to defrag (defragment) the laptop to see if this makes the laptop run faster. Running a defrag on a laptop is easy to do, and the software to defrag a laptop comes included on any laptop with Windows already installed. If you are familiar with the process for defragging a desktop computer, then you will have no trouble with defragging a laptop, because the process is the same. It only takes a couple of minutes to begin the defrag process, and then the laptop takes care of the defragging automatically. Here is how to defrag a laptop.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Understand why you should defrag a laptop regularly. When you add and delete files to a laptop, the hard drive becomes fragmented, which can cause the laptop to slow down as it runs less efficiently. If you defrag a laptop on a regular basis (preferably weekly), then your laptop is more likely to run faster.

2. 
   Start menu

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

3. 
   MyComputer window

   Choose the hard disk drive you want to defrag on the laptop. Locate the section entitled “Hard Disk Drives.” In this section is a list of hard drives on the laptop. For most laptops, 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 laptop. 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 laptop and then click “Defragment.” For most laptops, this will be (C:). After you click “Defragment,” the laptop will first analyze the disk drive you selected and then beginning defragging the laptop.

9. 
   Completion message

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