How to Defragment Your Computer

One of the ways to keep your computer running smoothly is to defragment it. Read on for details about how to keep your computer running smoothly by using defragment procedures.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 
    
   Defragmenting your computer

   First go to Programs-Acessories-System Tools- Disk Defragmenter. Here is where you will do your work or your computer will actually do the work for you. This will bring all your files into one continuous block so it will run smoother.

2. 
    
   Let your computer analyze the situation.

   After you get to the proper place on your computer, click analyze. Let your computer do its thing.

3. 
    
   Be patient.

   This could take a while if you haven't done it before so be patient. Once your computer has run the test, it will give you the opportunity to click defragment or even a report. It may tell you it doesn't recommend that you defragment your files at this time.
   The lines that you see in the box will actually show you which files are where. The red lines are fragmented, blue is Contiguous, the green are unmovable, and the white space is free space.

Tips & Warnings

• You should check your files if you use your computer often and save things on it daily. It depends also on the amount of space on your computer, how often you may need to do it.

Resources

• Building a computer

[tachic]

on 3/13/2009 Great, thanks!

[athome]

on 3/11/2009 great reminder thanks 5* how do you defrag a mac?

[irkz87]

on 3/11/2009 Thanks for sharing. 5*

[amymcclair]

on 3/10/2009 On some of the older XP models defrag gets stuck. I have a computer that only allows defragmentation if I use Norton or McAfee to do it. Good article. 5*

[LouisJeffries]

on 3/9/2009 Will do that now. thanks