How to Improve Hard Disk Speed

Hard disk speed can significantly influence the computer performance. Even if the computer has powerful CPU, good memory, a slow hard disk can be a bottleneck in the computer. It could be expensive to replace the hard drive. One can do some maintenance and tuning to improve hard disk speed in a computer. Following are some of the things you can do to improve hard disk speed.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 
    
   hard disk

   De-fragment the hard drive at least once in six months. In the windows explorer, right click on the drive. Click on "Properties" menu. In the Properties window go to the "Tools" tab. Click on "Defragment Now" button. This will pack all the data in the drive together and improve hard disk speed.

2. 
    
   imporve hard disk speed

   Run hard disk error check to improve hard disk speed. In the windows explorer right click on the drive. Click on "Properties" menu. In the properties window go to the "Tools" tab. Click on "Check Now" button. This will check and fix any error. Fixing error will improve hard disk speed to some extent.

3. 
    
   Speed up hard drive

   Enable write caching. In the windows explorer right click on the drive. Click on "Properties" menu. In the properties window go to the "Hardware" tab.
   
   Select the hard disk to speed up from the list. Click on the "Properties" button. In the properties window go to the Hardware tab. Select "Optimize for performance" radio button and select the check box "Enable Write caching on the disk". Enabling this option improves hard disk speed.

Tips & Warnings

• Disk defragment and error check operations will take long time to complete. You will not be able to use the computer while these operations in progress.

[kristianw]

on 9/25/2009 Good Article, 5 stars!

[zahzel]

on 9/25/2009 TY 4 the info. I am going to do this. Zahzel