Disk Fragmentation

“What is it and why does it matter?”

By Bikash..

We often hear the questions like "Why is taking ages to boot-up windows?" or  "Why it's taking so long to start the web browser?" The major culprit here is Drive Fragmentation.

The more programs you install (and uninstall), updates you run and files you move, the more chaotic your hard disk gets. Simple example:




The Fragmentation phenomenon:

1. You uninstall the office suite on your machine; these files are deleted, leaving a gap as you can see.
2. Now you install a huge video editing suite which takes up more space than the office suite. Windows now tries to put the files in the gap, but they obviously don’t fit anymore.
3. Then your video editing suite is split into two parts. The hard disk now needs more time to collect the data to start the program and use specific functions. Since all programs, including your operating system itself, constantly access files, the end result is an overall sluggish system.

This is a simple example of how fragmentation occurs. Simply by deleting, moving, installing and copying files, fragmentation happens DAILY. Even when you’re just browsing the Web or receiving e-mails, your hard disk becomes more and more fragmented, and you lose performance.
The effect on performance is exponentially related to how many files are being accessed at the same time. Also, keep in mind that your hard disk is mechanical and is therefore the weakest link in the chain. Your processor, main memory and motherboard all have to wait until data is read by the slow mechanical hard disk.
In order to counteract the fragmentation of files, it is important to Defrag the hard drive. This process puts the scattered file fragments back together, thereby accelerating the system. Now, PC users can finally work at the right pace again.
           Windows Built-In Defragmenter in Windows95

           Windows Built-In Defragmenter in Vista

           Windows Built-In Defragmenter in Windows 7

Choosing the right defragmenter for your disk

While Windows’ built-in disk defragmenter does an okay job, it is not sufficient by itself. Professional tools can automate the defragmentation process and are capable of rearranging the hard disk much more efficiently. If you use the right defragmenter, boot time will go down, and your programs will respond much more quickly.

Read More:

---Top 7 Disk Defragmenters for Windows 
---PROS & CONS of Disk Defragmenter in Windows 7