Increase Hard Drive Performance in Windows

on
You can have lots of RAM and a fast CPU but if your hard drive is slow, it brings down your system. In windows when files get saved they are split up into pieces across the drive fragmenting them. The Disk Defragmenter puts them back together in one area which makes accessing them faster.

Disk Defragmenter rearranges fragmented files on your hard disk so that the PC performs better. Because disk fragmentation occurs over time it is common for you to start seeing slower response times when loading or accessing files in windows.



Note that there are instances that the Disk Defragmenter will not be able to completely do the entire drive because of the following:
- Disk Defragmenter does not defragment files in the Recycle Bin. Best to run Disk Cleaner first and then empty the Recycle Bin, before defragmenting. Also delete temp files so you dont waste time and space on the drive being degragmented.
- Disk Defragmenter will also not defragment files which are in use. Best to try and shut down as many processes as possible and then defragment. So end the task of as many programs running that you know about.
Disk Defragmenter does not defragment the following files:
Bootsect dos, Safeboot fs, Safeboot csv, Safeboot rsv, Hiberfil sys, Memory dmp and the Windows page file.
However using the -b parameter, as mentioned below, will optimize the boot files.
Command line parameters for defragmenting give you more advanced and power users flexibility.

-r
This is the default setting and defragments file fragments that less than 64 MB.

-a
Analyze the selected drive / volume & display a summary report, consisting of analysis and defragmentation reports.

-c
Defragments all volumes on the computer. Don't specify a drive letter while using this.

-w
Perform FULL defragmentation of files of ALL sizes.

-f
Forced defragmentation even when there is less amount of free space on the drive being defragmented. A volume must have at least 15 % free space before Disk Defragmenter can completely defragment it.

-i
This makes Defrag run in the background & operate only if the computer is idle, like when run as a scheduled task.

-v
Displays complete reports.

-b
It optimizes boot files and applications only.

Other Tips Users have watched