What you need to know about disk defragmentation in Windows and macOS

When you move, copy, and perform other operations with the data on the hard drive, the latter begins to fragment. In other words, the system divides files into fragments and stores them in different physical areas of the disk.

The drive on which the number of fragmented files, it becomes slow. The fact that you are using a mechanical head for reading conventional hard disk (HDD), which runs across the disk from one chunk to another. The higher the fragmentation, the more operations take the reading and the more time spent on the process. Moreover, such heavy use of the disk accelerates wear on the drive.

fragmentation solves the reverse process - defragmentation, during which the system transfers the pieces of fragmented files closer together. Both phenomena have features that depend on the drive type and operating system. Let us examine them in detail.

How is the Disk Defragmenter in Windows Vista, 7, 8, 10

Starting with the default versions of Vista Windows defragmenting the disk automatically in the background. Normally, the system makes it once a week.

To check defragmentation settings, open the computer, right-click on the local disk and select "Properties» → «Tools» → «Optimize."

In the "Optimize disks" click "Edit Settings" and make sure that the automatic defragmentation is active and is offered weekly.

Check so that all local drives. After that, you can not worry about fragmentation.

And yet you can defragment drives manually. But such a need arises rarely. For example, defragmentation can help if you want to break up the hard drive partitions, and Windows will deny this because of the high level of fragmentation.

If you still need to run this process in a manual mode, right click on the local disk and select "Properties» → «Service». In any case, check the disk for errors using the button "Check", and then click "Optimize."

In the window "Optimization drives", run a disk analysis. If Windows says the disk needs to be optimized, click "Optimize" and follow the system prompts.

Depending on the computer disk defragmentation speed and power can last from a few minutes to several hours. But in the process you can use the computer.

How is the Disk Defragmenter in Windows XP

In contrast to the new versions, Windows XP does not automatically defragment the disk. But this problem is easily solved with the help of third-party programs. Install free utility such DefragglerYou can set up a schedule for automatic defragmentation.

The program interface is very simple and is available in Russian, so it is easy to understand. Including weekly defragmentation Defraggler settings and the utility will take care of your discs.

Do I need to defragment the disk in macOS

macOS arranged differently than Windows, so the hard disks Mac computers They do not need a manual defragmentation. The system optimizes the drives themselves.

What to do if you have a SSD

The SSD - solid state drives are the same - to defragment it is not necessary. These drives do not have moving parts, so that the speed of their work does not depend on the level of fragmentation.

Moreover, frequent defragmentation can harm SSD. This procedure is repeatedly overwrites the files on the disk that accelerates wear on SSDs. Therefore, Windows can not defragment SSD automatically, and third-party programs to defragment usually warn about the consequences.

see also

• As clear the cache in a computer or mobile device →
• How to clean your computer from advertising, remove debris and speed up Windows →
• What should I do if my computer does not see the internal hard disk →