When your computer no longer seems as fast as it was when you first started to use it, it may be time to run the Windows 7 Defrag utility. Essentially when you run programs, delete files, add files or perform just about any action on your computer the files stored on your hard drive begin to fragment.Don't worry, this doesn't mean that you are losing anything. All this means is the files that are stored in memory are no longer contiguous (stored in consecutive memory blocks).Consequently, in order to run a program, the computer has to reconstruct the program from memory blocks that are no longer in sequence. This takes longer for the computer to perform, resulting in a longer boot time, or the more time it takes to open a program and just an overall sluggish feel to your system in general. Running Windows 7 defrag will make all the files contiguous again.So to begin, click the start button in the bottom left corner. In the bottom of the start menu is a search box as shown in the bottom of the picture below. Type in defrag and then click on Disk Defragmenter.Click Image to EnlargeFrom the next screen you can opt to run the Windows 7 defrag application by choosing the defragment disk button on the lower right hand side of the window. If you just want to schedule your computer to run the defragment application at regular intervals you can click on the configure schedule button on the top right hand side.Typically for most computer users defragging once a month should be sufficient. Heavy PC users who work with large data files may want to run defrag twice a month.To help you decide whether or not your hard drive is in need of defragmenting you can analyze your hard disk. The button for this operation is near the bottom middle of the screenshot below. The application will analyze file integrity and tell you whether or not a defragment is necessary.
If you choose to schedule the Disk Defragmenter to run regularly this is the next screen that you will see. From here you can choose how frequently you would like the Windows 7 defrag service to run, on what day of the week you would like to do it, the best time and which disk (for those that have more than one) is in need of the service.When choosing a time, make sure that you set it for a time when you do not need use of the computer. Changing files while the service is running can cause the service to start again. If the application has not been run before you can expect it to take quite a while (depending on the size of your hard drive it may take several hours). As the Windows 7 defrag is run on a more scheduled basis this operation will take less time. Remember that the size of your hard drive is a factor in how long it will take to complete.Windows 7 Defrag by PC Apprentice 2009 - 2017One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men. No machine can do the work of one extraordinary man.- Elbert Hubbard Click Image to Enlarge
Click Image to Enlarge
From the next screen you can opt to run the Windows
7 defrag application by choosing the defragment disk
button on the lower right hand side of the window. If
you just want to schedule your computer to run the
defragment application at regular intervals you can
click on the configure schedule button on the top right
hand side.
Typically for most computer users defragging once a
month should be sufficient. Heavy PC users who work
with large data files may want to run defrag twice a
month.
To help you decide whether or not your hard drive is in
need of defragmenting you can analyze your hard
disk. The button for this operation is near the bottom
middle of the screenshot below. The application will
analyze file integrity and tell you whether or not a
defragment is necessary.
If you choose to schedule the Disk Defragmenter to
run regularly this is the next screen that you will see.
From here you can choose how frequently you would
like the Windows 7 defrag service to run, on what day
of the week you would like to do it, the best time and
which disk (for those that have more than one) is in
need of the service.
When choosing a time, make sure that you set it for a
time when you do not need use of the computer.
Changing files while the service is running can cause
the service to start again.
If the application has not been run before you can
expect it to take quite a while (depending on the size
of your hard drive it may take several hours). As the
Windows 7 defrag is run on a more scheduled basis
this operation will take less time. Remember that the
size of your hard drive is a factor in how long it will
take to complete.
Windows 7 Defrag by PC Apprentice 2009 - 2017
One machine can do the work of fifty ordinary men.
No machine can do the work of one extraordinary
man.
- Elbert Hubbard
Click Image to Enlarge
