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Defragment a Volume
Another hard disk condition that can adversely affect performance is when the volume becomes overly fragmented. Let's take the example used in a previous chunk: you have a file stored in "storage box" 11, and boxes 12-18, 23-25, and 59-67, as well. Figure 4-17 helps you visualize how such a file would be stored.
Figure 4-17. A fragmented file takes longer to retrieve.
| 1. | Click Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools, and then choose Disk Defragmenter. (Alternatively, you can launch the Computer Management tool and then look under the Storage Tools.) |
| 2. | Choose the volume you want to defragment. Defragmenting a disk can take hours, so it's highly recommended that you Analyze the disk before you defragment it. Click Analyze, and in a few seconds XP displays an evaluation like the one shown in Figure 4-18. The View Report button displays additional specifics about the nature of the fragmentation, but it's not terribly useful, at least not to 99% of computer users. You either need to defragment or you do not.Figure 4-18. Analyze before defragmentation. |
| 3. | If defragmentation is recommended, simply click the Defragment button to start the process. |
The utility looks for fragmented files, like the hypothetical file from this chunk's introduction, and rearranges them in areas of contiguous space if possible. Note also that defragmentation is done on a volume-by-volume basis, not on an entire hard disk.You can defragment in the background while working at the computer, but you might want to think twice before you do. Because it can take such a long time, and because the disk will be running at maximum capacity, it will really slow down normal operation. You might want to defragment when you're able to leave the computer for several hours, such as when leaving the office for the day, as I'm about to do right now.
