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Home > Technology Solutions, Custom Applications
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Does My Computer Need A Defrag?
by Victor Epand
To defrag or not to defrag...that is the question. Before answering this question, though, it may be helpful to know a bit about what defrag is, why it exists, and when does one need to do it. Yes, this implies that not all computers need to be or should be defragmented.
The utility or program called a disk defragmenter is usually used in Windows computers. It serves to solve problems that may arise because of the method of data storage that hard disks use to store data.
There are three main functions of the hard drive and the limitations of those functions are the reason for the break-up of files on the disk. Hard drives store data in clusters called sectors. Sectors hold a finite amount of data, either 256 or 512 bytes. The hard drive has a small arm that moves around the surface of the disk. The arm has heads for the purpose of reading and writing data onto the platters, which is where the sectors and tracks are located on a hard drive. The arm moves the heads into position when the CPU requests a file, or a particular collection of bytes, then waits for the platter to spin the sectors into position for the heads to access the data and send it byte by byte to the CPU for usage.
As you can guess, this makes hard disks very, very slow when compared with other technological processes within a computer's memory. When compared side by side with the computer's processor and speed of memory, it can appear that the time a hard disk needs to work its magic takes a millennium in time.
Defragmentation is the operation that will lessen the time the arm needs to move around on the disk platter looking for information in the sectors. It helps organize data on the hard drive into sequential segments on the disk. After you have performed the operation, the arm moves less because related data is stored together instead of on several cluster sectors of unrelated material, keeping the arm in constant motion as it attempts to get all of the requested information to the CPU. The more the arm has to move to place the heads in position, the more time it takes to complete the process.
So, why doesn't a Windows computer store data sequentially to begin with, you ask? It does...or at least, in the beginning it does, when the disk is new and therefore empty. The problems begin to occur after the disk has some files erased or when the disk has been in use for a while and has a great many of these deleted areas of data as happens with all Windows computers that have been in use for a while. The utility program allows those gaps from deleted and erased data, no longer needed by the user, to disappear as it rearranges the files that are currently on the computer into sequential order for easier access.
Good programs go a step beyond and place application files close to the operating system files so that the time for reboots is diminished dramatically since the arm has to move very little to access the application's files after accessing the operating system's files. The order that the program uses to organize the files is the same order in which files that are consistently used by the computer are stored.
As you may have guessed, this is not a quick process. It typically takes hours for the process to be completed. However, this can improve the performance and speed of your computer. It is recommended that the program be run during the hours you sleep, to experience the least amount of downtime as you cannot be running other applications during the process, as this will cause the software to work improperly.
About the Author
Victor Epand is an expert consultant for computer memory, PC supplies, and computer games. When shopping, we recommend the best online stores for PC supplies, software for defragging your hard drive, computer memory, RAM, and used computer games.
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