Windows 10 defragmentation process step by step

Steps to defragment Windows 10

Step 1 - First log into your account as an administrator. This is important!

Step 2 - Open My computer and go to File Explorer.

3 pass - Right-click the drive you want to defragment. Click on properties.

4 pass - Now choose Tools Tab and click Optimize.

5 pass - Now, click Optimize as shown below.

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Why is defragmenting Windows 10 a good idea and how to do it?

The first question that comes to mind is. What does the word defragmentation really mean? Hence, defragmentation is the process which helps to reduce the amount of fragmentation. The second question that comes to mind is what fragmentation means. Fragmentation is actually a poor way of storing our data. In the computer memory, large blocks of continuous memory blocks (called blocks) are created to store our data. When the block size exceeds the data size, the data is spread across multiple blocks.

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Defragmentation is just the maintenance task required by our hard drive. We even want our PC to run more smoothly, so defragmentation helps us achieve this. Defragmentation must be performed at regular intervals, since over time the data and files stored on our disk become fragmented, so defragmentation is required to access the data without problems.
In technical terms, defragmentation simply consists of stacking all sectors / pages of the hard drive in a sequential order, all pages are arranged one after the other in an appropriate sequential manner, so that they are close to each other . This helps to access files easily and in less time. This is analogous to the pages of the book. Now the difficulty arises of sorting the pages, so the different fragments of some other files have to be removed and space has to be left for the defragmented order.

The next question that comes to mind after reading is:

Do I need to defragment?

In the early days of the computer world, the answer was yes, but as time goes by, as technology advances, so does the answer.

Solid State Drive: In the early days SSDs were used that do not require the defragmentation process because they do not use the turntable for storage as there is no movement of the platter so it does not require additional time to read and write in the different parts of the drive. So defragmentation will not be able to improve performance.

Now, if you're using a non-solid state drive, you definitely need defragmentation.

How is defragmentation done?

The defragmentation process is performed using a specialized tool known as the Disk Defragmenter built into the latest operating systems. The tool performs its functions automatically at regular time intervals by itself, there is no need to trigger an action for it. If we want it to happen frequently, we can change the amount of the period according to our needs.

Below are the different ways in which the function of a defragmenter is performed depending on the different versions of the Windows operating system

Windows XP: To defragment a Windows XP operating system, we have to defragment our disk ourselves. Below are the steps to follow to defragment a Windows XP operating system:

1. Click on the start menu.
2. Then click on Run option and type Dfrg.msc and then press Enter.
3. Then a disk defragmentation program will open, from which we can easily defrag our disk.

Windows Vista:

1. Choose Start, All Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Defragmenter.
2. If a pop-up window appears, enter the valid administrator login or password.
3. Finally, click on Defragment Now, for your drive to be defragmented.

Windows 7 and 8: this type of operating system does not require manual defragmentation; it runs automatically on a scheduled date and time. We just have to keep control that the process runs periodically and smoothly, for this the following checks are carried out: -

1. Open the start menu.
2. Type defragmentation.
3. Now open the Windows “Disk Defragmenter” and make sure it is running according to the desired schedule. It also indicates the status of the last defragmenter run and also the status of the number of fragments left on the disk.

MAC OS: Even the Mac OS does not require manual defragmentation, the process is done automatically. We just need to check the required maintenance. This maintenance is performed by a tool called Stellar Drive Defrag.

Points to remember:

1. The time required by the defragmentation utility can be several minutes and can extend up to several hours; It entirely depends on the size and volume of the disk to be defragmented and also on the degree of defragmentation required.
2. The defrag utility is a tool that runs as a background process, so the work of the defrag utility does not interrupt a person's work.
3. If while a defragmentation is running, another program is using a particular drive; it can be for formatting purposes. So defragmentation cannot be performed.
4. Of many drives, there are network drives that cannot be defragmented.
5. If the drive status is not displayed, it means there is a problem with the drive and we should try to fix it as soon as possible.
6. The defragmentation utility does not include files in the Recycle Bin. It also does not include files like Bootsect DOS, Safeboot fs, Safeboot csv, Safeboot rsv, Hiberfil sys, Memory dmp and the Windows paging file.
7. If by any chance the defragmentation utility is not working or you cannot start it manually, it is also an indication that it is not working properly. To repair it, you need to type the following command at the command prompt

chkdsk / f

Conclusion:

Defragmentation is essential because it helps improve the speed of performance when programs run faster, helps extend the life of a hard drive as the mechanical part of the drive does less work, helps achieve a high level of security and helps also improve battery life. Therefore, defragmentation has many benefits that help a person access files efficiently, so defragmentation is a good idea and must be done for good results.