Use Disk Defragmenter in Windows

Over time, the files on your hard drive are fragmented and the computer slows down because it has to check multiple locations on the drive. To make your computer run more efficiently, you can use Windows built-in tools to defragment those files. This article will show you how to use Disk Defragmenter in Windows operating system versions.

Note on solid state drives (SSDs): SSDs operate differently from traditional mechanical hard drives. SSDs do not need to be defragmented and doing so also wears down the drive. However, Windows performs SSD defragmentation once a month if necessary and if users set up System Restore. You don't need to worry about this because automatic defragmentation means extending the life and performance of the drive.

1. 7 mistakes easily 'kill' SSDs

So with an SSD, let Windows do its job and you don't need to worry about defragmenting. You can use Optimize Drive tool (also called Disk Defragmenter) to perform disk optimization, including sending TRIM commands to optimize performance. However, it does not perform traditional defragmentation on SSD. For mechanical drives, you can check and fix its fragmentation state.

How to defragment a hard drive on Windows 10

Refer to the article When and how to defragment hard drives on Windows 10? to know how to do it.

How to defragment a hard drive on Windows 8

To perform disk defragmenting on Windows 8, follow the procedure below.

Way 1.

Step 1 . Open File Explorer and select Computer .

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Step 2 . Click right-click on the drive you want to optimize and then select Properties .

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Step 3 . Click on the Tools tab and then under Optimize and defragment drive , click Optimize .

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Step 4. Select the drive you want to defragment and click Optimize .

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Method 2.

Step 1 . Access the Start menu.

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Step 2 . Right-click on the Start menu wallpaper to appear ' All apps '.

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Step 3 . Select All apps , scroll down to find the Control Panel and click on it.

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Step 4 . In the upper right of Control Panel, click the View by drop-down menu (default is Category ), select Large icon or Small icon .

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Step 5 . Click Administrative Tools. Double-click Defragment and Optimize Drives.

Step 6. Select the drive you want to optimize and click Optimize.

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How to defragment a hard drive on Windows 7

Refer to the Quick Disk Defragment article in Windows 7 for how to do it.

How to defragment a hard drive on Windows Vista

To open Disk Defragmenter, go to Start menu -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools .

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As mentioned above, this app now has only two options: " Modify Schedule " and " Defragment now ".

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If you click on Defragment now button, the defragmentation process will begin. You will no longer see the progress bar or estimate the progress of the defragmentation process. And now you just need to wait until it ends. One thing to remind you is that you should only perform this defragmentation process when you work or go out and do not use it on your computer.

If you want to cancel / cancel the defragmenting process, just click the Cancel defragmentation button.

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If you want to schedule automatic defragmentation, just click the Modify schedule button.

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In the scheduling window you can choose the timing and frequency of automatic defragmentation. Most people often run a drive once a month and you can also apply this.

See more:

1. Use Windows Disk Defragment via the command line
2. These quality hard drive defragmentation software
3. 9 things to know about hard drive fragmentation