Everyone who has used a computer has seen or heard the term Defrag.

We’ve all seen it happen on our own computer if we use the task scheduler,  but for the most part, no one knows exactly what it is, or exactly why we do it.

Your computer has a lot of files residing side by side, or in contigious areas. From opening and shutting, deleting and downloading, the files can be out of order. This is called filed fragmentation and it can slow the process of running the programs considerably, depending on your operating system.

They don’t all sit together on the hard drive any more, but rather in sections, or, they are fragmented.

It’s a great deal like your closet. Supposed you keep your clothing in matched sets, such as the suit jacket and trousers, or the skirt and jacket together in the closet.  From being busy or harried,or adding a lot of new clothing, every thing is unmatched, and some jackets are hung with trousers that don’t match up.

IT would take a lot longer to find what you needed to wear.

Likewise, for your computer. When files of one kind are sitting next to files of another kind, instead of side by side,  it makes the computer work harder to find what its looking for when it comes time to use that program, so it takes a lot longer for the program to start or the computer to serve up the information that you want.

Windows Vista has a defragmentation utility that essentially runs on its own and doesn’t require a lot, but Windows XP, 2000 and 98 requires you to do that on your own, or to schedule it done when you aren’t going to be using the computer.

To set up  Disk Defragmenter to operate on its own, or to run it now (which will take a lot of resources and time, so you can’t use the computer at the same time):

• Click Start

• Go to Accessories

• Go To System Tools

• Go to Disk Defragmenter

The Defragmentation can be scheduled to run when you want it to run, or, when you’re not going to be using your computer.
Normally you’re going to want to schedule this for late at night.

To schedule the task for when you’re not using your computer:

• Click start

• Click accessories

• click system tools

• click scheduled tasks

Once you’ve done this a wizard will come up that will help you to schedule the defragmentation for a time when you’re not using your computer.

You do however need to make sure that the computer is on, so that the task can be completed.