7 Reasons Why I Need to Run Defragmentation for My Computer

<h1>7 Reasons Why I Need to Run Defragmentation for My Computer</h1>Author: <a title="Pinky Mcbanon" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/pinky-mcbanon/107992.htm">Pinky Mcbanon</a> When you store a file on the disk, the computer tries to store all the parts of your file in contiguous locations. When your drive is new and largely empty, storing files in large blocks adjacent to each other is easy. When you delete files or install and uninstall programs, the files removed leave behind empty spaces of varying sizes. The next time your computer tries to store a file, it stores it in bits and pieces wherever space is available on the disk - as a result a single large file may be spread over several sections of the hard disk. Your hard disk consists of disks coated with magnetic material that is used to store data on the drive. A hard disk is organized into sectors. There are read or write heads available in the hard disk that are used whenever you read or write data. The controller makes sure that the target sector for data read/write is available under the read/write heads by spinning it at high speeds. What Defragmentation of the disks does is that it makes all your files contiguous by eliminating the free spaces in between and brings all free space together. Any subsequent file storage activity will find large contiguous blocks of free space available. When you defragment your hard disk on a regular basis, 1.    Programs Run Faster - This is because your files are available in contiguous blocks and retrieving or writing data is faster. 2.    Data Access Faster - In a fragmented drive a file may need to be accessed from several tracks on different sectors, implying multiple data accesses. With Defragmentation, data access can be optimal involving fewer read/writes. 3.    Longer Hard Disk Life - Fewer seeks, read and write accesses improve the life of the hard disk and the probability of failure will be minimized. 4.    Lesser Power Consumption - The more fragmented the data is, the more spinning the hard disk has to do for data access and results in increased consumption of power. In battery-operated devices like laptops, defragmenting can reduce the power wasted in hard disk spinning considerably. 5.    Partitioning - Defragmenting before partitioning the hard disk also improves the efficiency of storage space allocation 6.    FAT Size - With fewer fragments for files, the size of File Allocation Table required per file also reduces thus reducing FAT size. 7.    Mechanical Failure Reduced - A reduction in mechanical movements as a result of Defragmentation reduces the wear and tear in movable components and contributes to improved performance and increased hard disk lifetime. It is better to defragment your hard disk periodically, and the frequency of defragmenting should be based on the activity level of the disk.About the Author: Ms. Pinky is a Computer Support Specialist for more than 25 years. Has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Engineering, MS Research work in Systems Engineering. 
 
Get more free computer tips on her blog at <a href="http://www.computerhelpdeskandsupport.com/"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.computerhelpdeskandsupport.com/">http://www.computerhelpdeskandsupport.com/</a></a>Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/computers-articles/7-reasons-why-i-need-to-run-defragmentation-for-my-computer-709855.html" title="7 Reasons Why I Need to Run Defragmentation for My Computer">7 Reasons Why I Need to Run Defragmentation for My Computer</a>

When you store a file on the disk, the computer tries to store all the parts of your file in contiguous locations. When your drive is new and largely empty, storing files in large blocks adjacent to each other is easy. When you delete files or install and uninstall programs, the files removed leave behind empty spaces of varying sizes. The next time your computer tries to store a file, it stores it in bits and pieces wherever space is available on the disk - as a result a single large file may be spread over several sections of the hard disk.

Your hard disk consists of disks coated with magnetic material that is used to store data on the drive. A hard disk is organized into sectors. There are read or write heads available in the hard disk that are used whenever you read or write data. The controller makes sure that the target sector for data read/write is available under the read/write heads by spinning it at high speeds.

What Defragmentation of the disks does is that it makes all your files contiguous by eliminating the free spaces in between and brings all free space together. Any subsequent file storage activity will find large contiguous blocks of free space available.

When you defragment your hard disk on a regular basis,

1.    Programs Run Faster - This is because your files are available in contiguous blocks and retrieving or writing data is faster.

2.    Data Access Faster - In a fragmented drive a file may need to be accessed from several tracks on different sectors, implying multiple data accesses. With Defragmentation, data access can be optimal involving fewer read/writes.

3.    Longer Hard Disk Life - Fewer seeks, read and write accesses improve the life of the hard disk and the probability of failure will be minimized.

4.    Lesser Power Consumption - The more fragmented the data is, the more spinning the hard disk has to do for data access and results in increased consumption of power. In battery-operated devices like laptops, defragmenting can reduce the power wasted in hard disk spinning considerably.

5.    Partitioning - Defragmenting before partitioning the hard disk also improves the efficiency of storage space allocation

6.    FAT Size - With fewer fragments for files, the size of File Allocation Table required per file also reduces thus reducing FAT size.

7.    Mechanical Failure Reduced - A reduction in mechanical movements as a result of Defragmentation reduces the wear and tear in movable components and contributes to improved performance and increased hard disk lifetime.

It is better to defragment your hard disk periodically, and the frequency of defragmenting should be based on the activity level of the disk.

Ms. Pinky is a Computer Support Specialist for more than 25 years. Has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Computer Engineering, MS Research work in Systems Engineering.

Get more free computer tips on her blog at http://www.computerhelpdeskandsupport.com/

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