Everyone knows that a simple disk defragmentation will speed up a slower computer. But there is no doubt that PC users will encounter kinds of defragment problems when running a disk defragmentation, for example, no response when clicking Analyze or Defragment button. If you do, please do not miss this article, which tells some must-known tips to make a disk defragmentation smoothly without problems.
1) Clean up disk before the defragmentation. Microsoft Windows provides users a Disk Cleanup (cleanmgr.exe) maintenance utility for the purpose of releasing available disk space on a computers' hard drive by removing some files that are no longer used. It is necessary to first run it before the defragmentation. You can follow the steps below: open My Computer-> right click the disk you want to clean up to select Properties -> click Disk Cleanup within General -> select the files to be deleted within the popping- up Disk Cleanup wizard -> Press OK -> click Yes when it asks you "Are you sure you want to perforce these actions". Hence, the system will automatically clear the selected files.
2) Check errors before the defragmentation. Error-checking will help check for various hard drive issues, including bad sectors, and then correct a wide range of hard disk error. Here is how to begin the error-checking: open My Computer -> right click the disk that you want to check for error and then select Properties -> Tools on the top -> press Check Now within Error -checking -> tick the two tabs "Automatically fix file system errors" and "scan for and attempt recovery of bad sectors" -> Press Start to begin the checking.
3) Close all running programs, especially anti-virus programs which apply real-time feature for no matter which program, it will repeatedly read the data from the hard disk when running, resulting in a slower computer and slower defragment speed.
After that, you can go to Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools-> Disk Defragmenter to defragment the hard disk. By the way, please note that please do not do any read/write data action, in case of a computer crash. If you fail to smoothly defragment the hard disk even though with the preparation above, it is suggested to have a try in windows safe mode. Moreover, a professional defrag program will be a much better choice.
I definitely agree -- by far, the best thing you can do to speed up your computer is to defragment the hard disk and a third party defragmenter is much better than the built-in utility!
ReplyDeleteThe disk is the slowest component in a system -- speeding it up will do the absolute most to speed up your PC, and the best defrag results will come from third party defrag programs (the built-in and many freebies are just too slow and you can't use the PC while these are running; even the Vista and the Win 7 defragmenters are limited in that they will cease operations if the PC is used while the defrag is running.
But truthfully, it's not that the built-in defragmenter is "bad", it's just that it was not meant for more than casual, occasional use (kind of like Notepad or Paint -- they work great for basic use, but try writing an article on Notepad or designing a brochure on Paint!)
Here is a Top 10 Reviews side-by-side of the best defrag programs around:
http://disk-defragmenter-software-review.toptenreviews.com/ .
The top placers are all automatic and do a decent job of being unobtrusive. The gold medalist won because it was the only defrag program that operated without draining system resources and it is the only one that prevents fragmentation before it happens:
Check out the review.
Bill R TechSpec
..