Defragmenting The Hard Drive - Gateway computer User Manual

Defragmenting the hard drive

When working with files, sometimes Windows divides the file information into pieces and stores
them in different places on the hard drive. This is called fragmentation, and it is normal. In order
for your computer to use a file, Windows must search for the pieces of the file and put them
back together. This process slows the hard drive performance.
The Disk Defragmenter program organizes the data on the drive so each file is stored as one
unit rather than as multiple pieces scattered across different areas of the drive. Defragmenting
the information stored on the drive can improve hard drive performance.
While the Disk Defragmenter program is running, do not use your keyboard or mouse because
using them may continuously stop and restart the defragmenting process. Also, if you are
connected to a network, log off before starting Disk Defragmenter. Network communication may
stop the defragmentation process and cause it to start over.
To defragment the hard drive:
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Help
For more information about defragmenting the hard drive, click Start, then
click Help and Support. Type defragmenting in the Search Help box, then
press E .
NTER
Click Start, then click My Computer. The My Computer window opens.
Right-click the hard drive that you want to defragment, for example Local Disk (C:), then
click Properties. The Properties dialog box opens.
Click the Tools tab.
Click Defragment Now.
If Disk Defragmenter does not start automatically, click Defragment.
Disk Defragmenter shows its progress on the computer display. When finished, Disk
Defragmenter asks if you want to quit the program.
Click Close, then click the X in the top-right corner to close the Disk Defragmenter window.
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