Defragmenting Your Hard Drive (Windows 98/Me)

What is Defragmenting, Anyway?

A computer's hard drive is divided into regions known as sectors and clusters. A cluster is the smallest piece of a hard drive that a file can occupy. Even if it is a very tiny file, it must occupy at least one cluster.

Most files occupy more than one cluster because they are too big to fit on one. Ideally, all of the clusters that a file occupies will be contiguous, which means right next to each other. But in the course of regular use, the files on a computer tend to become fragmented, which means that the clusters are no longer located next to each other. Instead, they wind up in pieces scattered all over the hard drive.

When files become fragmented, the computer has to look all over the hard drive for those pieces every time the file is accessed. This makes the files load more slowly; and if the files are part of a program, then the program will load more slowly. File fragmentation also puts extra wear and tear on the hard drive, since it has to work harder running around and picking up all those pieces every time a file is needed.

Running the Disk Defragmenter (a/k/a "Defrag")

All recent Windows versions include an application known as the Disk Defragmenter, commonly known as "Defrag." To start Defrag in Windows 98 or Windows Me follow these steps:

Shut down all other programs you may be running.

1. Click the "Start" button.
2. Click "Programs" or "All Programs."
3. Click "Accessories."
4. Click "System Tools."
5. Click "Disk Defragmenter."

You will see a box that looks like the one on the left. Using the little arrow at the right of the window, select the hard drive you want to defragment. (If you only have one hard drive, then that drive will be "C" drive.)

Then click the button labeled "Settings."

You will see a box that looks like the one on the left. Check both boxes in the top section, which will both check your hard drive for errors and defragment it; and check the box on the bottom to do this every time you defragment the drive. Then click OK, and then OK again on the previous dialogue, which will be visible again.

You'll then see a progress bar, which you can sit and watch if you are bored; or you can click "Show details" to see a full-window display of little boxes moving around on the screen, if you are very bored.

Defragmenting make take several hours, so do it when you won't be using the computer for a while.

Automatic Defragmentation

Many computer professionals choose automatic defragmentation to keep their hard drives in good shape. Our favorite automatic defragmenter is Diskeeper. Diskeeper automatically monitors your hard drive for fragmented files, and puts them back together either during times when your hard drive isn't busy, or at any time you specify. You can learn more about Diskeeper here.