Windows XP in a Nutshell

Name

Disk Defragmenter — \windows\system32\dfrg.msc

Synopsis

Reorganize the files and pieces of files on a disk to optimize disk performance and reliability.

To Open

Start → Programs → Accessories → System Tools → Disk Defragmenter

Command Prompt → dfrg.msc

Description

As files on your hard disk are created, modified, and deleted, they become fragmented (so that a single file is physically stored on the disk surface in several noncontiguous pieces). As more files become fragmented, reliability and performance of the drive both diminish. Disk Defragmenter reorganizes the files and folders on any drive so that not only are the files stored contiguously, but free space is also contiguous (see Figure 4-24).

Figure 4-24. Disk Defragmenter rearranges the data on your hard disk for quicker, more reliable operations

Use of Disk Defragmenter is extremely simple. At the top of the window, you’ll see a list of the hard drives installed on your system (on many systems, only one drive, c:, will be shown). Highlight a drive and click Defragment to begin the defragmentation process. Or, click Analyze to view a fragmentation report and a recommendation; note that Disk Defragmenter will claim that defragmentation is unnecessary if the percentage of fragmented files in the drive is lower than about 3 percent.

Note the map, signifying the files on your disk; refer to the legend of the bottom of the window ...