Windows 7: Defragmenting your hard disk – how to

Defragment your hard disk and Windows 7 will run faster on your computer again. This even works without additional tools.

How to defragment your hard disk

When a file is saved, it is often split into several small fragments that are scattered across the hard disk. This costs time when accessing the data. Defragmenting the disk brings the fragments of a file together in one physical location so that the disk can access the file more quickly. To defragment the disk, do the following:

• Click the Windows button and enter “defrag” in the search bar. Then open the “Defragmenter” software.

• Now select a disk and check whether defragmentation is useful: To do this, click on “Analyze disk”.

• If you want to defragment the disk immediately, click “Defragment disk” to start the process. This can take up to 15 minutes depending on the amount of storage used. However, you can also cancel the process in the middle and defragment the disk later.

• A defragmented hard disk is less susceptible to file errors or system crashes because the system is better organized and more stable.