Disk Defragment Wha???

As you may have read in one of our previous blog entries, entitled "Comparing Files to File Cabinets", it is often a very useful practice to explain computer terminology using analogies that can relate older, more understood concepts with individuals who aren't the most computer-literate.

With this in mind, I am going to attempt to explain to you, the end-user, what Disk Defragmentation is. Think of your hard drive as a deck of cards (wait, in the last blog, wasn't it a file cabinet?).

Now, let's say that a defragmented hard drive contains cards which are in sequential order, organized by suit. For example, Ace of <3, 2 <3, 3 <3, 4 <3... Q <3, K <3, then A (clubs), 2 (clubs), 3 (clubs)... and so on, and so forth.

As you use your computer, this order gets disrupted, and it takes longer and longer for the computer to locate the cards (which represent your files) as they become more and more disordered.

Why does it take longer to find your files when they are fragmented? Consider this: how much faster would you be able to locate, say, the 4 of spades, if the cards were in sequential order vs. if the deck of cards was thrown into the air and you had to search for that card?

So, disk defragmentation is the process of reorganizing the files on your hard drive in an orderly fashion such that it enables the computer to spend less time searching for them. This results in better performance for the end-user, meaning when you click on an icon, it appears sooner.

I hope this helps you understand just what is meant when someone says the phrase "defragment your hard drive"...

Important! Never attempt to defragment a solid-state hard drive (or SSD), as this will decrease the lifespan of the drive.

Jeffrey Atto, C.O.O.  Concise Computer Consulting

2350 Franklin Road Suite #120

Bloomfield Hills, MI 48302

248-745-8255

www.concisepc.com