What's So Bad about Fragmented Files?
@mythociate (21435)
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
March 23, 2011 4:41pm CST
I have a program that defragments files (a free program, so I'm sure you can find it if you want it)---I think that means it finds little files that are copies of other little files and merges `em together.
Makes sense for purposes of file-space conservation, but (as long as I have ENOUGH free disk-space) what I REALLY want is faster operation ... which fragmented files make MORE-POSSIBLE, no?
So wouldn't it be better to wait until my drive was like 50% fragmented files before I run the defragmenter?
2 people like this
9 responses
@tonyllenium (6252)
• Italy
23 Mar 11
yes even if you have anhigh disk space free to use is always a good idea running a defregmention programs for files it will run pc faster and even all files you download will be much more functional as position and place in your memory!
1 person likes this
@mythociate (21435)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
24 Mar 11
Why don't files stay defragmented the first time?
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@mythociate (21435)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
24 Mar 11
Why do the files fragmentate in the first place?
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@knicnax (2233)
• Philippines
24 Mar 11
It's usually advisable to defrag when you have a lot of fragmented files, but if you want your computer to be fast all the time, defragging often wouldn't hurt either.
Fragmented files definitely make computers slower. Pardon me for not going into the techy litany of how it slows down a computer, but tell if you want to know. I'll try to explain it in the most layman way I know how :)
Speaking of defragmenting, I better defrag my laptop, it's a little slow and I have deleted and written a lot of my files in the HD, I probabl have a lot of fragmented files already!
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@knicnax (2233)
• Philippines
25 Mar 11
okay, here goes,
I'm assuming you know what fragmented files mean right? (duh)
. Anyway, fragmented files are located in different sectors of your hard drive.
(This is the boring part about how computers work, make sure you have a strong cup of coffee/tea before reading) The CPU or central processing unit, or simply put, the processor is the one that does everything in your computer. It works together with all the components of your computer, such as the RAM (random access memory) and the HDD (hard disk drive). Whatever information your processor needs in order to process your request, it fetches it from the RAM. So for example you have a .doc file that you told your computer to open via MS Word, what the CPU does is it instructs your Operating System to get the file from your hard disk then put it in the RAM, so that your processor can read the file and open the appropriate software for it (MS WORD). Before the .doc file can be sent to the RAM, the file needs to be "whole" or complete first. If it's fragmented, your OS will get all the fragments first then assemble it.
If your HDD capacity is huge, imagine how may times your HDD head (the needle that reads the information,it's part of the HDD) moves around your disks just to locate the file. The process of assembling the file takes up memory and processor time. The process of sending the file from HDD to RAM also takes up processor time. Not to mention that the data bus that the HDD uses to connect to the RAM and processor is slower compare to the data bus that connects the CPU and the RAM.
I hope you understand why fragments make computers slow. A computer with a few fragments runs slower but it's barely noticeable to us humans, so don't fret about it too much :)
. Anyway, fragmented files are located in different sectors of your hard drive.
(This is the boring part about how computers work, make sure you have a strong cup of coffee/tea before reading) The CPU or central processing unit, or simply put, the processor is the one that does everything in your computer. It works together with all the components of your computer, such as the RAM (random access memory) and the HDD (hard disk drive). Whatever information your processor needs in order to process your request, it fetches it from the RAM. So for example you have a .doc file that you told your computer to open via MS Word, what the CPU does is it instructs your Operating System to get the file from your hard disk then put it in the RAM, so that your processor can read the file and open the appropriate software for it (MS WORD). Before the .doc file can be sent to the RAM, the file needs to be "whole" or complete first. If it's fragmented, your OS will get all the fragments first then assemble it.
If your HDD capacity is huge, imagine how may times your HDD head (the needle that reads the information,it's part of the HDD) moves around your disks just to locate the file. The process of assembling the file takes up memory and processor time. The process of sending the file from HDD to RAM also takes up processor time. Not to mention that the data bus that the HDD uses to connect to the RAM and processor is slower compare to the data bus that connects the CPU and the RAM.
I hope you understand why fragments make computers slow. A computer with a few fragments runs slower but it's barely noticeable to us humans, so don't fret about it too much :)1 person likes this
@mythociate (21435)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
24 Mar 11
Why DOESN'T the computer run faster with a few fragments?
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@burrito88 (2774)
• United States
24 Mar 11
Winows has a deragmenter which is usually listed as an accessary program. Some defragmeters take files that are used more often and group the togetherwhich helps to speed th PC up. Programs can become defragmented if the pick up new data. This might happen a lot with games.
1 person likes this
@mythociate (21435)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
24 Mar 11
'if they pick up new data' ... Now I get it! I thought fragmented files were like little asteroids floating around in your HD's universe, but their more like unruly strands of info growing out of the HD scalp (in need of a trim) 
@frontvisions101 (16043)
• Philippines
24 Mar 11
I think I know what software you're talking about. Fragmented files aren't so bad. At least until it eats up most of your disk space, which is the time to consider defragmenting it. Although when I have the time I defragment files immediately to save up space because I usually don't manage my downloads to often and I'm also using a 3d software which creates caches from test simulations and these caches contains a handful of files. I can't delete these caches immediately for future use and reference so I compensate by defragmenting files and emptying the temp folder.
1 person likes this
@mythociate (21435)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
24 Mar 11
What's the difference between the program the computer comes with and the 'third-party' defragmenter?
@LaDeBoheme (2004)
• United States
23 Mar 11
Just to echo other responses, I know Windows comes with the ability to defragment files. No need for another program.
I always run Analyze first and let Windows give me its recommendation on whether 'this volume needs to be defragmented' or not. If it says I'm good to go, I go.
Yes, defragging does help your computer to run faster by grabbing all those bits and pieces of files that have become separated and putting them into one tidy place so when your computer needs some file to run something, it doesn't have to take the time to search all over for the bits & pieces scattered here and there.
Like I said, I go with what Windows recommends, but you could wait until your computer was in 50% disarray before you defrag. But, don't forget that if you do that, you could be talking about an operation that would take hours for your computer to skoosh all those fragments back into a whole piece again.
1 person likes this
@mythociate (21435)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
24 Mar 11
I know! I ran my defragmenter (without analyzing first) today and went out for a couple hours; came back and saw that--in the couple hours--it had only defragged 2- out of 27% fragmentation! 
1 person likes this
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
24 Mar 11
You do not need that, go to Starr - Programs - Accessories then System Tools and you will find defrag there.
You should only do so once a month. Doing so once a week will hurt your hard drive and longer then a week is not adequate.
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@rosegardens (3034)
• United States
24 Mar 11
How does it hurt your drive? I have to run mine just over a week. If not, it is too fragmented to run properly. The last time I waited too long and had so much trouble getting my pages to download and when I defragged it was about 19%.
1 person likes this
@hardworkinggurl (37063)
• United States
24 Mar 11
I do IT work and believe me once a week is way too much, depending on how much time you spend on your computer it is only recommended 2 - 3 times a year, however if you are a heavy computer user it should be done once a month. Too much defrag can actually slow down your pc and degrade the hard drive.
Defrag means to take all parts apart and put back together, that is too hard on the hard drive and will lessen it's volume.
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@mythociate (21435)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
25 Mar 11
That makes sense. 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it; if it needs to be broken, let it break.' I.e. don't complain if the lid on your toilet-bowl still opens 
@housechaos7 (609)
•
23 Mar 11
My pc has one built in to defrag i rarely use it but i suppose i should if it can help thinks run faster.
@daeckardt (6237)
• United States
23 Mar 11
I think that it would be better to run the defragmenter at least once a week to make sure there are no problems. The way I understand it, when the files are not together, the machine has to look all over for the different parts and that causes a slowdown.
By getting the parts put back together, it should speed up operations. I'm not sure this is exactly how it works, but it is the way I understand it. I just changed mine to run every day.
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@mythociate (21435)
• Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
24 Mar 11
You might also suppose that the files are fragmented so that the programs don't have to reach so far when they're using a file that another program also uses
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@rosegardens (3034)
• United States
24 Mar 11
Nope. The fragmented files cause your computer to run much slower. I have to defrag at least once a week. If I wait 2 weeks, my computer runs like I have dial up and I have DSL.
Run your defrag often. You will enjoy your computer much more and be less aggravated. 
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