Windows Vista is one of a long line of Microsoft operating systems. It has been said that as each new system is released, several glitches from the previous version have been ironed out, and a few new ones developed.
Like all its predecessors, Vista can't actively allocate data in the hard-drive. What this means is that when new files are made and when old ones get deleted, Windows cannot automatically shift the active data to compensate. The result is an accumulation of small, emply spaces on the hard-drive itself. Defragementing is the essential maintenance process that tells the computer to consolodate all of the active data together in one place. This lets all of those little gaps be added to the available memory and thereby granting you more memory space.
The process of defragmenting through Windows Vista is fairly similar to its forerunners, although where the graphical user interface (GUI) is concerned, Vista has been totally updated. Another advantage of Vista is that it can be programmed to defragment on a schedule, with the ability to change the scheduled time to suit the owner.
How do I Defragment my Hard Drive?
You can access the Defragmentation Dialog through the System Tools.
Find the System Tools in Windows Vista by…
- Clicking on the Start Menu
- Clicking on “All Programs”
- Click “Accessories” and a list of features should appear
- Choose “Disk Defragmenter”
When to Do a Defragmentation
Vista operates under a nonlinear defragmentation process unlike XP or any of its predecessors, meaning that Vista allows the defragmentation process to run in the background so that the computer will be capable of operating while either a scheduled or impromptu defragmentation is in progress.
Although that it is possible to carry out a disc fragmentation in the "background" with Vista, the process will make a considerable difference to the overall performance of the system, making it difficult, if not impossible, to actually work on the computer while a "defrag" is going on. With files in the defragmentation process, Vista is constantly scanning the hard disc, causing response times to become significantly, if not unbearably, longer.
The best strategy is to defragment your system overnight, or during some time when you don’t need your computer to run other big programs. |
How to Defragment Windows Vista
