What is Disk Fragmentation and Defragmenting a Disk?
Disk Fragmentation
Fragmentation of a file system occurs over time as you save, change, and delete files. Initially, the Windows I/O manager saves files in contiguous areas on a given volume. This is efficient for the
physical disk as the read/write heads are able to access these contiguous blocks most quickly.
As the volume fills with data and other files, contiguous areas of free space become harder to find. File deletion also causes fragmentation of available free space. Additionally, when you extend and save a file, such as editing a document or spreadsheet, there may not be contiguous free space following the existing file blocks. This forces the I/O manager to save the remainder of the file in a
noncontiguous area. Over time, contiguous free space becomes harder to find, leading to fragmentation of newly stored content. The incidence and extent of fragmentation varies depending on available disk capacity, disk consumption, and usage patterns.
Although NTFS is more efficient at handling disk fragmentation than earlier file systems, this
fragmentation still presents a potential performance problem. Combined hardware and software advances in the Windows operating system help to mitigate the impact of fragmentation and deliver better responsiveness.
Defragmenting a Disk
When you optimize a disk, files are relocated optimally. This ability to relocate files is beneficial when you are shrinking a volume because it lets the system free up space that you can later reclaim.
Windows 8.1 defragments drives automatically on a scheduled basis, running weekly in the background to rearrange data and reunite fragmented files. You can check the status of a defragmentation or perform a manual
optimization at any time by launching the
Optimize Drives tool.
To optimize a volume or drive manually, or to change the automatic optimization schedule, right-click a volume in File Explorer, click Properties, click the Tools tab, and then click Optimize.
Fragmentation of a file system occurs over time as you save, change, and delete files. Initially, the Windows I/O manager saves files in contiguous areas on a given volume. This is efficient for the
physical disk as the read/write heads are able to access these contiguous blocks most quickly.
As the volume fills with data and other files, contiguous areas of free space become harder to find. File deletion also causes fragmentation of available free space. Additionally, when you extend and save a file, such as editing a document or spreadsheet, there may not be contiguous free space following the existing file blocks. This forces the I/O manager to save the remainder of the file in a
noncontiguous area. Over time, contiguous free space becomes harder to find, leading to fragmentation of newly stored content. The incidence and extent of fragmentation varies depending on available disk capacity, disk consumption, and usage patterns.
Although NTFS is more efficient at handling disk fragmentation than earlier file systems, this
fragmentation still presents a potential performance problem. Combined hardware and software advances in the Windows operating system help to mitigate the impact of fragmentation and deliver better responsiveness.
Defragmenting a Disk
When you optimize a disk, files are relocated optimally. This ability to relocate files is beneficial when you are shrinking a volume because it lets the system free up space that you can later reclaim.Windows 8.1 defragments drives automatically on a scheduled basis, running weekly in the background to rearrange data and reunite fragmented files. You can check the status of a defragmentation or perform a manual
optimization at any time by launching the
Optimize Drives tool.
To optimize a volume or drive manually, or to change the automatic optimization schedule, right-click a volume in File Explorer, click Properties, click the Tools tab, and then click Optimize.
What is Disk Fragmentation and Defragmenting a Disk?
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