Disk defragmentation on Windows 8. Preparing for defragmentation
It is difficult to find a person who has worked in Windows for a long time who has never heard of disk defragmentation and did not carry it out in the hope of speeding up the system. There are many myths floating around this topic; unfortunately, not everyone clearly understands what processes are behind this phenomenon. Now we will try to figure it out, why disk defragmentation is needed.
As you know, data is stored on a hard drive in so-called clusters - logical cells. When writing a file, data is written to the cluster sequentially.
Now imagine this situation: we wrote a file to disk that took 10 clusters in a row. Following it, another file was written into 5 clusters. Then, after a while, we decided to add some data to the first file, for another five clusters. In this case, the clusters belonging to the first file will be separated, since it will only be possible to write to the nearest free disk space. An even worse picture arises when a large number of files are deleted, and a larger one is written in their place, which can be divided into fragments already at the stage of initial recording.
This is what a fragment of a disc with recorded data will look like.
Such “fragments” with files that are frequently updated can form in the thousands, and they will most likely be separated over much longer distances than neighboring clusters. In order to read this file, the disk read heads need to sequentially visit all areas and read all fragments. In this case, the speed of working with a highly fragmented file can significantly decrease.
To combat this undesirable phenomenon, a defragmentation procedure was created, during which clusters belonging to the same file are combined into sequential chains.
Fortunately, users of modern versions of Windows do not need to pay attention to performing this procedure regularly. Defragmentation in the Windows 8.1 operating system is configured automatically, by default once a week.
This does not apply to solid-state SSD drives, since defragmentation of this type of drive causes premature “aging” of the memory chips. In this case, Windows detects the type of disk and excludes it from the defragmentation task scheduler.
The situation is similar with USB. Flash drives, defragmentation is mostly harmful for them, since they are technologically built on a similar type of memory, which has limited quantity recording cycles.
However, the user can decide to defragment the disk manually at any time. To do this, you need to open the properties of the logical drive for which you want to defragment, go to the “Tools” tab and click the “Optimize” button.
The “Disk Optimization” window opens, in which you can find out the current degree of fragmentation using the “Analyze” button, as well as perform forced defragmentation by clicking the “Optimize” button accordingly.
The article would be incomplete without mentioning third-party disk defragmentation programs, the functionality of which may differ slightly. The most popular of them (but the list does not end there) are Piriform Defraggler And Auslogics Disk Defrag. The programs are free and work great on modern versions Windows operating systems, including Windows 8.1.
The main functionality of the programs is similar - they reorganize clusters on the disk in such a way that the data belonging to certain files, were arranged sequentially and inextricably. But there are also some additional functions, which distinguish them favorably from the built-in tool Windows defragmentation 8.1.
This, for example, is a more advanced scheduler that allows you to turn off the computer upon completion of the defragmentation procedure, as well as optimal defragmentation methods that place clusters of system and most popular files (swap file and others) closer to the beginning of the disk, where more technologically high speed read-write.
Summarizing all of the above, I would like to once again clarify that defragmentation is not a cure for all ills and will help speed up the computer only if the “bottleneck” is precisely the slow reading of fragmented files, which occurs very rarely.
With modern hardware, you can ignore even a 50% degree of fragmentation and continue to work without any problems. If, even after defragmentation, the performance problem is still acute, most likely, you will need to perform a comprehensive diagnosis and assessment of all critical systems in order to find the weakest point.
Hello, please tell me whether defragmentation is needed in Windows 8 if G8 is installed on an SSD. As far as I know, SSDs have no working heads and no magnetic disks, which means the defragmentation process is absolutely unnecessary, or am I mistaken?
Defragment Windows 8
Hello friends! Good question. But before I answer it, I’ll say in a nutshell what fragmentation and defragmentation are, otherwise you won’t understand anything.Writing files to a simple clean hard drive HDD drive occurs in one area, that is, in a row. But this is if the hard drive has no files at all or there are a lot of files on it free space. Another thing is if there are already many files on your hard drive, then writing to it occurs not in one place, but in fragments, sometimes parts of the same file are in different parts of the hard drive, this is called fragmentation. Fragmentation always entails a drop in performance, so the hard drive head has to literally assemble file fragments like a mosaic throughout the hard drive.
Defragmentation is designed to correct this state of affairs - arranging files on the hard drive in strict sequence using a defragmenter program.
But if you have it installed on a solid-state drive, then you won’t need defragmentation, since the principle SSD operation fundamentally different from a simple hard drive. There are no mechanical operations in SSD, and writing occurs in flash memory.
Many users may notice that defragmentation for solid state drives even harmful, since they have a limit on the number of rewrite cycles, but this is not so. I think it will be enough to say that defragmentation for SSDs is simply useless.
But let's not forget that most computers still have regular hard disks and of course they need defragmentation, at least once every two weeks.
To produce defragmentation in Windows 8, move the mouse pointer to the right corner of the desktop and select Search,
Enter the word Defragmentation into the field and press Enter.
Click on Defragment and optimize your disks.
In the window that opens, you can see a list of partitions on your hard drive. By default, defragmentation in Windows 8 is carried out automatically once a week, I recommend that you leave it that way. But you can change things. Click on the Change settings button
And click on the arrow, in the drop-down menu you can select three positions, under no circumstances select the Daily item, but you can select the Monthly item.
You can completely cancel defragmentation, uncheck the Run according to schedule (recommended) option, then defragmentation will not occur at all.
In the same window, select the Select button
and check the boxes for the disks you want to defragment. Disks that are checked will be automatically defragmented.
If you wish, you can defragment any partition of your hard drive right now. Select the drive you need and click Optimize.
You may even surprise your friends; few of them know that you can run defragmentation in Windows 8 from the command line. Run command line as administrator and enter the command defrag /C, drive C will be defragmented:
To perform defragmentation, you can use the tools third party developers, for example, there is one good free defragmenter Auslogics Disk Defrag,
As well as paid O&O Defrag Professional, read our article about how to use these programs.
Defragmentation is an important procedure that needs to be performed regularly on your computer. You can do disk defragmentation using the usual using Windows, or maybe special programs. We will do defragmentation by means operating system Windows 8.
Why is defragmentation needed?
When on HDD is installed new program, game, or any information is recorded, then part of this data is recorded in different areas hard drive. And it may happen that parts of the files will be located far from each other. This is called fragmentation. Over time, there are a lot of such scattered parts and the computer begins to work slower and slower (in common parlance, slow down).
To reduce fragmentation, you need to defragment (assemble pieces of the program one after another or side by side).
The defragmentation process can last from several minutes to several hours. It depends on the size of the hard drive, the performance of the computer and the degree of fragmentation.
Be sure to periodically defragment. Severe fragmentation of files on the hard drive is main reason because of which the computer starts to slow down.
How to defragment using Windows 8
Open the folder This computer. You will see everything in it sections of hard disk. Choose Local drive C.
Click on the icon Local drive C right click mouse and select the section in the menu that appears Properties.
In the window that appears, go to the tab Service.
Finding the section Disk optimization and defragmentation and press the button Optimize.
A new window will appear with all sections. Choose required section and press the button Analyze to find out the degree of fragmentation of our disks.
If the degree of fragmentation is small, then defragmentation is not required. On disks with large fragmentation, you need to click the button Optimize.
The defragmentation process will begin.
We are waiting for the defragmentation process to complete.
You can set up automatic defragmentation on a schedule. To do this, in the section you need to click on the button Change settings.
Select the parameters we need and click OK.
Now defragmentation will be performed automatically, after the period of time you specified in the parameters.
As you can see, do it defragmentation of hard disk is very simple.
In the upcoming Windows 8 OS, the developers have significantly added to the existing Windows features and added new ones. In particular, the familiar disk defragmentation tool will be further developed. In Windows 8 it got new interface and a new name. If in Windows 7 the defragmentation function was called Disk Defragmenter, now its name is OptimizeDrives (Disk Optimization).
To open the disk optimization and defragmentation management window, you need to type “optimize drives” in the search bar or in the window Windows Explorer(My Computer), select the drive and click on the tab Manage, press the button Optimize.
As a result, the disk optimization window will open, which will display a list of all disks available in the system and the current percentage of their defragmentation. 
In Windows 8, there is a special scheduler task, according to which the optimization procedure for each disk is launched weekly (this happens in background mode and the user may simply not notice the launch of defragmentation and disk optimization) Defragmentation in Windows 8 can be started manually by clicking the button in the window Optimize. 
If you run defragmentation manually, you will see that Windows 8 performs this operation in two stages: first it analyzes and then defragments itself. To find out the current percentage of fragmentation you need to click the button Analyze.
To change how often automatic defragmentation runs, click the button Changesettings. 
In the window that opens, you can change the frequency of auto-defragmentation or disable it completely. In addition, here you can select disks for which the automatic defragmentation procedure will be launched. 
In most cases, automatic defragmentation settings in Windows 8 should not be changed, because they are optimal for the vast majority of systems.
Windows 8 and defragmentation of SSD drives
You probably remember that in the previous OS - Windows 7, if the OS recognized the connected disk as an SSD, defragmentation for this type of disk was disabled automatically (since the defragmentation procedure significantly increases unnecessary wear and tear on the SSD drive, without affecting performance in any way). For solid-state SSD drives, Microsoft recommended enabling TRIM support.
Details using SSD in Windows 8 are described in the article: ""
According to the documentation Microsoft function TRIM on Windows provides the following benefits:
- Uniformity of cell wear SSD memory by disabling unallocated space consolidation operations
- The speed of the write operation increases due to pre-cleaning of cells
In Windows 8, the defragmentation utility (Storage Optimizer) itself understands the connected drive type, and if the drive is detected as an SSD, it begins to use volumes for this TRIM commands. Therefore, traditional defragmentation (moving files to optimize free space and performance) is not performed on such drives.
Defragmenting a hard drive is a simple operation that few people perform. And completely in vain. After all, with its help you can optimize the operation of your computer or laptop, make it open programs and files faster, and also extend the life of the HDD drive itself. And no additional programs There is no need to install it, because it can be done using built-in Windows tools.
This procedure is performed only for ordinary HDD drives. It is not required for SSD drives. This can only speed up their wear and tear, but will not affect the performance of the PC in any way.
First, let's look at the question of what defragmentation is and why it is needed.
When using a computer, users create new files every day. Windows system breaks them into small pieces (they are called clusters) and writes them down one after another. With this arrangement they are read very quickly, i.e. The PC or laptop works quickly.
In the process of moving, copying and deleting files, these clusters are scattered across the hard drive in a chaotic manner. This process is called fragmentation. And it slows down your PC.
When a user runs a document, it takes time for the computer to find all the individual pieces and put them together. Only then will it open the requested file. This may take 5 seconds, which is quite a long time.
To return everything to its place (i.e., to place the scattered pieces next to each other), defragmentation is performed. Actually, this is what it is needed for - to organize clusters and optimize PC operation, at least for a while.
Why for a while? Because in the future you will again create, copy and delete documents, and the situation will repeat itself again.
Don't worry, all your documents, movies, games will remain where you saved them. They will not move anywhere and will not be deleted. This is just how a computer works: it breaks files into pieces and then places them in a certain sequence. The order of clusters only affects the speed of the PC. But this will not affect the files themselves in any way.
By the way, sometimes users confuse the concepts of “defragmentation” and “formatting”. Defragmentation simply organizes the clusters. And any external changes You won't notice at all, because all the files will remain in their places.
And formatting is complete removal data. For example, today they often format a flash drive in order to copy it onto it later. Windows image(from the license disk) and make it bootable.
Now that you know why defragmentation is needed, let's look at how to do it.
How to run disk defragmentation on Windows 7?
At any Windows versions There is a built-in defragmenter. And this program is enough to perform this procedure.
The program window that we need will appear.
Typically, the default schedule here is enabled so that all local drives are defragmented every Wednesday at 1 am. This is too common for home PCs and laptops, so you can click the “Customize schedule” button and uncheck the box. Or select the “Monthly” option in the “Frequency” item.
It is recommended at least once every 1-2 months. Although it depends on how intensively you create and delete files. You can perform it provided that the fragmentation is 20% or higher (read about this below).
Before proceeding directly to the procedure itself, select any local disk and click "Analyze". The system will analyze and show how many% are fragmented. If it is 20% or more, click the “Defragmentation” button. If it’s less, you can do it later.
How long does disk defragmentation take? From a couple of minutes to 1-2 hours. This depends on the amount of free space in a particular partition and the percentage of fragmentation. The lower the first parameter and the higher the second, the longer it will take.
While performing the procedure, it is advisable not to install, copy, etc. anything. (best to run it during idle time). The maximum you can do is surf the Internet.
This procedure must be done for everyone local disks one by one (in my case there are 3 of them - C, D and E). After it’s finished, you can analyze it again and see the coveted line “0% fragmented” :)
Congratulations, now you know how to defragment a disk on Windows 7. Just don’t forget to do it at least once every 2 months.
Defragmenting a disk in Windows 8 is done in much the same way.
By the way, if you have installed SSD drive, then the built-in defragmenter simply will not allow you to perform this operation. It will be written there – “Optimization is impossible.”