A computer needs constant maintenance. An anti-virus program should be installed in order to keep out spyware and other unwanted entries into your system, which will slow your computer. One of the things that should be done periodically, every week at least, is a disk defragmentation which can be done on a PC.
In the control panel under the label of performance and maintenance, a disk defragmentation can be run. The computer will first analyze and then defragment the hard drive. This would be the C drive and that is all that needs a defragmentation.
When you conduct a defragmenttation of a computer, you will see 4 color bars. These colors are not visible with Windows 7, but are with Windows XP. Windows 7 will run a defragmentation of a disk, but will not be as graphic in showing you the results.
Green is the color for unmovable files that cannot be rearranged. White is for free space, blue for contiguous files or files adjacent to each other and red for fragmented files. The defragmentaion procedure will decrease the fragmented files, giving you more space and making your computer run faster.
When files are fragmented, a computer will run slowly. Defragmentation occurs when you download files, programs and when files are deleted or extracted. It also occurs when anything is updated. Everything can be taken care of with a disk defragmentation performed before the disk is overly fragmented.
When a hard disk is almost full, the user will find that defragmentation cannot be done completely. Only a partial defragmentation can be done with an almost totally filled hard drive. Think of a defragmentation procedure as putting a messy desk in order. When things are where they should be more work is possible and less time devoted to searching for things.
