When writing any files to the hard drive, all information is distributed across clusters. If you decide to delete a particular file, the clusters with information will be erased, but instead there will be empty space. This disrupts the order of all files on the hard drive. As a result, when reading information, the hard drive spends much more time searching for the necessary clusters, since they are scattered throughout the media. This leads to a noticeable slowdown of the computer as a whole. This process is called fragmentation.
Defragmentation allows you to restore order in the internal space. This procedure organizes the location of all clusters on the media, moving them close to each other. After this, there is a noticeable increase in performance in resource-intensive applications and games. Let's figure out how to defragment a disk and in what cases it is necessary.
When should you defragment your drive?
If you notice that the performance of your personal computer has dropped significantly, then optimization is required. Long loading of programs, opening files, copying also hint that it’s time to optimize.
What programs are used to defragment a hard drive?
Operating systems XP, 7 and later have built-in software for defragmentation. If you want to perform the procedure one-time, you can use it. However, many note poor performance when using the standard utility. If you decide to use it, then follow these steps:
Let's look at how to defragment a disk using a built-in utility:
Let's look at an example of how to defragment a disk according to a schedule:
- The standard program allows you to set a regular schedule for defragmentation. In the previous window, click the button Set up a schedule....
- In the window that opens, select the frequency, day, time and partitions that need to be defragmented.
- Once the setup is complete, click OK.
Now the turned on computer will automatically launch the optimization procedure at the appointed time.
During this period of time, there may be a drop in performance as the system is busy with a more important process.
According to the instructions presented, you can defragment your hard drive in Windows XP, 7, 8 and 10. Now let's figure out how to defragment your hard drive using a third-party program.
Optimization using defragmenters
There are quite a lot of programs for defragmenting the system disk. Among them there are both options for advanced users and for beginners. For example, consider a simple utility Defragger, the full free version of which can be downloaded from the official website of the developers. Download the distribution, install the software and run it. The program cleans disks in OS 7, 8 and 10. To do this, follow the instructions:
By using Defraggler Not only defragmentation of the system or external drive is carried out. You can also get information about the performance of the media, a list of files, or optimize each folder separately.
How to defragment a disk using Auslogics Disk Defrag
Another utility that allows you to quickly or completely defragment your hard drive. The main window of the program is very similar to Defraggler, so there should be no problems using it.
Let's look at the startup process:
Now you know how to defragment a hard drive, including an SSD, using standard Windows tools or through third-party software.
Video on the topic
Defraggler (Russian: Defragler) is a free program for defragmenting a hard drive, which will be equally useful for optimizing SSD drives. This utility can work both with entire partitions and with individual files and directories.
Why do you need to defragment?
Defragmentation can improve performance when performing file operations, which, as a rule, gradually decreases over time due to file fragmentation.
Fragmentation is a process in which a single file is split into several parts (fragments). If there are many such fragments, then the hard drive takes more time to search for all the parts, and its performance drops accordingly. In addition, a significant number of fragmented files can negatively affect the resource of the hard drive.
In turn, performing defragmentation (i.e. the reverse process), on the contrary, helps to increase performance and extends the service life of the drive, so it is recommended to do it regularly - about once a month.
How to defragment
This procedure can be performed using standard Windows tools or using one of the special defragmenter programs, in this case we will talk about Defraggler.
To do this, in the program menu, select one of the partitions, provided that there are several of them, and then initiate the analysis procedure to determine the number of fragmented files by clicking the appropriate button; if the number of such files does not exceed 10%, then defragmentation can not be carried out (percentage indicator fragmentation is not significant). But if this value is significantly higher, then this procedure should definitely be performed.
In conclusion, it is worth noting that the defragmentation process is by no means a momentary matter, and depending on the size of the HDD, it can take more than one hour, using significant system resources of the PC. Therefore, it is optimal to perform defragmentation at a time when the computer is not in use.
By the way, Defragler, like other software products from the Piriform company (,), is distinguished by ease of use and a pleasant, intuitive interface in Russian.
Download Defraggler for free, without registration.
Defraggler is a free program for hard drive defragmentation and SSD optimization.
Version: Defraggler 2.22.995
Size: 6.1 MB
Operating system: Windows 10, 8.1, 8, 7, Vista, XP
Language: Russian
Program status: Free
Developer: Piriform
What's new in version: list of changes
Before choosing the best defragmenter, you should understand the main function it performs. Files that end up on the local disk of the computer are placed quite chaotically. Over time, this can cause the system to operate slowly, since, having accumulated in a large volume, various data will interfere with fast reading. This process is called fragmentation. To correct the situation and organize files, defragmentation is used, which redistributes information, freeing up space and reducing the time the system processes data.
Windows 7 OS is currently a very popular system that has a beautiful design and is more convenient to use than its predecessor. However, it is also susceptible to fragmentation, which makes it very important to consider the question of how to choose the best defragmenter for Windows 7. Considering the main contenders, we can highlight the top five.
The first on the list is Diskeeper, which has proven itself well on Windows XP. It not only copes well with its main task, but also makes the fragmentation process more difficult in the future, which has a positive effect on the speed of the system and its programs. According to many experts, Diskeeper is the best defragmenter for Windows 7. It has one very characteristic feature. Even 1% of free disk space is enough for it to work. In comparison, any other application will need at least 5% of clean space to start functioning.
The disadvantages include low operating speed. In fact, it is the slowest defragmenter. And besides, it only works with entire disks, so it won’t be possible to speed up the work of individual sectors.
The O&O Defrag application from German developers is also familiar from Windows XP. One of the generally recognized leaders in the segment. He has a number of distinctive abilities that allow him to act as efficiently as possible. Compresses system files, MFT areas and Works with any file systems, copes well with very large disks. We can safely say that O&O Defrag and Diskeeper are the best defragmenters.
Among the disadvantages of this application, high system load is noted, which makes it difficult to use on weak computers. Very rarely, but still sometimes it freezes during operation and offline defragmentation fails.
The Raxco PerfectDisk defragmenter has proven itself well. It works quite quickly, has several modes and can defragment not only entire disks, but also individual files. The big disadvantage, especially for novice users, is the complex interface.
Ashampoo Magical Defrag. A pretty good defragmenter, but nothing more. It performs its main function better than the standard Windows tool, but it does not stand out in anything special and is much inferior to the applications described above. Unlike the top three, the program is absolutely free.
Auslogics Disk Defrag. This is perhaps the best defragmenter for Windows 7 that you don't have to pay for. You can use both the installed version of the product and the portable one. Demonstrates the speed of the system before and after defragmentation. The disadvantages include the relatively low functionality of the program, especially in comparison with commercial versions, but the high speed and efficiency of work have allowed it to achieve wide distribution.
Each user must decide for himself which defragmenter is better, since each of them has its own weaknesses and
There are two ways to do this: the first and most well-known is to use the standard operating system tools, the second, less common, is to download and install a special defragmenter program. Defragmentation using standard tools is performed efficiently, but too slowly.
Therefore, even if hard drive defragmentation is not on the list of operations you regularly perform, it still makes sense to familiarize yourself with special utilities. They will help simplify computer maintenance.
- Defraggler.
- Auslogics Disk Defrag.
- Smart Defrag.
- MyDefrag.
- UltraDefrag.
As you can see, there is a choice. Next, we will briefly describe all these utilities, and will dwell on the features of some in more detail. Which of these programs will win our competition for the best defragmenter for Windows 7? There is no clear answer to this question. It all depends on your needs and the capabilities of your machine. Please note that we do not consider paid utilities.
"Defraggler" and "Auslogics Disk Defrag"
The first of the utilities is extremely small in size - it is the smallest of all existing defragmenters. The program does not require any installation, and you can download it from here: http://biblprog.org.ua/ru/defraggler/download/. There is an option with an interface localized for the Russian user.
The main feature of the program is the increased productivity of fragment assembly due to their selective processing. This option may or may not be enabled. For example, you can put together fragments of only one file. Why might this be needed? Suppose you have a huge database file on your disk, pieces of which are scattered across the entire surface of the “screw”.
Obviously, fragmentation of this file will have a sharply negative impact on the speed of access to the database. There is a version for Win 7 x64. The utility turns out to be equally good both when working with FAT32 and when processing data from NTFS partitions.
The Auslogics Disk Defrag utility is also compact. The standard defragmentation algorithms built into Windows have been replaced with much more efficient ones. This significantly affected the speed of her work. Here are some of its other advantages:
"Smart Defrag", "MyDefrag" and "UltraDefrag"
We especially draw your attention to this fact: the Smart Defrag defragmenter is especially careful with the disk. This is its main advantage.
From several operating modes of the program, you can always choose the one that will least affect the surface of the hard drive. It can operate in both manual and automatic mode. Includes a scheduler and is perfectly Russified. You can get it from this page: http://biblprog.org.ua/ru/auslogics_disk_defrag/download/.
MyDefrag is a unique tool. Firstly, its functionality can be easily integrated into your own programs - a DLL version of the utility is used for this. Secondly, it has a developed command line interface, i.e. it can be loaded from batch files, thirdly, this service operates in screensaver mode, that is, at the moments when the standby mode splash screen is drawn on the screen (download site: http://biblprog.org.ua/ru/mydefrag/download/). UltraDefrag is open source software with outstanding functionality (Lua support available).
We hope that you will choose a suitable defragmenter for Windows 7 from our list.
Tip: Windows has a built-in defragmentation program, but in most cases, dedicated programs do a better job.
Defraggler
This program is simply one of the best. It allows you to defragment data or free space on your internal or external drive. There is also an option to defragment individual files and folders. Defraggler allows you to run defragmentation at boot time, check disks for errors, empty the Recycle Bin before defragmentation starts, exclude selected files from the process, move rarely used files to increase disk access speed.
Defraggler is also available in a portable version for flash drives.
Smart Defrag
Smart Defrag is great when it comes to scheduling automatic defragmentation because it has some specific advanced options. The program supports running defragmentation when the computer goes into an idle state or manually according to a schedule. You can use Smart Defrag to run boot-time defragmentation and remove blocked file fragments.
Smart Defrag can also exclude files and folders from the defragmentation and analysis process, replace the defragmentation program Windows run defragmentation of applications only Windows or skip files larger than the specified size during defragmentation.
Auslogics Disk Defrag
Auslogics Disk Defrag It is presented as a regular program that requires installation; however, it can be used in portable mode on removable media.System files that tend to be frequently used can be moved to faster areas of the disk to improve startup times and overall system performance.You can also check the disk for errors using chkdsk optimize your hard drive, exclude files and folders from the defragmentation process, and delete temporary system files before the process begins.
Unfortunately, Auslogics Disk Defrag cannot run defragmentation while the computer is booting and is not able to defragment empty space.
Puran Defrag
The program has a built-in intelligent optimizer that allows you to intelligently move files to speed up access to them. Like many programs on this list, Puran Defrag can defragment folders and files from Windows Explorer right-click on the context menu, delete user folders and files before starting defragmentation and start the process during system boot.
There are several specific scheduling options available in Puran Defrag. For example, automatically running defragmentation every few hours when the system goes into sleep mode or when the screen saver appears.You can also create a permanent defragmentation schedule during system boot. This could be every first computer startup per day or per week, or even per month.
Disk Speedup
Disk Speedup is another free defragmentation program that can defragment not only the entire disk, but also individual files and folders. You can configure defragmentation to start automatically if the system is idle for a certain time. This program has very specific parameters. For example, you can disable defragmentation of files whose parts are smaller than 10 MB, or files with more than 3 parts, or files whose parts are larger than 150 MB. And all these values can be customized.
You can configure Disk Speedup so that the program regularly moves large, unused (or rarely used) files and/or files of a certain format to the end of the disk, then small files will be located in faster areas, which will increase system performance.
In addition to the above, this program can also exclude files and folders from general defragmentation, run the process during system boot, turn off the computer after defragmentation is finished, and also run defragmentation or optimization on any disk on a schedule: every day, week or month.
Toolwiz Smart Defrag
Toolwiz Smart Defrag is a small program with a really simple and minimal interface that installs quite quickly. This program is claimed to be 10 times faster than the pre-installed one. Windows defragmenter, and also knows how to archive files to another part of the disk to increase the speed of access to regular files. You can see the number of fragmented files in the analysis, and the defragmentation process starts really quickly.
However, you will not be able to view the level of disk fragmentation or schedule defragmentation at a later date.If you're looking for a program that's easy to use without a ton of buttons and settings, then Toolwiz Smart Defrag is perfect for you.
O&O Defrag Free Edition
O&O Defrag Free Edition has an organized and easy-to-use interface. It supports typical functionality that you will find in similar software, such as disk optimization, viewing a list of all fragmented files, checking the disk for errors. In addition to running defragmentation on a schedule every week, you can set O&O Defrag Free Edition to run automatically defragmentation when the screensaver appears. If necessary, you can run the Quick Configuration Wizard and easily set up a schedule or immediately run disk optimization.
UltraDefrag is suitable for both beginners and advanced users because it has both general functions that everyone can understand and special options for making specific changes to the program. General functions such as recovery, defragmentation and disk optimization are as simple as in any other programs. However, if you want to make changes to the program, then you need to know how to handle the BAT file.
MyDefrag
MyDefrag can run a simple or complex defragmentation depending on what you need. It works by loading and running scripts on one or more drives. Some scripts are included and installed with the program. For example, Scheduled defragmentation, disk analysis, free space consolidation. The default settings are suitable for general users.Advanced users can create their own custom scripts, the online manual has all the information you need to create the scripts.
Ashampoo WinOptimizer Free
Ashampoo WinOptimizer Free - this program consists of a set of mini-programs called modules, one of which is designed to fragment hard drives.
You can configure defragmentation to start when the computer is idle and even determine the desired percentage of CPU usage. There are also regular scheduling options: daily and monthly defragmentation.
Before starting defragmentation, you will need to select a mode: fast, normal or smart. You can also run defragmentation while your computer is booting to defragment files that are normally locked Windows.
