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When we delete, create and modify files on our computer, the files must likely are not saved in the same
space on the disk. The computer often breaks your files into little pieces and save the pieces on the disk.

Example a:

Our file

Used Space Unused Space

Our disk

As you can see our file does not fit anywhere on our disk. In order to save the file on our disk we will need
to break the file into pieces. When that is done we can save the file onto our disk (end result - picture
below).

With fragmentation we are able to save files onto our disk fast. The application we use to read the file we
have just saved, have to use more resources to read it, because the application needs to find all the pieces
of the file all over the disk. Imagine a disk of one terabyte a filled up with files broken into pieces and
scattered throughout the entire disk. The file reader application needs to gather all the pieces of the file in
order to read it and the load time will suffer a lot. To save this problem the user can use a defragmentation
tool. Defragmentation means that the system now look at every little pieces on the disk and try to put them
together as close as possible.

Example b:

1a 4a 1b 2a 4b 3 2b 4c 1c

The boxes with 1a, 1b and 1c are from the same file, the boxes with 2a and 2b is also from the same file
and so on. The blue boxes are from the file we copied earlier. The defragmentation tools will now try to put
the pieces together.

1a 1b 4a 2a 4b 3 2b 4c 1c

1a stays in the same box, but 4a and 1b have now switched places, which brings 1a and 1b together and
makes the load time for that file a little quicker. The defragmentation tool will go through the entire disk
and when the defragmentation is done, the files assembled again. This means that the file reader to the file
we saved in the beginning no longer need to search the disk for pieces of the file.
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One way to minimize the operation systems need to fragment your data is to partitioning your hard drive.
Partitioning is to divide your hard drive into 2 or more drives.
Install your operating system on one drive (example c: ). Use the partition drive (example e: ) to save your
temporary files. Make a folder on the drive called Temp and use the settings in your internet browser to
save temporary files in that folder. Then make another create another folder called My documents. Use the
settings in the system created My documents and set the newly created folder on your d: drive as your
target folder.



  




Highly fragment systems can shorten the lifespan of your hard drive. There is also an increased chance of
data loss. So if your computer system is highly fragmented, it is important you use a defragmentation tool
(see example b) or format your hard drive and make a new installation of your system or running a backup
version of your system.