
In case you didn’t know, the Windows operating system, like any other operating system, uses a file system for storing and retrieving files on a hard disk. Like Windows 8 and 8.1, Windows 10 too uses an NTFS (New Technology File System).
Until the new Resilient File System (ReFS) (nicknamed “Protogon“) comes out in the market, you will only have to deal with defragmentation of a hard drive with NTFS as a default file system.
Before we move ahead with seeing “how to defrag Windows 10”, you should know a bit about how the NTFS (NT file system) used in Windows 10 and also why degradation is necessary for the smooth functioning of your PC.
What is NTFS (NT File System)?
The NT file system, as I mentioned earlier is a method and also a protocol used by Microsoft in their relatively newer operating systems. NT file system is equivalent to the file allocation table (FAT) used in Windows 95. FAT worked well in the past, however, the NT file system is an upgrade–it is faster and more secure than the previous versions.
Why is the Defragmentation Necessary for the Hard Drive?
With usage, it is expected for files in a hard drive to get fragmented. Meaning, when you save data or information to a hard drive, the system allocates an empty or vacant memory location for its storage. Generally, the process of allocation happens randomly or sporadically. Hence, the data gets fragmented after a few days of usage.
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How To Defrag Windows 10? Step-by-Step and Easy to Follow Instructions
Step 1: Locate “Defragment and Optimize Drives”
To begin the defragmentation process, first, you need to locate the shortcut that will allow you to open the disk optimization tool in Windows 10. You can begin by typing the keyword “defragmentation” in the search bar at the bottom left of your screen. Refer to the image for assistance.
Step 2: Select the drive that you wish to defragment
The next easy step is to select the drive that you wish to defragment. With the disk optimization tool, you cannot work with more than one drive (this is why this process can be cumbersome sometimes). Click analyze and let the disk optimization tool do its job. Note that this option will not be enabled if you have an SSD drive. SSD drives do not work the same way, hence they don’t need to be defragmented.
Step 3: Click optimize
Once you click analyze, wait for a few minutes until the tool scans the selected drive and gathers the necessary data. Once, the percentage of fragmentation reaches 100, click on optimized. Further, repeat the same process with other drives that need defragmentation (you can defragment C drive too!).
Summary
The steps involved in the process of defragmentation are uncomplicated and easy. I hope you got the information you need. Disk defragmentation will not only speed up your PC but also make the installed application load faster.
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