How to defrag a hard drive on Windows XP

This article helps users to know how to defragment your disk drive volumes and using Disk Defragmenter Microsoft Management Console (MMC) that is included with Windows XP.

What is Disk Defragmenter Microsoft Management Console (MMC)?

Disk Defragmenter MMC is based on the full retail version of Executive Software Diskeeper. The version that is included with Windows XP and later provides limited functionality in maintaining disk performance by defragmenting volumes that use the FAT, FAT32, or NTFS file system.

How to defrag a hard drive using MMC?

Step 1

Do any of the following to run Disk Defragment MMC:

One: Use the Properties of Your Local Disk

Open My Computer.

Right-click the local disk volume that you want to defragment, and then click Properties.

On the Tools tab, click Defragment Now.

Click Defragment.

Two: Use Computer Management MMC

Start Computer Management MMC (Compmgmt.msc).

Click Disk Defragmenter.

Click the volume that you want to defragment, and then click Defragment.

Three: Use Disk Defragmenter MMC.

Start Disk Defragmenter MMC (Dfrg.msc).

Click the volume that you want to defragment, and then click Defragment.

Step 2

After following any of the above to open Windows Disk Degragmenter program, you will find all drives are listed in the top window pane.  Since the program is going to be arranging files on your hard drive, it is important that no files are being accessed during the process, or the program won’t be able to move them.  Close all open programs.

Step 3

The C: drive is where operating system files and programs are installed by default, so make sure that it is selected, then click Defragment. While the program is running, it is recommend that you not use your computer. The time is takes to run the defragmenting process is dependent on the size of your hard drive and amount of fragmentation.

While the program is running you will see a graphical representation of the blocks of files on your hard drive being moved and the fragmented segments joined together.  Usually the less gaps of free space between the contiguous segments the better, but as long as the fragmented files are put together into contiguous segments, it will improve your computer’s performance.

Step 4

Once the process is complete, the graphic should display most of the contiguous files on the left and the majority of the free space on the right. Close the Disk Defragmenter window and resume using your computer.