Optimizing a SLOOOOOOW computer

[DrakeMaiden]

Great explanation, FarmerDenise! Now maybe I can defrag on my own!

 

[big brown horse]

To defrag, go to System Tools and select Disk Defragmenter. Then you can select Analyse or Defragment. On my old computer I choose Defragment and do it about once a week, wether it needs it or not. Doing it weekly or so, it doesn't take as long and keeps my computer running just a little faster.

Defragmenting sorts your computer files and organizes them.

As you use your computer, it sticks pieces of files anywhere it finds space. So your files are fragmented. When you use those files, the computer has to search for them, to get all the pieces together. This takes up extra time.

It would be as if you put all your groceries and dishes anywhere in the house that you have space. You have a pot in the bedroom closet, a couple of plates in the living room, the beans in the garage, the silverware in the bathroom shelf. When it is time to fix a meal, you have to run all over the house to find everything you need to make a pot of chili.
You would want someone to defrag your house, so all your kitchen things are in the kitchen, plates with plates, pots, pans and lids stored together, all your groceries are organized in the pantry.

Defragging or defragmenting does that with your computer files.

OOOH, I get it now! Thanks for the visual!

 

[sylvie]

Thanks for this spring cleaning tip. Just defragged and it took 30 min.

I've got an early 2005 Gateway with a media center. Some of those features aren't working so good anymore; the dvd tray must be opened manually these days.

 

[dragonlaurel]

To defrag, go to System Tools and select Disk Defragmenter. Then you can select Analyse or Defragment. On my old computer I choose Defragment and do it about once a week, wether it needs it or not. Doing it weekly or so, it doesn't take as long and keeps my computer running just a little faster.

Defragmenting sorts your computer files and organizes them.

As you use your computer, it sticks pieces of files anywhere it finds space. So your files are fragmented. When you use those files, the computer has to search for them, to get all the pieces together. This takes up extra time.

It would be as if you put all your groceries and dishes anywhere in the house that you have space. You have a pot in the bedroom closet, a couple of plates in the living room, the beans in the garage, the silverware in the bathroom shelf. When it is time to fix a meal, you have to run all over the house to find everything you need to make a pot of chili.
You would want someone to defrag your house, so all your kitchen things are in the kitchen, plates with plates, pots, pans and lids stored together, all your groceries are organized in the pantry.

Defragging or defragmenting does that with your computer files.

You could have been a teacher. You just made something on a computer make sense. I do fairly well with this one, but still feel like my Hubby is speaking another language when he gets all techie.
Glad you're still a farmer though. Somebody's gotta grow all the goodies that I love. When I can have a big garden, I'll still be playing catch up till I can harvest fruit too.

 

[FarmerDenise]

I used to be a computer geek, but that was a long time ago. They are waaay to advanced for me now and I need my SIL computer geek to fix most of my issues :/
But defragging is something that I used to do to the computers at work way back in the 80's

I am glad my explanation helped.

 

[redux]

I honestly don't think computers were made to last very long these days. I have resigned myself to having to replace every few years. Old laptops get handed down to my colleg student.