Have you ever gone to a file cabinet to get a file, but it was not where you had left it? That's kind what fragmentation does to your hard drive. Disk Defragmenter in Windows 7 arranges all of the folders and files on your hard drive, making it easier and faster for Windows to find your data. Disk Defragmenter can be run manually or on a schedule.

Click on the Start button, then All Programs, then Accessories, then System Tools.

Click on Disk Defragmenter. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Note:
Here's another way to open Disk Defragmenter: Click the Start button. In the Search box, type Disk Defragmenter or defrag, and then, in the list of results, double-click Disk Defragmenter.

Click Defragment Now.

Disk Defragmenter might take from several minutes to a few hours to finish, depending on the size and degree of fragmentation of your hard disk. You can still use your computer during the defragmentation process.

Fragmentation makes your hard disk do extra work that can slow down your computer. Disk Defragmenter rearranges fragmented data so your hard disk can work more efficiently. Disk Defragmenter runs on a schedule, but you can also defragment your hard disk manually.

Click on the Start button, then All Programs, then Accessories, then System Tools.

Click on Disk Defragmenter. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

Note:
Here's another way to open Disk Defragmenter: Click the Start button. In the Search box, type Disk Defragmenter or defrag, and then, in the list of results, double-click Disk Defragmenter.

Click Defragment Now.

Disk Defragmenter might take from several minutes to a few hours to finish, depending on the size and degree of fragmentation of your hard disk. You can still use your computer during the defragmentation process.

You might need to be logged on as an administrator or a member of the Administrators group to perform some tasks.

Disk Defragmenter consolidates fragmented files and folders on your computer's hard disk so that each occupies a single, contiguous space on the volume. As a result, your system can gain access to your files and folders and save new ones more efficiently. By consolidating your files and folders, Disk Defragmenter also consolidates the volume's free space, making it less likely that new files will be fragmented.

• To open Disk Defragmenter, click Start, point to Programs, point to Accessories, point to System Tools, and then click Disk Defragmenter.
• For information about using Disk Defragmenter, on the Action menu in Disk Defragmenter, click Help.