Optimizing and maintaining your data
Windows provides several utilities you can use to manage your hard drive space and keep your hard drive running efficiently.
Windows utilities
Scanning the hard drive for errors
ScanDisk is a utility that examines the hard drive for errors and file problems and corrects them so that your computer performs correctly.
If you use your computer several hours every day, you probably want to run ScanDisk once a week. But if you use your computer less frequently, once a month may be adequate. You should also run ScanDisk if you have hard drive problems.
Defragmenting the hard drive
Sometimes Windows divides file data into pieces and stores them in different places on the hard drive. This is called fragmentation, and it is normal. But for the hard drive to use a file, it must search for all the pieces of the file, and this slows the hard drive performance.
Disk Defragmenter is a utility that organizes file data as one unit instead of in pieces, improving hard drive performance.
If you are connected to a network, log off before running the Disk Defragmenter utility. While the Disk Defragmenter utility is running, do not use your keyboard or mouse. Using your computer while defragmenting will start the process again from the beginning.
Using Disk Cleanup
By deleting unnecessary files from the hard drive you free space. Use the Windows Disk Cleanup utility to delete temporary Windows files, delete temporary Internet files, empty the Recycle Bin, and delete other files.
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