We recently published a post on the importance of defragmenting a hard drive. We wanted to cover the actual process in more depth.
The first thing to consider is the average time we should wait between each defragmentation. The answer to this question depends mainly on how we use our PC. If we use the computer for work, and the computer spends many hours on performing different tasks, then it is advisable to defragment the disk regularly.
This should be done on a really regular basis, especially if we install a lot of applications or use programs that consume large amounts of PC resources.
However, if we use the PC for only a few hours a day, and we usually use it to browse or use very basic programs, then defragmentation of the hard disk can be done less frequently. In short, everything will depend on knowing what percentage of the disk is fragmented.
5 applications to defragment your disk
Although Microsoft has greatly improved its disk defragmentation utility since the launch of Vista, the truth is that there are many users who are not satisfied with its performance, even though Windows 10 runs in the background at times when the computer is not running any process, which allows us to carry out our activities normally and without discomfort.
But there are also other users who argue technical details, which according to them prevent the defragmenter built into Windows 10 from not fulfilling its task perfectly, due to limitations that have to do with the program’s performance.
The truth is that for most of us the disk defragmenter included in Windows is more than enough. However, if you need to have absolute control of each cluster and piece of information, the tools that we will show you below will allow you to perform a deep, comfortable, fast and adequate defragmentation according to your parameters.
It should be noted that all of them are totally free disk defragmentation programs.
Piriform Defraggler
This free defragmentation program is capable of defragmenting individual files, groups of files in a folder or a complete partition, in an automated way by means of a programmer or in an instantaneous and manual way.
Defraggler is portable, and due to its impressive features, speed and options, it can even be the ideal replacement for the default Windows defragmentation tool.
To use the application, we only have to select the disk we want to analyze, click on the name of the volume in the program interface and press the “Analyze” button. After that, click on the “Defragment” button to start the process.
NTFS and FAT32 support
This tool organizes empty disk space to avoid fragmentation. You have the option to run on a daily, weekly or monthly basis via a scheduler. It works with all Windows operating systems as well as supporting over 37 languages.
Auslogics Disk Defrag
This is one of the most popular disk defragmentation tools in the free software field. In addition to defragmenting files, this fantastic application can also reorganize them, which ensures a more efficient location on the disk.
Auslogics Disk Defrag is not only designed to defragment files, but it is also capable of optimizing the file system of our disk to obtain a better performance. It is also compatible with both FAT 16/32 and NTFS.
The optimization algorithm incorporated with Auslogics Disk Defrag allows you to defragment free space, move system files to a more suitable location on the disk and clean up the MFT reserved area. What is an algorithm in computing? Find out and learn more about it at the link above.
In addition, the application offers a very important functionality that will positively defragment disks of many Terabytes, this is due to its powerful engine, which ensures that the operation is fast and effective.
Main features of Auslogics Disk Defrag
This tool has a number of great benefits:
- Free space defragmentation
- Efficient and fast file management
- Ability to defragment a single file or folder
- Abundant information about all processes
- Auto-defragmentation mode
If you wish, you can download the application for free from the official website.
Puran Defrag Free
One of the simplest applications of its kind, Puran Defrag Free is perhaps the ideal tool for all those users who want to control the fragmentation state of their disks but do not want to know too much about the technique or procedures used. Simple and fast, it can be configured in several ways according to the user’s knowledge.
The best feature of the program is its speed, and Puran Intelligent Optimizer (PIOZR), the heart of this disk defragmentation application, has a lot to do with it. But as speed is not the only important thing, it includes a series of functionalities that will be comfortable and very useful.