Defragmenting harddrive question...

[-iLLuZioN-B18C1]

When exactly do you need to defrag your hd?
From my understanding it is only when you install
new programs/software...

What if i rip movies into my hd...burn them...and
delete them afterwards....does this also require
defragmenting?

thanks

 

[Stalin223]

Deleting files then adding more will fragment your drive. Go run the Disk Defragmentor and call it a day.

 

[Dark Ember]

Yes, just normal writing and deleting of files will eventually cause fragmentation. It generally gets worse the more full the drive is as there begins to be less large chunks of free space. So the OS then has to write a fragment of the file in one place, and another fragment of it in another.

If you just run the disk defragmenter in windows every once in a while, and check the fragmentation of it, it will tell you how bad it is, and whether you should defragment or not. Granted, this is all assuming you are using FAT32 or NTFS. Some other files systems shouldn't ever be defragmented.

 

[lesman]

Installing a game or other program that puts many files on the hard drive will cause fragmentation...but don't be fooled: it's not actual fragmentation that's being caused; it's simply the staggered files that were put on the hard drive for the game that the deferagmenter will detect. Also, one of the main things that show up as fragmented files are internet files: cookies and stuff like that. I do a defrag every month or so, but only if the defragmenter recomends it.