Criteria for Evaluating Top Defrag Programs

Just as you keep your house tidy and organized, disk defragmentation keeps your computer's hard drive orderly and running well. Without regular disk defragmentation, computer performance slows down, and the life of your hard drive may even be shortened.

About Defragmentation Programs

A computer hard drive has a limited amount of free space for data storage. When your hard drive is new, data is stored contiguously, leaving large blocks of free space available. Over time as data is added and deleted, the organization begins to deteriorate. Deleted files leave small bits of free space between files. As new files are saved, they are sometimes too large to fit into the available remaining free spaces. As a result, files are broken into smaller pieces, with portions stored over several free spaces. This process in known as fragmentation.
 
Fragmentation can cause a variety of problems for computers, including:
  • delayed startups
  • freezing
  • shutdowns
  • slowed performance
  • system crashes.
Disk defragmentation programs reorganize files in the hard drive so that files are arranged contiguously. In addition, some of the best defrag programs consolidate free space within the hard drive, minimizing fragmentation in the future as new files are being written. You can begin improving your computer's performance by evaluating defrag programs and finding the perfect software for your needs.

Defrag Software: Compare Available Programs

Three main types of disk defragmentation programs are available:
  • Built-In Defrag Software: Most computers come with a built-in disk defragmentation program. Built-in programs offer basic disk defragmentation benefits and often defrag the majority of the files on hard drives. These programs work best with smaller files and are not equipped to efficiently handle sound, movie or video files.
  • Free Downloads: Free defragmentation program downloads also perform defragmentation services for consumers at no charge. They are limited, however, in the volume of files they can defrag, and in the amount of free space they can consolidate. In addition, consumers should be wary of freeware downloads, as they may contain viruses or other malicious programs.
  • Purchased: Some of the most comprehensive defragmentation software programs available are those you can purchase. These programs provide a thorough "cleansing" of the hard drive and offer a variety of features that free defrag programs can not provide.

Important Defrag Features

To compare top defrag programs, experts recommend examining the features each package offers. A few features to look for when purchasing defragmentation software include:
  • automatic scheduling
  • excellent customer service and support
  • option to defragment specific files or your entire drive
  • option to defragment when the computer is idle.

Best Defrag Programs for Consumer Needs

When evaluating defrag programs, it is important to make sure the defragmentation program you are considering is compatible with your operating system. Software reviews can give consumers specific information about products, as well as a first-hand account of product use.
 
Many defragmentation programs are available to serve the wide range of customer needs. People who seldom use their computers, and work only with smaller files may find their built-in defragmentation is sufficient to keep their hard drives tidy.
 
Those who use their computers regularly, and work with larger files may need to purchase a defragmentation program to keep their systems running smoothly. People who often work with large picture, sound or video files may find purchased software particularly useful because of the option to defrag a single file, as opposed to the entire system.
 
Resources
 
About.com (2009). Defragmentation software – Defrag software – Defrag software reviews. Retrieved on March 22, 2009, from the About.com Web site: http://pcsupport.about.com/od/defragsoftware/Defragmentation_Software.htm.
 
DefragSoftware.com (2009). Defrag software reviews. Retrieved on March 22, 2009, from the DefragSoftware Web site: http://www.defragsoftware.com/.
 
Raxco Software, Inc. (2009). PerfectDisk 10 home edition. Retrieved on March 22, 2009, from the PerfectDisk Web site: http://www.perfectdisk.com/products/home-perfectdisk10-home-edition/learn-more.