One way to improve work efficiency modern computer is a disk defragmentation program - an application that rationally distributes data across a storage device.
With its help, even an inexperienced user can speed up the computer.
And, if their size has increased, it may turn out that the new information will be placed not in the adjacent sector, already occupied by other data, but in another part of the hard drive.
As a result, the file takes longer to access and the overall program startup time increases.
All this happens gradually, but if the disk has not been defragmented for a long time, the operating speed may drop by 10–20 percent or even more.
Defragmentation is a process that allows you to move parts of files so that they are located contiguously.
This simplifies access to programs by reducing the distance traveled by the read heads of the hard drive. Best programs for defragmentation
Helpful information:
Defraggler
IObit SmartDefrag
The high-speed Russian program ensures that files are placed in one of the best ways, because it uses the most effective scripts.
Data is placed on the fastest sections of the disk, and the system runs much faster.
The main advantages of the application include high degree file security, which is not threatened even by a sudden accidental shutdown of the computer while SmartDefrag is running.
In addition, defragmentation can be carried out in three modes (simple, deep and optimized).
O&O Defrag
A well-known program is, if not the best, then at least one of the most popular.
It is often used by advanced users to move parts of files to places where they can work with maximum efficiency.
With the help of O&O Defrag, the performance of a desktop computer, laptop, and workstation can be restored.
The advantages of a defragmenter are:
- Special installers for embedding a custom script;
- Automatically configure defragmentation mode;
- High speed of analysis and optimization;
- Process charts;
- Expanded functionality when working on the network;
- Availability of a multilingual interface (there is also a Russian version);
- Support from everyone Windows types, starting from XP and Vista;
- Automatic selection of bit depth (32 or 64) for better work in the corresponding operating system;
- Special mode for mobile PCs (netbooks and laptops).
Windows Tools
If for some reason (for example, there is no Internet access, Windows is protected from installing third party applications or there is a possibility of infection with a virus) it is not possible to download the defragmentation utility, you can use standard program, which is built into operating systems.
To access it you need:
- Open the Start menu;
- Start dialing in search bar the word "defragmentation";
- Go to the corresponding utility that appears in the search results;
- Run disk defragmentation.
The same can be done if in the “Start” menu you first find the “standard” item and then “utilities”.
This method is suitable for Windows 7 and XP. And for Windows 8 and 8.1, you can open the search bar even faster by pressing the Win + Q combination.
Then the defragmentation utility is located in the same way and the process starts.
The need for manual defragmentation
Manual defragmentation is not always practical on some operating systems and modern hard drives.
For example, SSD media not only do not need optimization, but even wear out from frequent use of this process.
Moreover, such disks will not work faster even after defragmentation.
In Windows 7 and later versions, the ability to defragment SSDs is disabled by default, and the standard utility runs automatically from time to time, which is quite enough to optimize the system.
Old versions of Windows require mandatory manual defragmentation. Although this problem can be solved by updating the system.
If this is impossible to do, you will have to use either built-in software or a third-party one - preferably one from the list of the most popular and free ones, since paid applications do not provide any advantage.
Defragmentation programs allow you to rearrange parts of files on your hard drive so that fragments of the same file are located sequentially. This allows the hard drive to read and write information faster.
In other words, defragmentation makes reading a file faster because the hard drive doesn't have to move the read head to do so. Disk controller software will allow you to read the entire file in one go, which will significantly increase the speed of the disk subsystem.
It should be noted that defragmentation and defragmentation software are only useful for systems with hard drives. When using SSD drives, no head movements occur and the controller of such a drive itself takes care of the placement of data blocks, without requiring external intervention.
Although each of the operating rooms Windows systems equipped own program for defragmentation hard drives, the use of third-party free software is completely justified, since it allows you to complete this process better and faster.
Note: only free programs are presented here, which are usually enough to perform defragmentation efficiently. Links to programs can be found at the bottom of the article.
Screenshot of Defraggler version v2.20.989 on Windows 8
One of the best free defragmentation programs. May be like in the version for installation on HDD, and in portable version. To reduce operating time, you can specify optimization not only of the entire disk, but also of individual folders.
Defraggler can start working when the computer boots, check the disk for errors, empty the Recycle Bin before starting its work, exclude pre-defined files from the defragmentation process, select rarely used files and move them to the end of the disk to leave its beginning for those files that are used often.
The company that released the program, Piriform, is also known to users for its other popular products - CCleaner (system cleaning) and Recuva (data recovery).
Defraggler can be installed on Windows 10, Windows 8, 7, Vista, XP operating systems, as well as on server families of Windows operating systems.
Screenshot Smart programs Defrag version 5 on Windows
The free program is great for the purposes automatic optimization files on a schedule. Automatic defragmentation settings even in free version in many ways superior to many competitors.
The program allows you to start moving blocks hard drive while the computer is booting, thus gaining access to system or pinned files during normal Windows operation files.
Besides, Smart Defrag allows you to exclude individual files or folders on the disk from the defragmentation process, replace standard application Windows operating system, optimize applications only Windows interface Metro, skip files of a certain size.
In addition, in the settings you can specify the preliminary deletion of unused and temporary files of the operating system and browser Internet Explorer to free the disk. Cached data is removed to speed up the process and eliminate unnecessary and temporary data.
The program can be installed on computers running Windows 10, 8, 7, Vista, XP operating systems.
Screenshot of Auslogics Disk Defrag version 6 on Windows 7
Auslogic's disk defragmenter software is available in two versions: an installation version and a portable version for distribution on removable media.
Settings allow you to transfer system Windows files and program libraries, as the most frequently used data, are in the areas of the disk that are read the fastest. This setting allows you to increase the overall performance of your computer by reducing system response time.
Like many other software, Auslogics Disk Defrag allows you to start the process while your computer is booting. In addition, the hard drive can be checked for errors using chkdsk, it can be optimized, folders and directories can be added or excluded from the process, background scans can be run, and temporary files can be deleted before starting defragmentation.
Auslogics Disk Defrag, even in its free version, works on almost all user versions of the operating system - Windows 10, Windows 8 and earlier.
Puran Defrag has its own data optimization engine - Puran Intelligent Optimizer (PIOZR). This engine, according to the manufacturer, intelligently moves files so that they are located as much as possible on the outer areas of the hard drives. At the same time, at the same speed of rotation of the disk spindle, the head manages to travel a greater distance per unit time and, by reading more data, ensures high performance of the computer.
Like many other programs on this list, Puran Defrag can defragment files and directories when called context menu right click mouse in the Explorer window. It can delete various temporary data before optimization to speed up its process; it can work while the computer is booting to access those files that are not accessible in normal mode.
In addition, the software has some specific settings and capabilities. So its work can be started according to a schedule by setting the number of hours of system inactivity after which it needs to be turned on, you can program disk defragmentation during the startup of the Screen Saver (screensaver).
In addition, you can start the process, for example, when you turn on your computer for the first time in a current day, or when you turn on your machine for the first time in a week or month.
Along with undeniable advantages, the program has disadvantages. So many researchers note that Puran Defrag tries to install a number of third-party programs during its installation.
Puran Defrag is compatible with many operating systems. And can be run under Windows control 10, 8, 7 and earlier.
Screenshot of the company's Disk Speedup program © Glarysoft.com
Disk Speedup is another one free program for defragmenting a hard drive, which can work not only with the entire volume, but also with separate files and catalogs on it. You can start the file optimization process after a specified number of minutes of system inactivity have passed.
The software has some specific settings. This way, you can exclude from processing files with fragments less than 10 megabytes, files consisting of more than 3 fragments, and larger than 150 megabytes. All these values are adjustable.
In addition, large, rarely used files, files of certain formats (for example, video, graphics, archives, etc.) can be sent to the end of the disk, thus leaving small and frequently used data at the beginning of the disk. Thus, you can count on the HDD head not having to regular work jump from one area of the disk to another too often, which will lead to an increase in the performance of the system as a whole.
Among other things, Disk Speedup can be launched during system boot, can exclude individual folders and files from processing, automatically turn off the computer when the process is completed on one or more disks, and work according to a set schedule.
Note: Disk Speedup tries to install some other programs from the manufacturer, but this behavior can be stopped during installation by simply unchecking the appropriate boxes in the installer dialog.
The program is declared to work on computers running Windows 8, 7, Vista and other operating systems, including server ones. Independent testers checked the operation of the software on a computer running Windows 10 - everything functioned without any complaints.
Free program from ToolWiz Software. It is characterized by a very fast installation process on a computer and a minimal interface. It is stated that this software can optimize the hard drive 10 times faster than standard remedy Windows. Can move archives to a special slow part of the hard drive, providing small system files fast access.
The program shows the number of defragmented files on the disk, it really does its job very quickly, it can show the overall level of fragmentation, and it can schedule its launch at a later time.
While sometimes it's nice to have a tool that's lightweight and simple to perform a function without being cluttered with unnecessary buttons or settings, sometimes they're very necessary. So Toolwiz Smart Defrag is designed in such a way that almost nothing can be configured in it. If the priority is to find the easiest to use, but effective and quick program- this is one of the best options.
Works under Windows 8 and below.
WinUtilities DiskDefrag is not a completely specialized program. This is an optimization system that includes, among other things, a disk defragmentation module. However, it is a fairly simple and highly customizable tool.
All the usual features for this class of free programs are present here: work on a schedule, the ability to start while the system is idle, and the ability to control computer power.
In the settings you can set more than 10 behavior options: analysis only, analysis and moving rarely used files to the end of the disk, etc. In addition, you can control approximate time perform optimization, exclude folders and files.
Another feature of the software is the ability to select files and folders to move to a special area on the disk (the SpaceHogs area), where the program tries to place large and rarely used objects. Therefore, in manual mode You can flexibly configure your computer so that it works as quickly as possible.
In the settings, you can set the need to automatically turn off the computer when the defragmentation process is complete.
Module hard optimization The disk in the program can be found by selecting the menu item “Modules > Optimize & Improve > Disk Defrag”.
The program works perfectly in operating systems Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista and Windows XP.
Free version software O&O Software has a simple and well-designed user interface. Even in the free version, it contains most of the features available from competitors - disk optimization, viewing all fragmented disks, checking the disk for errors.
In addition to the ability to run scheduled scans and fixes on a specific day of the week, O&O Defrag Free Edition can be programmed to start running when the screen saver starts.
For those who do not want to deal with the settings, it is possible to launch the settings assistant.
Some of the necessary features are missing in the free version and are present only in the paid version. Therefore, it may happen that when turning on some option, the user will receive a message that in order to obtain this option it is necessary to upgrade to a paid option.
Works under almost all common Windows operating systems. From Windows 10 to 8, 7, Vista. However, in reviews of this software, sometimes there are messages that it was not possible to fully launch it on a particular machine.
Screenshot of UltraDefrag version 7.0.0
The program is intended for both beginners and advanced users. Along with simple settings, there is an option for more complex actions, thus, regardless of the user experience, the program can be used equally effectively.
Most of the functions are similar to other software, but at the same time, if you need to defragment while the computer is booting, you must have basic skills in working with batch .bat files.
There is both a version of the program for installation on a computer and a portable, portable version. In addition, there is a version of the program for 32-bit systems and a version of the Windows defragmentation program for 64-bit Windows systems.
The developer states that the program is intended for Windows 8 and lower operating systems, but testing has shown that it functions perfectly in various versions of Windows 10.
A program created by a single programmer. Previously called JkDefrag. Like the previous option, it can work both in a simple mode for beginners or undemanding users, and provide complex configuration options to follow the user’s exact instructions.
The program can execute pre-created scripts containing defragmentation tasks. Scripts can be changed (created and edited) by the user himself. Moreover, during installation the program already contains a number of standard scripts. So she can work according to a schedule, analyze the hard drive, and allocate free space on it. The default settings are great for those who do not want to understand all this and want to use the program for its intended purpose.
Works under all Windows operating systems.
Many people underestimate the importance of a process such as defragmentation. However, it is the presence of such a program that will save you from many problems associated with freezes and errors in system processes. The process of defragmentation is to organize files and system elements in such a way that the operating system receives better access to the necessary data, which optimizes and speeds up all computer processes.
At active work On the computer there are constant changes in the file system: you download something, edit it, transfer it, delete it. And all these files occupy a certain space on the hard drive, measured in clusters. When you delete or edit content, some clusters may become empty, leaving empty space between files of the same destination or even the same program.
Thus, the operating system has to find connections between torn files of the same order, which can lead to slowdown of processes or even loss of any function if there are too many “shards” of the utility and they are located in different parts of the hard drive. The defragmentation process organizes items and files, moving them around so that there are no gaps or empty spaces between them. This qualitatively optimizes the operation of the operating system.
How to defragment
Defragmentation can be done using the default built-in operating system programs. To use this function, you need to click “Start”, go to the “All Programs” section, find “Accessories” there, select “System Tools” from them and click on “Disk Defragmentation”. You can choose which drive you want to defragment or program defragmentation to certain time or a day for regular checks.
However, it is recommended to use third-party defragmenters, since the built-in program does not cope with the task very well, providing only minimal system optimization. We recommend downloading specially designed utilities as they usually have advanced features such as defragmentation followed by optimization, white space defragmentation and many others. On our website you can download such popular and universal defragmenters as
And this article will discuss the best programs for hard defragmentation disk. All of them are free, and you can easily find them at the office. developers website (links will be provided). Some of them are in Russian, some are in English. But it is very easy to understand the programs, since they have a simple and intuitive interface. And most importantly: it is the same almost everywhere.
All of the utilities below work on Windows 7, 8 and 10, and some also on XP. And you can install them on any computer or laptop running on these OS.
Do you need a fast defragmenter? In this case, Smart Defrag from IObit is best suited. This is one of the most quick utilities to defragment the hard drive, and this does not affect the quality of the process itself. And all because the developers managed to create effective scripts that can significantly speed up the execution time of this procedure on large hard drives. Today this is very relevant - especially considering that HDD drives with a capacity of 1 TB and higher are found on almost all computers and laptops.
The main advantages of the Smart Defrag program:
- 3 modes of hard drive defragmentation - simple, deep, with optimization;
- works in background(does not interfere with your business);
- high security of files (if the electricity suddenly goes out, nothing will happen to them);
- optimized to work on Windows 7, 8, 10 and XP;
- entirely in Russian;
- free.
By the way, this utility can be configured so that it automatic mode defragmented the hard drive at the right time. And this is very convenient.
Auslogics Disk Defrag
Another excellent free defragmentation program (in Russian) is Auslogics Disk Defrag. This is also a fairly fast defragmenter, which, moreover, takes up very little space. Impressive execution speed this process This is ensured by the fact that the utility transfers files to the fastest part of the hard drive - and as a result, this has a positive effect on the operation of the OS itself.
Main advantages:
- supports Windows XP, 7, 8 and 10;
- works in the background;
- can run defragmentation automatically.
By the way, she has distinctive feature– she knows how to defragment local disks, and individual folders with files.
It is recommended to use the Auslogics BoostSpeed program on your computer or laptop. This is an excellent utility for optimizing and cleaning your PC, which has many useful tools - including the above-mentioned Disk Defrag. With Auslogics BoostSpeed you can not only defragment your hard drive, but also clean the registry, speed up the Internet, optimize services, etc.
Defraggler is the best disk defragmentation software. At least that's what many users think. It is very simple, convenient, and most importantly – free.
Its main advantages:
- defragments the hard drive quickly and efficiently;
- supports everything Windows versions(32 and 64 bit);
- entirely in Russian;
- can defragment the registry, as well as individual files.
This defragmentation utility also supports automatic shutdown laptop or computer after the process is completed. Therefore, you can safely run it at night or before leaving for work.
MyDefragGUI is a simple utility that is an excellent replacement for the built-in Windows defragmenter.
Main advantages:
- effective file defragmentation;
- availability of a task scheduler;
- small size;
- There is a portable version.
In addition, MyDefragGUI can defragment all types of drives - built-in and external hard drives, USB flash drives and memory cards.
Ashampoo Magical Defrag
Another great free defragmenter is Magical Defrag from Ashampoo. By the way, products from these developers are always warmly received by ordinary users, and this utility for hard drive defragmentation is no exception.
It is a “set it and forget it” program. The developers themselves emphasize that Ashampoo Magical Defrag works quietly and unnoticeably, i.e. starts the defragmentation process only when almost all the resources of the computer or laptop are free. Therefore, you simply won’t notice any glitches or slowdowns.
Instead of a conclusion
Listed above are the top five free (or shareware) programs for defragmenting your hard drive. So if you don't like the built-in Windows defragmenter(or it doesn’t work for certain reasons), install any utility. Links to them are given above, so you can easily install the program that you like the most.
Personally, I use IObit Smart Defrag. But this is just my opinion.
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