Schedule a Automatic Weekly Defragmentation in Windows XP
Disk Defragmenter is a free utility provided by Microsoft to counter the fragmentation problem. Defragmentation is the process of combining all the small scattered pieces of files together.
In order to keep your files defragged and let the system run smoothly, you can consider automating the defragmenter tool to run after every week or 15 days or months.
To start Disk Defragmenter manually:
* Start -> All Programs -> Accessories -> System Tools -> Disk Defragmenter
* Select the disk drive you want to defrag
* Click on Analyze (note: it analyses if you should run defragmenter)
* Then Click on the Defragment Tab
Note: You can have a cop of coffee by the time your computer is performing defragmentation the selected hard disk.
To Automate the Disk Defragmentation:
This involves the use of Scheduled Tasks utility. You can add the Disk Defragmenter to the Scheduled Task Job and can also select time when to perform it.
To schedule a weekly defragmentation
1.
Click Start, and then click Control Panel.
Start menu with Control Panel selected
2.
Click Performance and Maintenance.
Control Panel window with Performance and Maintenance selected
3.
Under or pick a Control Panel icon, click Scheduled Tasks.
Performance and Maintenance window with Scheduled Tasks selected
4.
In the Scheduled Tasks window, double-click Add Scheduled Task.
Scheduled Tasks window with Add Scheduled Task selected
5.
In the Scheduled Task Wizard, click Next.
Scheduled Task Wizard with Next selected
6.
Click Browse.
Scheduled Task Wizard with Browse selected
7.
In the File name box, type %systemroot%system32defrag.exe, and then click Open.
Select Program to Schedule window with Open selected
8.
Under Perform this task, click Weekly. Then, click Next.
Scheduled Task Wizard with Weekly and Next button selected
9.
Set the time and day of the week you would like to defragment your hard drive. For best results, choose a time when your computer will be on but you will be away from it. Click Next.
Scheduled Task Wizard with a time and Next button selected
10.
Type your password in both the Enter the password and Confirm password boxes. Then, click Next.
Scheduled Task Wizard with password information entered and Next button selected
11.
Select the Open advanced properties for this task when I click Finish check box, and then click Finish.
Scheduled Task Wizard with Open advanced properties for this task when I click Finish selected
12.
In the Run box, add C: to the existing command. Make sure you include a space before the “C:”. Then, click OK.
defrag dialog box with C: highlighted in Run box
13.
In the Set Account Information dialog box, type your password in both the Password and Confirm password boxes. Then, click OK.
Set Account Information dialog box with password entered and OK selected
Windows XP will defragment your hard drive at the time you have scheduled. During defragmentation, a black window will open. If you happen to be working at your computer when the window opens, you can ignore it. The window will automatically disappear when defragmentation is complete. You can use other programs during defragmentation, but you may prefer to schedule defragmentation at a time when you won’t be using your computer.
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