How to run Defrag

Run  a standard Scandisk first.

Danger: If you have a very old drive (more than 3 years old), or if you have too many "bad spots" Defrag may "push it over the edge" and cause it to fail.

Windows 2000, Windows XP

• Close all open programs

• If you have XP, click on the Start button

• Open My Computer

• Locate the C Drive

• Right Click on the C Drive

• Left Click on Properties (It is the last item in the list)

• At the top, left click on the Tools tab

• Look for Defragmentation

• Left Click on Defragment Now

• Left Click on Defragment

• After it is done, pick another hard drive if you have one.

Windows 98, Windows 98SE, Windows ME

• Open My Computer

• Locate the C Drive

• Right Click on the C Drive

• Left Click on Properties (It is the last item in the list)

• At the top, left click on the Tools tab

• Look for Defragment

• Left Click on Defragment

• Click on "Advanced", and make sure the "Full Defragmentation" button is checked
• Click on "Start"  even if it says a full defrag is not necessary
• After it is done, pick another hard drive if you have one.

Windows 95 Windows 98, Windows 98SE

• Click the "Start" button
• Click on "Programs"
• Click on "Accessories"
• Click on "System Tools"
• Click on "Disk Defragmenter"
• Pick the drive (C:) or "All Hard Drives"
• Click on "Advanced", and make sure the "Full Defragmentation" button is checked
• Click on "Start"  even if it says a full defrag is not necessary
• After it is done, pick the D: drive if you have one

  DOS 6.x/Windows 3.1

  • If you are in Windows, exit  so that you see C:\>  This is called a "C prompt".
  • type "defrag" and press the "Enter" key.
  • Defrag will start and offer a recommendation (usually files only)
  • If the recommendation is "files only", ignore the recommendation and go to files, "method", make sure the "full" box is checked then go to "Begin"
  • If the recommendation is "Full", continue
  • If you have another drive, (e.g.: D:) type "defrag D:"

Error Messages

    You may get error messages while running Defrag.  The most common error is that it can not continue because of errors on your drive.  Do what it says and run Scandisk.

    If you want to know more about Defrag, use the on-line help.   In Windows 95, go to Start, Help, Index and
type in "defrag".  In DOS, type in "help" and <Enter> from the C prompt (C:\>). then find "defrag" in the list and press enter.  Want even more info?  Buy a book about DOS or Windows 95.

How often should I run Defrag?

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