To understand the disk defragmenter, you need to understand the way in which information is written and organized on your computer. Your computer's hard drive is where the information is stored. Any time you hear a term that contains any portion of the word "defragment", this is a reference to defragmenting files, folders or information on your computer's hard drive. What this means is, the little bits of data that are randomly written to the hard drive are to be rearranged into a more organized fashion, so they can be found more quickly when they are needed.

Basic "Rules" of Disk Defragmenter:

• Turn Off Your Screensaver. (Right Click a blank area of Your Desktop. Click 'Properties', Click 'Screen Saver')
• Turn Off Anything Else You Have Running (Close All Windows).
• Don't Try To Do Other Tasks While Disk Defragmenter Is Running. v
• Once Disk Defragmenter Has Started, Let It Finish.

OK, now that you know the rules, Run Disk Defragmenter

• Click your 'Start' Button.
• Mouse over 'All Programs', 'Accessories', 'System Tools'.
• Click 'Disk Defragmenter'.
• Select the drive you want to Defragment. (Typically C:)
• Click the 'Defragment Button'.

This will take awhile but it will indicate its progress for you. Normally the longer it's been since you last defragmented, the longer it will take to defragment. Again, don't cancel it. Let it do its job. Don't try to do other things on your computer while these utilities are running.

One of the most common questions seems to be, "Can I do other things on my computer while it is defragmenting?" The simplest answer to this question is, No. The main reason you shouldn't try to do other things on your PC while it is defragmenting is that as soon as any of the data on your hard drive changes, disk defragmenter will start over. Data on your hard drive changes just about any time anything happens on your computer. This is also why you should disable your screensaver before you begin defragmenting. You should also run a complete virus scan to ensure your computer doesn't have a virus running on it.

How often should you run disk defragmenter? Well, how much do you use your computer? In addition to running 'Disk Defragmenter' at regular intervals, (monthly being optimal) there are other times you should run it too, such as when:

• You add or remove a large number of files.
• Your free disk space is less than 20 percent.
• You add or remove programs or a new version of Windows.