How often should I defrag my Laptop?

[Crvena Zastava]

Hi guys!

I only just got my new Toshiba A500 laptop yesterday, and I can already safely say that Windows 7 is just AMAZING! Very simple, and very fun to use...Most of the boring and irskome tasks I did in XP are now pretty fun and exciting with Windows 7 (If that makes sense..). Also, it should be worth noting that I am not great with Computers, so try to keep all the tech talk simple

Well, unlike my old laptop, I plan to keep this Toshiba in very good condition, and I have joined this Forum in the hopes of learning more and more about my Computer and Windows 7. My first question here is pretty simple, but I would very much like to know:

How often should I defrag my laptop, and how exactly do I do it?

I defragged my old Laptop about 4-5 times in a timespan of 4 years, but I have no clue how to do it in Windows 7. Could somebody please give me "Directions" on how to acess the defragment menu?

I have been checking various websites online to find out how often I should defrag my PC. Some of them say once a month, others say once every two/three months and another one said once every six months. I am very confused, so I would like to know what you guys have to say?

Thank you for reading!

 

[not so gray matter]

Personally, I defrag once or twice a month or whenever I install a program or download files that I don't plan on removing quickly.

There are many third party programs out there that can do the job for you on a schedule. My personal favorite is Defraggler, made by Piriform who also make CCleaner. It's got a quick defrag option which you can set to only defrag items according to specifications of size and more. It also contains a scheduling section so that you don't have to remember to defrag.

If you're planning on keeping your system healthy, make sure you do some additional things.

Download an Anti-Virus, Firewall, Malware Remover and Spyware Remover. My personal favorites are Microsoft Security Essentials, Comodo Firewall Free Edition, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and SuperAntiSpyware respectively. However, there are many other options in all categories, most notably Avast Anti-Virus Free Edition, Hitman Malware Remover, and Ad-Aware. If you search the forums you can find topics discussing all reputable free programs of each category.

You may also wish to use a program such as CCleaner as mentioned previously. It cleans your system of unneccesary temporary files such as internet temp files, system temp files, and more. The only portion of the program I do not recommend using is the Registry Cleaner.

 

[Crvena Zastava]

Really? That is a bit surprising.

So, Defragging that often does not affect the PC in a negative way at all?

 

[electrotune1200]

Defragmenting every week does no harm to your drive. Your drive was designed to make many reads and writes over it's life span.

If you're a casual user... every week might be a bit overkill. If you're constantly transferring/deleting files.... I would defrag every week or two.

All the previously recommended defraggers do well, I just prefer the in-built Windows defragger to do the job. You can easily get to the defrag utility by typing "defrag" into Windows search.

 

[Joan Archer]

I use the built in Windows Defrag utility and have it set to defrag every Monday at 17.00 I know I'm not using the computer then so it can get on with it without being interrupted.

 

[Ageeb]

I've tried customizing an A500 at Toshiba's website to see if it's possible you have an SSD (Solid State Drive) vs. HDD (Hard Disk Drive) and it doesn't seem likely you do. Being that's the case, you're welcome to Defrag (I'm about weekly).

For some general Defrag info, there's a great write-up at ocforums.
Realities of Hard Drive Fragmentation

 

[BuzzCola]

I would defrag after you download or move a lot of large files, but just generally disk defrag like every 20 days should keep it going fast.

Here is a tutorial on how to defrag on Windows 7
Hope thats you out!

 

[vpwin7]

Generally I defragment either every couple of months, or when I install something rather large. Also if I do a clean up and uninstall a bunch of misc stuff I don't use any more I will often defragment. I really really doubt you will have to do it any more than once a month or even two for a casual user. Just make sure when you decide to do it you make it count, clear your temps, uninstall, install.. ect

 

[dendro]

I have been checking various websites online to find out how often I should defrag my PC. Some of them say once a month, others say once every two/three months and another one said once every six months. I am very confused, so I would like to know what you guys have to say?

I would say, if you get an automatic defragger, you dont need to keep analyzing and deciding how often to run, it will defrag whenever required if you set it to run in the auto mode. Having switched to Diskeeper, I have never needed to look out for any other defrag program.

 

[Crvena Zastava]

Download an Anti-Virus, Firewall, Malware Remover and Spyware Remover. My personal favorites are Microsoft Security Essentials, Comodo Firewall Free Edition, Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware and SuperAntiSpyware respectively. However, there are many other options in all categories, most notably Avast Anti-Virus Free Edition, Hitman Malware Remover, and Ad-Aware. If you search the forums you can find topics discussing all reputable free programs of each category.

You may also wish to use a program such as CCleaner as mentioned previously. It cleans your system of unneccesary temporary files such as internet temp files, system temp files, and more. The only portion of the program I do not recommend using is the Registry Cleaner.

I already have Kaspersky 2010 Anti-Virus [It was very highly reccomended by a lot of people] and it includes a Firewall. I still dont have [And dont know, as a matter of fact!] a Malware Remover and a Spyware remover.

Can anybody shed some light on the Anti Malware/Spyware thing, or better yet link me to a thread discussing it in detail?

Thanks for all the replies, guys! I think I will just defrag once every week..I am sometimes on the computer for a fair few hours a day so I am hoping that will be enough.

 

[JMH]

I already have Kaspersky 2010 Anti-Virus [It was very highly reccomended by a lot of people] and it includes a Firewall. I still dont have [And dont know, as a matter of fact!] a Malware Remover and a Spyware remover.

Can anybody shed some light on the Anti Malware/Spyware thing, or better yet link me to a thread discussing it in detail?

Thanks for all the replies, guys! I think I will just defrag once every week..I am sometimes on the computer for a fair few hours a day so I am hoping that will be enough.

As well as the advice you have already received about Defrag I suggest you read through this Tutorial for information on more "Computer Housework."
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/433-disk-check.html

Two recommended Anti Spyware links are included below for you to peruse.
Both are suitable for Win 7 & have free versions.
SUPERAntiSpyware.com | Remove Malware | Remove Spyware - AntiMalware, AntiSpyware, AntiAdware!

Malwarebytes

 

[Senshi09]

Well thats awesome, I usually defrag once a day since im a student and im on here for a good 4 to 6 hours a day. then my fiancee is on here for another 3 or 4 hours so i usually just defrag after shes done and then shut it down.

As for the antivirus, spywar, malwar i use Sunbelts Vipre Premium. Its a firewall, virus malware and spyware all in one and its better then zonealarm and all the other commercial crap out there now. its like having a tiny red dot on a huge red sheet. you don't even know its there. But sadly its only a trial, but its cost is still low 49.99 so i might get that when the trial is up. or i might go back to the CCLeaner, SUPERantispyware and Malwarebytes like i had on my old machine that ran XP media center.

 

[techcal]

frequency

The defrag frequency really depends on the file activity on the system, so it'll vary from person to person. I simply leave my defrag utility (Diskeeper 2010) on 'auto' so it does its stuff in the background (defrag + fragmentation prevention) as necessary. Works great.

For anti-virus, Kaspersky is good, as is Avira Antivir. You can also get by with the free Antivir version if you're not a high risk user and if you use common sense for web browsing and program installtion/execution.

Malwarebytes makes the best free/paid malware scanner, and I highly recommend it.