Does hard disk usage affect computer speed?

[Danger_Duck]

So this computer has 12 out of 19 GB used. Now, even after defragmentation,
do programs run slower simply because more of the hard disk has been used up?

For that matter, in general, how much is performance slowed down for every
fraction of disk used up? (Obviously a rather vague question, I guess I mean
if my total space is T, and an additional x space is used, on what order does
speed slow down if any?)

Thanks!

(In case you're wondering, I'm thinking of burning rarely-used data to blank
CDs, which I have a lot of).

 

[Bob I]

So this computer has 12 out of 19 GB used. Now, even after defragmentation,
do programs run slower simply because more of the hard disk has been used up?
No


For that matter, in general, how much is performance slowed down for every
fraction of disk used up? (Obviously a rather vague question, I guess I mean
if my total space is T, and an additional x space is used, on what order does
speed slow down if any?)

None, unless you really fill it up.

Thanks!

(In case you're wondering, I'm thinking of burning rarely-used data to blank
CDs, which I have a lot of).

I'd suggest DVD and make 2 copies.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

So this computer has 12 out of 19 GB used. Now, even after defragmentation,
do programs run slower simply because more of the hard disk has been used up?

No.


For that matter, in general, how much is performance slowed down for every
fraction of disk used up? (Obviously a rather vague question, I guess I mean
if my total space is T, and an additional x space is used, on what order does
speed slow down if any?)

Not at all. Think of it as a file cabinet drawer with either ten
folders in it or 50. It takes just as long to retrieve a document from
the folder labeled "2008" in either case. The disk drive works very
much the same way; access to it is random, and Windows can go directly
to the file it needs regardless of how much is used up.

Only when the drive is full, or nearly so, does it become a problem.
Windows will start running out of room for temp files, page file, etc.
Similarly, if your file cabinet drawer gets full, it gets tight and
very hard to remove or add documents.

(In case you're wondering, I'm thinking of burning rarely-used data to blank
CDs, which I have a lot of).

It doesn't hurt to do that, but it won't help performance.