How are HD written

[Howard Graham]

Defagmenting my HD I noticed that old files were coming up listed as
fragmented. How can this be since the HD has been previously
defagmented and the old files not changed by upgrade. When Windows
reads files does it ever rewrite them to the HD. Further, How does
Windows decide where to write. How does it choose the location and why
doesn't it place them in a non-fragmented pattern.

Howard

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

Defagmenting my HD I noticed that old files were coming up listed as
fragmented. How can this be since the HD has been previously
defagmented and the old files not changed by upgrade. When Windows
reads files does it ever rewrite them to the HD. Further, How does
Windows decide where to write. How does it choose the location and
why doesn't it place them in a non-fragmented pattern.

Howard

I don't know all the details but you could check out
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defragmentation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disk_Defragmenter_(Windows)
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/question548.htm

Also, I would suggest you try the free JKDefrag as an alternative to the
built-in defrag in Windows. I've had better experiences with it & you don't
even need to install it; just launch it.

 

[Twayne]

I don't know all the details but you could check out
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Defragmentation
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disk_Defragmenter_(Windows)
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/question548.htm

Also, I would suggest you try the free JKDefrag as an alternative to
the built-in defrag in Windows. I've had better experiences with it &
you don't even need to install it; just launch it.

Here's another link that might help too; it's more into the nuts & bolts
of why but still readable by the not to tekkie amongst us:
http://blogs.technet.com/askperf/archive/2008/03/14/disk-fragmentation-and-system-performance.aspx

For those trying to follow the wikipedia links, second one, it will seem
to not find it. But just keep clicking the altnernative choices by the
same title; you'll get there<g>.

HTH,

Twayne