by Tim Canter

Created on: November 21, 2009   Last Updated: November 23, 2009

Your computer like any other machinery utilizes several components in order to perform its function. Therefore, like your car or an airplane, periodic maintenance is required to keep the system running in an optimum condition. One of the most neglected and yet crucial components is the hard drive.

This is a storage device where your software, personal documents etc. are kept. Information or "data" are binary numbers (ones and zeros) configured to be stored or recalled from the drive. A hard drive consists of a magnetic metallic disk (storage apparatus) and a magnetic stylus that writes on the data disk. This disk is compartmented by using sectors and clusters which are identifiable to the O.S. Thus when data is stored, the O.S.(operating system) knows where the information is.

Obviously there is a limit to how much data can be stored. Most computers only have one disk which is used for all types of files such as the operating system, software applications, etc. As the drive accumulates data, the storage capacity decreases thereby forcing the O.S. to look for these vacant spaces to insert data. This eventually slows down the computer. The O.S. uses a hierarchy of pathways call a directory.

This is how it works: A letter is assigned to the drive where the default is the letter C. Example: C:\windows\explorer This identifier for the O.S., is the program that runs the desktop. Directory pathways can be enormously large. So when a disk is becoming full, it is not always possible for the data to be stored in close proximity. In other words, the data becomes scattered. So when you start a program, the computer has to search and find the required data. This data can be anywhere on the disk.

Additionally, the same situation occurs in reverse when data is deleted. Empty spaces are now used to by new data. this prevents the data from being organized, allowing for fast retrieval. This is a condition called "Fragmented". You can see the importance of maintaining the integrity of your data. Good data integrity not only allows the computer to run efficiently, it also helps prevent crashes and the loss of information. The method to organize the data is called "defragmenting."

I recommend purchasing a maintenance software. Most, if not all, maintenance software comes with additional applications to tweak your computer so it runs optimally. Cleaning your drive involves additional steps other than just a defrag. Scheduling a defrag to run when your not using your system is an

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