[isawsparks89]

Hey, sorry this is going to seem like a really half witted stupid question, but what does defragging actually do? My system is slow so I'm pretty sure I need to do it (thats what I've been told) but I don't want to do anything without knowing if it'll delete stuff and if so, what it will delete. Basically anything I need to know before I do it, I'd like to know, please.
Serious replies, please.

Thanks very much!

[FloydRix]

it just moves everything so its easier to access, don't defrag on an SSD tho

[isawsparks89]

(Original post by FloydRix)
it just moves everything so its easier to access, don't defrag on an SSD tho

Sorry, I'm a complete noob but what is an SSD?

[mikeyd85]

Imagine you ran a library. People take books (your files) from the shelves (your hard drive) and read them at the tables (your RAM). Now, imagine that sometimes you get new books, sometimes you get rid of some books and sometimes they're leant out. Now, imagine that through all this, the books are only just shoved back on your shelves in no real order. You know the books are there - but it takes longer to find.

Defrag is like the librarian putting all the books back in order, as they should be, so they're quicker to find, thus it speeds up your PC.

[mangoh]

(Original post by mikeyd85)
Imagine you ran a library. People take books (your files) from the shelves (your hard drive) and read them at the tables (your RAM). Now, imagine that sometimes you get new books, sometimes you get rid of some books and sometimes they're leant out. Now, imagine that through all this, the books are only just shoved back on your shelves in no real order. You know the books are there - but it takes longer to find.

Defrag is like the librarian putting all the books back in order, as they should be, so they're quicker to find, thus it speeds up your PC.

Great explanation

Goodluck to someone trying to explain it better than this!

[isawsparks89]

Excellent! So nothing would be deleted? (sorry if I've repeated that, I assumed that nothing was deleted, just verifying now.) And it's fine on any computer? (I've got an hp laptop of some description, no idea which as it's spanish)

That's brilliant, guys, thank you so much for helping!

[iCiaran]

(Original post by isawsparks89)
Excellent! So nothing would be deleted? (sorry if I've repeated that, I assumed that nothing was deleted, just verifying now.) And it's fine on any computer? (I've got an hp laptop of some description, no idea which as it's spanish)

That's brilliant, guys, thank you so much for helping!

Nope nothing will be deleted, and to you nothing will even seem to have changed other than an increase in speed hopefully (ie all your files will still be in the same place etc)