Defragmenting computer question....

I have MS Windows XP and have a question regarding defragmenting my computer.

-Approximatly how often should you defrag the compter?
-Should I use XP's defrag tool or an outside program?
-Its been mentioned to do an "error checking" before defragmenting...is this true?


Any other useful information on this topic would be handy. Please keep the info in plain english as I'm not the most computer savy.

Thanks in advance for all your help

 

Hi Global!!!! It depends on what you are doing on your computer on how often to defrag it. I do mine once a week, just to keep it running smooth and easy. Other folks only defrag every month or so, but I am a neat freak, so I like to do mine once a week. I use XPs defragger, it's simple and easy to use, and there is also a quick test where it will analyze it first for you, and tell you rather it needs to be defragged or not. If I see many red lines when I analyze, I defrag rather it says it needs it or not. (red lines are fragged files ) With XP you really don't have to do much of the scan disk as it is a totally different opperating system that Windows 98 or Me. Now there maybe some higher ups that will tell you different than I do, I'm only part geek here. lol Some of them like the outside programs I am sure, but I find XPs easy and that works for me. Hope this helps.

 

Thanks for responding YooperLady.

So do I just,

Click START, PROGRAMS, Accessories, System Tools, Disk Defragmenter and then Defragment?

Someone in my office told me I would have to shut down my screen saver? Is this true?

Sorry for being so green.

 

GHappy to help Global! Start,Programs, Accessories, System Tools, Disk defragmenter. And no, you don't have to shut off the screen saver, but you can. I never do as mine goes really fast because I do it so ofter. Might turn it off for the first defrag, then if you do yours offten, you shouldn't need to shut it off. Mine runs in less than the 10 minutes that it takes my screen saver to come on. r

 

Hey all!
This is my question about defragmenting computers...
It gets to about 3%, then it displays this message:
Windows can not defragment this drive because it contains error that must first be repaired. Click help, carry out the instructions fro repairing the errors, and then try defragmenting the drive again. ID NO: DEFRAG004

Ok, I go where they tell me to go, I click on display, then POOF! it act like it displayed something, but it never does. HELP! What do I need to do??