Fat32

What is it?
And why is it taking up 4GB of my space?

 

Fat32 is a filesystem.

 

Well, that explains allot...

 

File Allocation Table-- what your OS goes by to keep track of where all the pieces parts of your files are on your hard drive.

 

Should i defrag this drive?

 

You could-- wouldn't hurt, but might not achieve what you expect. Where are you observing this FAT32 and 4GB?

 

The only info we have is that your file system is FAT32. We don't even know what your Operating System is (Windows 98/XP/2000/whatever). FAT32 itself doesn't take up any space. It's just the WAY your files are filed: just as if you have 26 paper file folders in a file drawer, marked Z, X, Q, B, F, etc., and each is a letter of the alphabet, if you ALPHABETIZE the folders (use a new WAY of filing), the folders won't take up any more space than if they are randomly ordered. Alphabetizing takes up no space. FAT32 takes up no space.

Have you use the defragmenter before? If so, you should know that you can run a test to SEE whether defragmentation seems to be needed.

In any case, it can't HURT to defragment, and it might just help your machine to run better.

When files are fragmented, single files are broken into pieces, and the read-write heads of your hard drive have to jump around to read an entire file that's fragmented. Once the file is defragmented, the read-write heads can read a single contiguous space on the drive to read the file. That's easier for the hard drive. There is some silly argument currently in PC World magazine about whether defragmenting improves performance on up-to-date, fast hard drives. Fuggeddabouddit. The argument makes no sense. If your heads don't have to flail around, the hard drive is happier and will last longer.