Improve PC Performance: Defragment Your Hard Drive

Windows XP stores files on your hard drive in blocks of data called sectors. When a file is stored in several sectors that aren't located next to each other, it becomes fragmented, and a hard drive with lots of fragmented files can slow down PC performance. The Disk Defragmenter Utility scans your hard drive and rearranges scattered files so the hard drive runs as efficiently as possible. Running Disk Defragmenter once a month is enough for the average home user.

Defragmenting a large partition can take a long time. Plan to run Disk Defragmenter when you're not using your computer.

1. Go to Start | All Programs | Accessories | System Tools | Disk Defragmenter.

   

   Sometimes Disk Defragmenter conflicts with other programs running on the computer. If this happens, shut down all other programs including anti-virus programs.

2. Select the drive you want to defragment and click Analyze (see Figure 1).

3. Look at the horizontal bar in Figure 2 labeled Estimated Disk Usage Before Defragmentation. Red represents fragmented files. If you see lots of red, you should defragment the disk.

4. When the analysis is complete, a small window pops up telling you if you need to defragment the disk. Click View Report for more details.

5. The Analysis Report shown in Figure 3 provides all kinds of statistics about the hard disk. Click Close to continue.

6. Click the Defragment button to defragment the disk.

   

   If Disk Defragmenter freezes and won't shut down, press CTRL-ALT-DELETE to shut down the program.

Considering a Spare Battery for Your Laptop

One option that you probably ignored when you bought your laptop was getting a second or spare battery. But people who are on the road all the time or in a remote location where they spend a long time away from the power socket absolutely have to have a spare battery handy.

Before you use a spare battery, make sure that you fully charge it. Either charge it in the laptop or use an external charger (if you have one). Put the fully charged, spare battery in your laptop case or in any non-conducting (metallic) container. Then head out on the road.

If your laptop has some type of quick-swapping ability, then when the power gets low, you can just eject your laptop's original, spent battery and quickly insert the spare battery. But be sure that your laptop can survive such a heart transplant before you attempt it!

If your laptop doesn't have the ability to hot-swap batteries, then just turn off (or hibernate) the laptop when the original battery is nearly spent. Remove the old battery, insert the fresh one, and then turn the laptop on again.

Keep these spare-battery tips in mind when out and about with your multiple batteries:

• Yeah, you probably want to get a laptop that supports hot-swapping batteries, if you plan on pulling this trick often.

• You may want to label your batteries with a Sharpie so that you don't get the two (or more) confused and accidentally insert a dead battery.

• You can buy a spare battery from your dealer or from stores (either brick-and-mortar or online) that sell extra batteries.

• Be wary of generic batteries! Always try to get manufacturer or manufacturer-approved batteries for your laptop. Anything less, and you run the risk of setting your laptop ablaze! It's happened!

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