Linux Dummies 9th

Chapter 2: Prepping Your Computer for Linux
33
Defragmenting files
During the normal course of using your workstation, the Windows system
writes pieces of files at random places on the hard drive. This can spread
data out over the entire disk. Before you split the hard drive into partitions,
you need to ensure that you don’t lose any of the data that Windows strewed
around the drive — and that includes both system and data files.
To make a cleanly partitioned hard drive, first you’ll need to make sure that
all your Windows data is moved toward the beginning of the hard drive. This
is commonly done using a defragmenting tool.
Defragmenting is a common process in the Windows world. It’s the process
of realigning how files are stored on the hard drive. As Windows creates and
removes files, file data gets split into various blocks scattered around the
hard drive. Defragmenting reassembles the blocks so they form contiguous
files, and puts those files in an equally contiguous area near the beginning of
the hard drive area.
All versions of Windows include a utility for defragmenting the hard drive. You
can get to the defragmentation utility from the Computer Management
window. Just select the Disk Defragmenter option.
In Windows Vista, disk defragmenting happens behind the scenes, without
any indication of what’s going on. Windows XP provides a handy defragmenter
window that shows progress as files are moved about, as shown in
Figure 2-7.
Figure 2-7:
The
Windows
XP Disk
Defragmenter
utility.