Tech Chic: Make your computer happier without downloading a thing

Flagler College, with its four CSC classes and no computer engineering major, is not the most computer savvy campus. Today I am here to help set that straight. Here are some programs already built into windows that you can run to make your computer happier if not faster.

Disk Defragmenter

Defragging, if you do not know what that means you probably need to do it. Fragmentation occurs when you move items around and by deleting files. A more in depth explanation is that when you delete a file a space is created on your hard drive. A fragmented file develops when you download a new program or software and the computer uses the space left by the deleted file for part of that program. Programs are often split into several “pieces,” but still run just fine as the computer knows where all the pieces are. Fragmented files can be reassembled by using the disc defragmenter.

To defragment your computer simply go to the start menu > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools and click on Disk Defragmenter. Once you have that open go ahead and click defragment. This process takes a while, especially if you have not defragmented your drive recently, or ever for that matter. Let the defragmenter do its thing while you are sleeping and you will not have to worry about how long it can take.

Disk Cleanup

Disk Cleanup is another great program that comes with every windows machine. It helps to clean up downloaded program files, temporary internet files, the recycling bin and compressed old files that your computer no longer needs. This program is located in the same directory as the Defragmenter. The Cleaner can take some time getting started but once it has started up, you will want to check all the boxes that have a number other than zero on the right side then press ‘OK’. Like the Defragmenter, if you have not run this program recently this can take some time, but once it has finished you will have some more space freed up on your computer.
You should defrag your computer about once every two months and run the cleaner