Data Recovery When It Matters Most

Heavy use of any hard disk drive can lead to the fragmentation of data stored on the magnetized platters. As data gets written and rewritten, clusters of data get spread out. You can often improve the performance of Windows laptops by running the defrag utility.

The utility scans your laptop HDD, identifies fragmented file clusters, and reorganizes your saved data in a more efficient way. Running this utility can often improve read and write speeds significantly, particularly if you use your laptop daily.

Windows-based computers include a defrag maintenance tool as part of the operating system. It is an entirely safe and useful method for keeping your data better organized on your HDD and improving the overall performance of your laptop.

SSD devices don't need to be defragged because they store data in a way that doesn't create fragmented file clusters. If it were possible to defrag an SSD, the process would curb the lifespan of the device. That's why most modern Windows laptops and PCs don't permit the defrag utility to be used if your laptop drive is an SSD.

In general, the more you use your laptop, the more frequently you should defrag — once a month at the very least — and perhaps each week if you use your laptop several hours each day. The more you save data to your laptop HDD, the more fragmented the data becomes. This is because data in the files you save gets saved across the magnetic platter.

Your laptop has to find and reassemble these file fragments when you open a document, image, or any other file. The more you write to a drive, the more these fragments get spread out and the longer it takes for your laptop to find them. Running the defrag utility organizes these fragments and optimizes the way your computer accesses them.

SMART analysis examines numerous performance areas of your hard drive to ensure that it's operating within normal parameters. It looks at attributes such as internal temperature, spin speed, and bad sectors or blocks.

If you receive a SMART test notification of a disk error, it could mean that your laptop hard drive could be at risk of imminent failure, even if it appears to be functioning normally. Your first response should be to immediately back up the contents of the drive to protect your data.

Contact the manufacturer if your hard drive remains under warranty. Depending on the type of error, your drive might need further analysis by a professional data recovery service. If your data is important, stop using the device and seek immediate assistance.