Automatic Defragment on Windows Systems

Did you know that Windows NT, XP, 2K3, etc.. do not automatically defragment the hard drive? Excessive file fragmentation can seriously impact performance.

NT didn't even include a defragment utility, but XP and 2k3 have both a GUI and a command line version. The GUI is very nice, if you remember to run it, but I always forget. It's best to have it set to do an automatic defragment every night. The GUI version can't do that, but the command line version can, if you know the trick.

Just setup a scheduled task to Run: %SystemRoot%\system32\cmd.exe /C defrag C: in the middle of the night.

You can schedule a task under Start / Control Panel / Performance and Maintenance / Scheduled Tasks.

• Double click "Add Scheduled Task" then Next,
• (wait for it) find "Command Prompt" in the list then Next,
• change the name to "Defrag" and "Perform this task:" "Daily" then Next,
• set the start time to something like 2AM then Next,
• enter your password twice, then Next
• check the "Open advanced properties..." box then Finish.
• Now, change the run to
  %SystemRoot%\system32\cmd.exe /C defrag C:
• and I always like to change the "Stop the task if it runs for" default setting of 72 to something like 2 or 3 hours.
• Click OK, and enter your password twice again.

You can test it by right clicking on the new scheduled task and selecting Run.