How to Defrag a Laptop

If a laptop computer is running slowly, defragmenting the hard drive may help the computer to run more efficiently. Defrag is a function that is built into the Windows operating system no matter if you are running it on a laptop or desktop computer. Defragging organizes files on your hard drive so that they can be processed more efficiently. A hard drive becomes more fragmented over time as files are installed and then uninstalled at a later date.

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Step

Click "Start" and select "All Programs."

Step

Click "Accessories" and choose "System Tools."

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Choose "Disk Defragmenter."

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Select the hard disk that you would like to defrag and click "Defragment Disk."

Step

The process could take several hours, depending on the size of the hard drive and the amount of defragmentation.