Today's computer systems offer hard drives featuring larger storage areas at a lower cost than ever before. It is therefore essential that savvy computer user be aware of the effects that excessive fragmentation can have on the performance of his/her "dream system."

Fragmentation is a term used to describe data storage areas on the hard drive(s) where files are broken into bits and randomly placed on the drive as opposed to the more optimal contiguous data file. To simplify what happens to a hard drive, imagine this scenario: You remove a program from a previously non-fragmented drive leaving a vacant area. You then install a larger program. The nature of your computer is to first fill the smaller vacant spaces and then move to the larger areas when installing the program. Voila, fragmentation has just occurred!