Animation for File Fragmentation and Defragmentation

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  1. Disk fragmentation occurs when files are spread over a disk, and the read/write head must be moved many times to read a single file. Moving the read/write head is slow, so this slows down file reading, and computer performance in general

  2. Disks get fragmented over time as files are written and erased.

  3. Defragmentation: rearranging the files on a disk so each sector in a file is as close as possible to the other sectors in that file.

  4. Defragmentation speeds up file reading and computer performance.

  5. The Microsoft Windows Disk Defragmenter is at Start > Programs > Accessories > System Tools > Disk Defragmenter.