Microsoft Drive Optimizer

Microsoft Drive Optimizer (formerly Disk Defragmenter) is a <a href="/facts/Utility_software/Hn3XtISQ">utility</a> in <a href="/facts/Microsoft_Windows/bwhAhuSL">Microsoft Windows</a> designed to increase data access speed by rearranging <a href="/facts/Computer_file/FjFH3Ufm">files</a> stored on a <a href="/facts/Hard_disk/kekLSGSE">disk</a> to occupy <a href="/facts/Contiguous_data_storage/SflHry2p">contiguous</a> storage locations, a technique called <a href="/facts/Defragmentation/qIsMFU2d">defragmentation</a>. Microsoft Drive Optimizer was first officially shipped with <a href="/facts/Windows_95/1E1L93qC">Windows 95</a>.
Defragmenting a disk minimizes head travel, which reduces the time it takes to read files from and write files to the disk. As a result of the decreased read and write times, Microsoft Drive Optimizer decreases system startup times for systems starting from magnetic storage devices such as a hard drive. However, defragmentation is not helpful on storage devices such as <a href="/facts/Solid_state_drives/aMHBy8gU">solid state drives</a>, <a href="/facts/USB_flash_drive/Jv0qmTCF">USB drives</a> or <a href="/facts/SD_cards/RLL9UTly">SD cards</a> that use <a href="/facts/Flash_memory/Cn8JsStx">flash memory</a> to increase speeds, as these drives do not use a head. Doing so may decrease lifespan for these types of devices.
From Windows 8 onwards, the program was renamed to Microsoft Drive Optimizer, with some references changed to say Defragment and Optimize Drives or simply Optimize Drives.

Microsoft Drive Optimizer open-in-new

Microsoft Drive Optimizer