SmartDefrag

If you have not already, download SmartDefrag from the link given on the Before We Begin page.

SmartDefrag is an awesome defragmenting program. Not only does it offer a visualization of your harddrive and the defraging process (unlike Windows defrag program) it also automatically defrags your PC while it runs. This will keep your computer running at peak performance.

Ready to get started? Go ahead and locate the SmartDefrag file you downloaded and double click it. Once again, although the pictures below may not match your version number or screen, the options will still be the same.

Click 'Run'.

Click 'Next'.

Click 'Accept'.

For the purposes of this tutorial, we will go ahead and click 'Next' to install SmartDefrag to the default destination.

I actually uncheck all of these because a tray icon will show SmartDefrag is running and can be accessed from there. Click 'Next'.

SmartDefrag is free, but they make money from advertisers. Do NOT install this toolbar, it is Spyware. They are nice enough to give you the option to skip past this banking on the fact most people do not pay attention to what they are agreeing to and installing. Click 'Skip'.

IObit (the makers of SmartDefrag) offer many useful trustworthy tools. However, we are already using these tools in the form of CCleaner and Spybot. I always skip these when installing SmartDefrag. Click 'Skip'.

Click 'Finish' to complete the install. You will then see the following screen.

Unless you want the SmartDefrag dashboard to look different or use the program in a different language, click 'Start Now!' to accept the default settings.

This is the main SmartDefrag dashboard. Any disks plugged in will be recognized by SmartDefrag in addition to your harddrive (USB sticks, external harddrives, etc.). Place a check next to the drive you want to defragment and click 'Defrag'. Depending on the size of the drive and how fragmented it is, this can take a few minutes to an hour or more. A countdown will show its progress. If you are comfortable with the usage, click the down arrow on the 'Defrag' button to optimize your file locations. I always do a full optimization the first time I install and run a defragmentation on a harddrive. This process will take a long time. You can also click the 'Shutdown after defragmentation' button to turn off your PC automatically when you are finished.