This deep dive covers Deep Dive: Defragmentation within Utility Software for GCSE Computer Science. Revise Utility Software in 3.4 Computer Systems for GCSE Computer Science with 15 exam-style questions and 10 flashcards. This topic appears regularly enough that it should still be part of a steady revision cycle. It is section 3 of 7 in this topic. Use this deep dive to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Deep Dive: Defragmentation
Why files become fragmented:
- Files saved in first available space on disk
- When files grow, extra data stored elsewhere
- Deleting files leaves gaps
- Over time, single files split across many locations
What defragmentation does:
- Rearranges file fragments to be contiguous
- Read/write head doesn't need to jump around
- Result: Faster file access on HDDs
Important: SSDs don't need defragmentation - they have no moving parts and equal access time for all locations. Defragging SSDs can actually reduce their lifespan!
Practice questions for Utility Software
Which of the following is an example of utility software?
Explain what defragmentation software does and why it improves the performance of a hard disk drive.