What does the DEFRAG utility do?

The DEFRAG utility is specifically designed to improve the performance of a computer's hard drive by reorganizing fragmented data. Over time, as files are created, modified, and deleted, they can become fragmented; meaning that the data belonging to a single file may be scattered across the hard drive. This fragmentation can slow down the read and write processes, resulting in diminished performance.

When DEFRAG is executed, it rearranges the fragmented file pieces so that they are stored contiguously. This contiguous storage allows the read/write heads of the hard drive to access files more quickly because they have to move less to gather all parts of a file. Overall, this process enhances system speed and efficiency, making it especially beneficial for maintaining optimal hard drive performance over time.