How to fix slow PC performance caused by fragmented hard drives and disk errors

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to fix slow PC performance caused by fragmented hard drives and disk errors. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

Over time, your computer's hard drive can become fragmented, meaning files are scattered across different physical locations on the disk. This forces the drive to work harder to retrieve data, leading to sluggish performance. Additionally, file system errors can cause instability. If your computer is running slow or you are experiencing applications freezing or crashing, performing a disk optimisation and a system check can often restore speed and stability.

Optimising and Defragmenting Your Drive

Windows includes a built-in tool to reorganise data for faster access. Note that the process differs depending on whether you have a Hard Disk Drive (HDD) or a Solid State Drive (SSD). Windows will automatically detect the drive type and apply the correct method (Defragmentation for HDDs and TRIM for SSDs).

How to use Defragment and Optimise Drives

1. Click the Start button or press the Windows key.
2. Type Defragment and Optimize Drives in the search bar and press Enter.
3. In the window that opens, select the drive you wish to analyse (usually (C:)).
4. Click the Analyse button to determine if the drive needs optimisation.
5. If the drive is fragmented, click the Optimise button.
6. Wait for the process to complete. The time taken depends on the size of the drive and the level of fragmentation.

Repairing Disk Errors with CHKDSK

If your system is still lagging or you have encountered a Blue Screen of Death (BSOD), there may be corrupted sectors or file system errors on the disk. The CHKDSK (Check Disk) utility can scan and repair these issues.

Running CHKDSK via Command Prompt

1. Click the Start button.
2. Type cmd into the search bar.
3. Right-click on Command Prompt and select Run as administrator. This is required to perform system-level repairs.
4. In the black window, type the following command and press Enter: chkdsk c: /f /r
5. You will likely see a message stating that the drive is in use and asking if you want to schedule the scan for the next time the system restarts. Type Y and press Enter.
6. Restart your computer.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

The 'Optimise' button is greyed out

• Ensure you have administrative privileges on the PC.
• Check if your drive is almost full. If there is less than 15% free space, Windows may struggle to move files around for defragmentation. Try deleting temporary files or emptying the Recycle Bin first.

CHKDSK is stuck at a certain percentage

It is common for CHKDSK to appear stuck at 10%, 27%, or 100% for a long period. This usually happens when the utility encounters a heavily corrupted sector. Give the process at least 4 to 8 hours to complete before assuming the system has frozen.

If these steps do not resolve your performance issues, or if you suspect a physical hardware failure, please Open a Ticket for further technical analysis.

Still Having Issues?