How to Analyze and Defragment Hard Disk for xPortalNet Server PC

Summary:

• To check Hard Drive Health Status.

• Use Windows Check Disk Tool to analyse Hard Drive.

• Use Windows Disk Defragmenter Tool to defragment Hard Drive.

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Step-by-step Guide:

• To check Hard Drive Health Status:

Step 1: Most modern drives have a feature called S.M.A.R.T (Self-Monitoring, Analysis, and Reporting Technology) that monitors different drive attributes in an attempt to detect a failing disk

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Step 2: In Windows operating system, user can quickly check the S.M.A.R.T status from Command Prompt. Go to Start > Run > type cmd in the search bar and press Enter.

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Step 3: The Command Prompt window will be shown.
 
Figure 1: Command Prompt Window

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Step 4: Type wmic diskdrive get model,status and press Enter.
 
Figure 2: Entering the Command in the Command Prompt Window

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Step 5: It will return the result with hard drive model and status. The Command Prompt will return the result Pred Fail if the hard drive is starting to experience problems, or OK if the drive is doing fine.

Figure 3: Results Returned by the Command Prompt

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• Use Windows Check Disk Tool to analyse Hard Drive:

Step 1: Windows has a handy feature called CHKDSK (Check Disk) that to analyse hard drive error and run repair automatically. It can be a lifesaver for dealing with (non-physical) hard drive faults.

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Step 2: Open new File Explorer window. Press Windows Key + E and click This PC.
 
Figure 4: File Explorer Window

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Step 3: Next, the This PC window will be shown. Right-click on specific drive that user wish to scan, most commonly this will be C: Drive or D: Drive. Then select Properties.
 
Figure 5: Right-clicking C: Drive and Select Properties

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Step 4: The Properties window for the selected drive will now open. Click the Tools tabs and click Check under the Error checking section.
 
Figure 6: Clicking Check under Error Checking Section

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Step 5: The Error Checking window will show. If the computer thinks everything is running smoothly, it'll show a window stating that you don't need to scan the drive at all. However, if you'd prefer to run a CHKDSK scan, you can proceed by clicking Scan drive below this.

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Don't worry, you can't do any damage to your PC by running this scan process.
 
Figure 7: Scanning Drive

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Step 6: The Error Checking message will be shown and indicate the scanning process, which could take a few minutes to about half an hour. This depended on the size of the selected drive and the amount of data stored on it.
 
Figure 8: Scanning Message

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Step 7: If all is well, user will receive the "Your drive was successfully scanned" message and no errors were found. Click Close to complete the process. However, if the CHKDSK scan does find error, it will attempt to fix what it can.
 
Figure 9: Your Drive was Successfully Scanned Message 

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• Use Windows Disk Defragmenter Tool to defragment Hard Drive:

Step 1: Defragmenting hard drive improves computer's performance and is something that should be done regularly.

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Step 2: Open the This PC window. Right-click on any drive and select Properties. 
 
Figure 10: Right-clicking C: Drive and Select Properties

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Step 3: The Properties window for the selected drive will be show. Here, click the Tools tabs and click Optimize under the Optimize and defragment drive section.
 
Figure 11: Click Optimize under Optimize and Defragment Drive Section

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Step 4: The Optimize Drives window will be shown. Select the drive that user wish to defragment, most commonly this will be C: Drive or D: Drive. Then select Analyze.
 
Figure 12: Optimize Drives Window

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Step 4: A notation will then display the process of analyzing the drive.
 
Figure 13: The Drive is Being Analyzed

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Step 5: When the analyze process completes, click Optimize.
 
Figure 14: Optimizing the Analyzed Drive

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Step 6: A notation will then be shown to display the process of defragmenting.
 
Figure 15: Defragmenting Drive

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Step 7: When the defragmenting process is complete, click Close. Back at the Properties window click OK to exit.
  
Figure 16: Click Close to Exit Optimize Drives Window