Why volumes become fragmented

Volumes become fragmented as users create and delete files and folders, install new software, or download files from the Internet. Computers do not necessarily save an entire file or folder in a single space; they save them in the first available space on a volume. After a large portion of a volume has been used for file and folder storage, most of the new files are saved in pieces across the volume. When you delete files or folders, the empty spaces left behind fill in randomly as you store new ones.

The more fragmented the volume is, the slower the computer's file input/output performance will be.

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