Some truths about degragging
defragSome truths about bad sectors and disk media
bad sctorshdd mediaThe magnetic surface of each platter is divided into many small sub-micrometre-sized magnetic regions, each of which is used to encode a single binary unit of information. In today's hard disks each of these magnetic regions is composed of a few hundred magnetic grains. Each magnetic region forms a magnetic dipole which generates a highly localised magnetic field nearby. The write head magnetizes a magnetic region by generating a strong local magnetic field nearby. Early hard disks used the same inductor that was used to read the data as an electromagnet to create this field. Later, metal in Gap (MIG) heads were used, and today thin film heads are common. With these later technologies, the read and write head are separate mechanisms, but are on the same actuator arm.
Hard disks have a mostly sealed enclosure that protects the disk internals from dust, condensation, and other sources of contamination. The hard disk's read-write heads fly on an air bearing which is a cushion of air only nanometers above the disk surface. The disk surface and the disk's internal environment must therefore be kept immaculate to prevent damage from fingerprints, hair, dust, smoke particles and such, given the sub-microscopic gap between the heads and disk......
From the above we know that the media platter from which data is placed in binary are made from materials very different from CD and DVD dics and there is virtually no physical contact between the reader and media surface. Thus bad sectors though not limited to, are more likely to be caused by abrasion of particles or irt over the sensitive platter surface.
To ensure a proper defrag it is good to do it when the system is free of other heavy applications and on a periodic basis. Also computer users doing large files and downloading, p2p and stuff will appreciate what defragging has to offer. Other than thing everything has a working life span so make full and good use of it with proper and correct handling should make your dollars worth the while.
