By default, the disk defragmenter in Windows Vista runs on a schedule, defragmenting your drives at specified times so you do not have to worry about running this task. However, if you notice your computer is running slowly, or if you have the automatic defragmentation turned off, you may need to run this manually.

1. Click the "Start" button and type disk defragmenter, then click "Disk Defragmenter" when it appears. Or, click the "Start" button, select "All Programs", "Accessories", "System Tools", then "Disk Defragmenter".

2. Confirm you wish to run this tool if User Account Control (UAC) prompts you.


3. The "Disk Defragmenter" dialog box appears. Click the "Defragment now..." button.

4. The "Disk Defragmenter: Defragment Now" dialog box appears. Check the boxes next to drives you want to defragment and uncheck the others.

5. Click "OK" to start the defragmentation.

6. You will be prompted that the defragmentation has begun, and the "Defragment Now" button changes to a "Cancel defragmentation" button that you can click to stop the process if desired.

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