When should I defrag my HD?

[donetao]

Hi ! Been cleaning up my PC. Getting rid of some of the garbage and doing a little maintenance. I have my PC scheduled to defrag once a month. I checked and it was 3% fragmented, so I ran it. It went through 8 passes and now my free space is less than it was. I just don't understand computers. I know the saying "If it ain't broke,don't fix it" That's how I learn however. I'm always trying remove the crap from this old Toshiba and try to make it a little faster. I don't know what every little byte is, but I know most of them. I checked Windows and it went down from 27GB to 24GB. My free space went up from 43 GB to 47 GB after defrag.That just ain't right. The more cleaning I do, the less free space on my HD. Someone tell this old country boy what he's doing wrong.
This forum is getting dull! We need to liven it up a little!!
Gary!

 

[donetao]

Hi This is what my C drive looks like!!

 

[DSTM]

Your HDD does not need defragging at 3%.
Every time you defrag it puts stress on the HDD.
Should keep defrags to a mininum.

 

[donetao]

Your HDD does not need defragging at 3%.
Every time you defrag it puts stress on the HDD.
Should keep defrags to a mininum.

I have it set to defrag once a month. That's a default siting by W7. Should I change that and what should I change it to to??
Thanks Dougie!

If You’re Running Windows 7 or 8.x
If you’re using either Windows 7, 8, or even Vista, your system is already configured to run defrag on a regular basis—generally 1 AM every Wednesday. You can check for yourself by opening up Disk Defragmenter and seeing the schedule there, as well as the last run and fragmentation levels.

 

[DSTM]

Once a month is acceptable.
You just said you defragged today at 3%.
That probably wasn't a sheduled monthly defrag.
That's what I was commenting on.
You won't get a brain snapping improvement by defragging at 3%.

I always switch weekly defragging off and once a month I analyse the Hard Drive to see if it's really necessary to defrag.

 

[donetao]

Windows schedules it weekly.
If You’re Running Windows 7 or 8.x
If you’re using either Windows 7, 8, or even Vista, your system is already configured to run defrag on a regular basis—generally 1 AM every Wednesday. You can check for yourself by opening up Disk Defragmenter and seeing the schedule there, as well as the last run and fragmentation levels.

 

[Visionary]

Once a month is good for me if it needs to be defragged, I only defrag it when it's needed though.

 

[DSTM]

Once a month is good for me if it needs to be defragged, I only defrag it when it's needed though.

Hi Visionary. You have it down pat.