WHAT IS A FRAGMENTED HARD DRIVE?

When the computer saves a file, it stores it in the first available locations (sectors) of the drive.  When files are deleted it leaves open spaces for other files to be saved in.  So basically, some of your files may not be in contiguous locations on the hard drive.  One file might have bits and pieces scattered all over the hard drive.  The computer keeps track of where the bits and pieces are located so that it can put the file back together again.  It just takes a much longer time to open a file if it is scattered around too much. 

WHAT DOES THE DEFRAGMENT PROGRAM DO?

To defragment your computer means that every file will get relocated so that all of its "bits and pieces" are located as closely together as possible. The image below is an example of a machine being defragmented.

defrag.gif (9067 bytes)

You can watch the computer literally take the different blocks and move them around. 

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