How to defrag partitions?

Windows disk defragmenter rearranges the fragmented data, reducing the size of the partition and improving the disk and drive performance. It is recommended to defrag the disk before shrinking to further reduce the partition size. Deframentation can be done in three ways,

1. Using Endpoint Central Defrag tool (Note:This is only applicable for OS Deployment as an add on in Endpoint Central.)
2. Using Windows Command line
3. Using Windows GUI

Steps:

Follow the steps given below to defrag partitions,

Using Endpoint Central Disk Defragmenter tool 

Note:This is only applicable for OS Deployment as an add on in Endpoint Central.

You can defrag partition using Defrag configuration in Endpoint Central,

1. Define the Scope of Management to include the computers that you wish to manage using Endpoint Central.
2. Select Tools --> System Tools --> Add Task
3. Provide a name and description of the task
4. Select the Disk Defragmenter tool and click Next
5. Select the options for defragmentation of the disk and click Next.
6. Choose the computers on which you wish to perform disk defragmentation and click Next
7. Specify the username and password as whom this process would be run and the interval at which it should be performed.
8. Click Finish.

Using Windows Command line

Verify if the partition is fragmented. To check this execute the following command in administrative privilege ,

• To check for single partition - defrag.exe C: /A /V /U
• To check for all the partition - defrag.exe /C /V /U

If the total fragmental space is available, you can defrag the partition by executing the below command in administrative privilege,

Note: The defragmentation takes time based on your disk size and fragmentation percentage. 

• To defrag single partition - defrag.exe C: /V /U
• To defrag all the partition - defrag.exe /C /V /U

Using Windows GUI

1. Go to Control panel --> System and Security --> Administrative tools
2. Select Defragment and Optimize Drives
3. Select the drives that you want to defragment and click Analyze
4. Once the drives are analyzed, click Defragment

Note: In the above two methods, you can stop the Defrag process if needed.