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Configure Disk Defragmenter Schedule in Windows Vista

Windows Vista automatically configures Disk Defrag to schedule defragment to run once a week, usually at 1am on Wednesday. I don’t know about you, but I’m usually awake at 1am on wednesday, and I’d rather schedule it for a different time.

To open up the defragment utility, just type defrag into the Start menu search box, and hit enter. Click through the obnoxious UAC prompt, and you should see this screen:

defrag-vista.png

From this screen, you can disable automatic defrag by unchecking the box. You can also modify the schedule by clicking the Modify schedule button (no surprise there)

defrag-vista-modify-schedule.png

Much better..  Not like I’m ever awake at 8am.

If you are using Service Pack 1, you can also select which volumes will be automatically defragmented during this scheduled defrag:

defrag-vista-select-volumes.png

I only have one drive in this computer, but you would see the list of all the drives here.

The Geek is the founder of How-To Geek and a geek enthusiast. This article was written on 01/21/07 and tagged with: System Administration, Windows Vista

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Comments (21)

  1. zoxor

    You might as well power down your computer when you sleep ? (Unless you’re downloading or something)… What’s the use of a computer that powered on when you don’t even need it…

  2. ollie

    does it still defragment your pc if you’ve shut it down?

  3. The Geek

    No, if you have the computer off it will not defragment.

  4. Danie

    Ok here is the situation. In my program logic & design class my home work asn 9 was to perform disk defragmentation on my disk drive. Explain the steps to perform the process. Note thefile system an operating system of my computer. provide and account status of my drive after the process. Then click view report button, press save as. open the file I save and copy and past its contents into my report document that I will be turning in. PROBLEM, VISTA never gave me that option it just stopped when the defragmentation process was over it went back to the box above. So now what do I do to get the results that I need???? HELP!!!!!!!!!

  5. Stephanie Rand

    Can I schedule my computer to do disk defrag when my computer has been shut down. For example what if I wanted to schedule disk defrag for 12:00 am every Sunday. I know I’m not up at that time and my computer has been shut down

  6. Peter

    I run defrag on a schedule on my laptop. The computer is on, but in the “Switch User” status, and the cover is closed. The defrag has been running at 1 AM on Wednesday each week in this mode. If the computer is completly shut down, it will not run.

  7. Rick

    OK .. defrag is now dumbed down .. no estimate of time, no progress to date.

    Q. how can I chosse what drive to defrag ?

    Q. How can I tell if it’s defragging all drives and not just sys drive

  8. John B

    It doesn’t work this way any more. With the install of SP1, it’ll still try to do an analysis on a USB disk, even if this box is unchecked.

    Nice, Microsoft. Happy to have that lovely addition– NOT!!

  9. Keystroke13

    I finally made the leap to Vista and I must say the disk defragmenter application is really dumb down; just as others stated! In the past I’ve used disk keeper, which was okay until I found Perfect Disk. If those of you that want a better application I would suggest Perfect Disk. Do what I do and download the trial and run it for 30 days and then uninstall it.

  10. rajasekhar

    Hi,

    You had given in your blog that using defrag will give you the dialog to start defragmentation. But its not the right command to use in run command. dfrgui is the command to get the GUI interface to start defragmentation in windows vista

  11. The Geek

    @rajasekhar

    Typing in defrag will still find it, with the Vista start menu search.

  12. Robert

    I accidently deleted windows version of Disk Defragmenter.
    Can you give me the site or the link where I can download disk defragmenter back on my computer?

  13. Eddie Monge

    If you want the XP style of disk defrag then right click on your ‘My Computer’ icon and select Manage. In the lower section of the left menu you will see Disk Defragment. There you have options to analyze and defrag.

    I didn’t even realize my disk was automatically. Its nice that it does though.

  14. joy

    I just heard from a friend about this defrag thing I am not so familiar since I have just learned few things about defraging. Is it possible to open and use my pc while in the process of defragging????

  15. The Geek

    @joy

    Yes, but the computer will be slower while the defrag is going.

  16. Treasa L Smith

    I have a problem, I was running the disk clean up and then started to click on disk defrag but when i try to open it, it wont, I cant get it started. I dont know if its missing something thats stopping it from opening.. a black screen (as dos) pops up but disappears so fast I’m not able to see what it says. Any ideas? I would really be greatful for the help..

  17. Varadero

    I have a 160 GB and I tired defrag. in Vista. I let it run for a day and it is still running. I can’t see the progress. I don’t know where it is at and why is it taking so long? Help!

  18. Rick

    Vista defrag is useless .. I let mine run for 2 days .. it still did not complete … I downloaded AusLogics Disk defrag … it’s free, fast & gives a good progress report … all the things the VISTA one does not do.

  19. Varadero

    Rick, thank you very much for the info.

  20. Varadero

    I used “Auslogics Disk Defrag” and it’s so simple and I used “CC Cleaner” to get rid of Junk file. Somple to use and it’s fast.

    Go to download.com to get it. Free!

  21. Stacey

    Is there any way to set windows vista to automatically shutdown after it has finished defragging?


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