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    Does a full hard drive result in a slower computer?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Broadus, Oct 14, 2008.

  1. Broadus

    Broadus Notebook Evangelist

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    I'm trying to figure out why my computer seems slower than when I bought it a year and a half ago. I've maintained it pretty well for a geezer who's not a computer whiz. For instance, I use CCleaner and Auslogics defrag and run Avira AntiVir Personal.

    The big difference between then and now, obviously, is what's on the hard drive (160 GB). The C drive is 142 GB with 33.4 GB free. The D drive (6.62 GB) has the HP Recovery program. How much difference does a fuller hard drive make, or does it make any difference in speed?

    I've got a 320GB Seagate Momentus 7200.3 hard drive on the way, and I know the 7200 rpm hard drive will obviously be faster than my Hitachi 5400 rpm.

    Thanks,
    Bill
     
    Broadus, Oct 14, 2008
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  2. icecubez189

    icecubez189 Notebook Deity

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    by slower, what do you mean?

    a filled up hard drive might make for slower boot times AFAIK
     
    icecubez189, Oct 14, 2008
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  3. Broadus

    Broadus Notebook Evangelist

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    Slower as far as booting programs and retrieving data.

    Bill
     
    Broadus, Oct 14, 2008
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  4. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    Yes a full hard drive makes it slower. I am not sure by how much.

    Also fragmentation makes it slower. So use defragmentation.
     
    Phil, Oct 14, 2008
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  5. Broadus

    Broadus Notebook Evangelist

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    I defrag periodically (just did it again), so that doesn't seem to be an issue in my case.

    I'm looking forward to the new hard drive. :)

    Bill
     
    Broadus, Oct 14, 2008
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  6. K-TRON

    K-TRON Hi, I'm Jimmy Diesel ^_^

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    Its not the files, its the software. If you format a harddrive with windows, and than fill it with 10,000 pictures or whatever, the drive will perform very quick even though the drive is full.
    If you have an empty drive and just install adobe CS3 suite, its an instant hit on performance.
    Depending on the software you install over time, the system will slow down.
    The software also caches files and such, which also slows the system down.

    Keeping the drive defragmented, and keeping the registry clean will help speed the system back up a bit.

    K-TRON
     
    K-TRON, Oct 14, 2008
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  7. Bog

    Bog Losing it...

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    Many filesystems do become slower as their volumes fill up. Leave around 20% of the HD space untouched so that the computer can use it when defragging. It looks like you have enough space freed up.
     
    Bog, Oct 14, 2008
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  8. archer7

    archer7 Notebook Evangelist

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    Try opening up the run dialog (Win Key + R) and running msconfig. Navigate to the Startup tab and take a look at how many programs you have called at system startup. If you have dozens of entries checked, that's part of your problem. You can also go to the Tools --> Startup section of CCleaner.
     
    archer7, Dec 30, 2008
    #8