Start Windows defragmentation from the desktop

Without using the Start menu or Windows Explorer, it is possible to execute the disk defrag utility. Simply right clicking on My Computer, after having changed the registry, will be enough. Here is how it can be done.

First start the Windows XP Registry editor by clicking the “Start” menu located at the bottom left. Next click “Run” and type “regedit” in the dialogue box that appears, followed by the Enter key.

Once you are in the registry editor, go to the following location:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT/Drive/Shell/

Select the “shell” folder and right click on it with the mouse. In the drop down menu that appears, chose “New” and “Key”. Call this new key “Defragmenter”.

 

Perform the same operation again and this time name the new key “command”. Next chose the “(default)” key and change its value to “defrag.exe %1”.