Database (DB) file fragments

Excessive DB File Fragments will lower the performance of your system. Learn a lot of regarding once and the way to defragment your system to avoid performance problems in your QuickBooks Desktop.

How do DB File Fragments have an effect on QuickBooks Desktop operation?

• Fragmentation is neither explanation for nor an indication of damage in your company file.
• Fragmentation is not a reason to setup QuickBooks Desktop or to reenter information.
• Excessive fragmentation will compromise performance because QuickBooks Desktop (and alternative applications) must read multiple blocks on your hard drive to retrieve data from a single file. Some tips are:
  • DB Fragments fewer than 100 sometimes do not affect QuickBooks performance.
  • If your DB Fragments are more than 100, you must defragment your server/host hard drive.

Reduce DB file fragments

Check if your computer has a Solid State Drive (SSD)

Windows 10

1. From your keyboard, press the Windows logo.
2. Enter Optimize, then select Defragment and Optimize Drives.
3. The Optimize Drives window opens.
4. The Media type column tells you if your computer is running SSD or HDD.

Windows 8.1/ 8/ 7/ Vista

1. Go to Computer, then right-click your Local Disk drive (C:).
2. Select Tools, then choose Optimize.
3. The Optimize Drives window opens.
4. The Media type column tells you if your computer is running SSD or HDD.

Short Term: Manually defragment your server/host hard drive

Important: Disk Defragmenting can take a long time to complete, especially if the disk has not been defragged for a long time. It may be best to run it overnight or even over the weekend.

1. In your company file, press F2 and record the number of DB File Fragments.
2. Follow instructions at Microsoft support center.
3. Repeat Step 2 then note the difference in the number of DB File Fragments.

Long term: Set your server/host to defragment automatically.

You can set most Windows computers to defrag automatically. For Windows 10, 8, and 7: Microsoft support center.

Create and restore a Portable Company File (PCF)

If you cannot defragment your server/host hard drive (the server is too busy or you do not have permissions) you can Create and restore a Portable Company File (PCF).

This technique can reduce DB File Fragments because it creates a new copy of your company data file which Windows stores on the hard drive. Be aware that:

1. If the new file is stored in a less-fragmented portion of your drive, the DB File Fragments could decrease.
2. If the new file is stored in a more-fragmented portion of your drive, the DB File Fragments could increase.

You must create and restore the PCF on your server/host, which means that you simply should have the total QuickBooks program put in on your server/host, not simply the QuickBooks data manager. If you copy your file to a workstation, produce and restore the PCF, then copy your file back to your server/host, then the DB File Fragments might not amendment.