How to defragment your iPod

From ArticleWorld

Your iPod uses a filesystem for its internal storage, much like your computer does on your hard disk. And, just like the filesystem on your hard disk, the one iPod uses may end up suffering because of fragmentation. This is why it is sometimes a good idea to defragment it, especially when you notice that the performance has somewhat dropped.

Steps

1. Connect the iPod to your computer
2. Open iTunes. Go to Edit, Preferences, iPod, and enable the iPod for hard disk use.
3. Open My Computer. If you look carefully, you will find the iPod listed along with your hard drives, floppy disks and CD/DVD units.
4. Right-click on the iPod's icon in My Computer and click Defragment

The operation will take some time. You can probably use your computer in this time, but do expect it not to perform as well..

Notes

It may be a good option to fill the iPod's memory with songs before you defragment it. Copy files on it until there is only about 25% free space. If you are using a Mac, this will not work. In fact, if you got your iPod pre-formatted for a Mac, you will not even need it.

It is very important that you do not unplug it while defragmenting. This may corrupt the filesystem. Formatting will solve this usually, but on some occasions it may not be enough. If power is unreliable in your area, do it somewhere else. Ask a friend to let you use his computer for this, or do it at work.