What kind of operation does the 'Optimize Drives' tool perform?

The 'Optimize Drives' tool primarily performs defragmentation on hard disk drives (HDDs) to improve file access times and overall system performance. Over time, files on an HDD can become fragmented, meaning that the pieces of a single file may be stored in non-contiguous sectors on the disk. This fragmentation can slow down read and write operations since the read/write head of the drive has to move longer distances to access the various pieces of each file.

By using the 'Optimize Drives' tool, the operating system rearranges the data on the drive, placing files in contiguous sectors. This process not only speeds up the access time but can also help enhance the efficiency of storage space on the drive. It's important to note that while solid-state drives (SSDs) do not benefit from defragmentation in the same way due to their different technology, the 'Optimize Drives' tool can also be utilized to perform TRIM operations on SSDs, which helps maintain their performance over time.

The other options involve different system maintenance tasks. Uninstalling programs involves removing software applications from the system, backing up data focuses on creating copies of data for recovery purposes, and scanning for malware is aimed at identifying and removing harmful software. None of these