What is Fragmentation?

Fragmentation is  one of the primary ailments that infects a slow computer.  You might have heard the word before. Someone might have even taught you how to fix it.  But most of us don't know what fragmentation is, how it occurs, and--unlike a virus or spyware--why we're stuck living with fragmentation in our lives.  Without getting into too many technical details, let me explain what fragmentation is.