Compress old files

  • Thread starter Thread starter Bill Ridgeway
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Bill Ridgeway

I have used "Compress old files" from Disk Cleanup. With hindsight I'm not
sure whether or not this was a wise move. I don't know either how it
determines "files you haven't accessed for a while" or how it compresses
files. If I were to use one of these files is it uncompressed
automatically? Is it possible / necessary to know what files have been
compressed and be able to uncompress them?

So many questions! I wish I hadn't used "Compress old files".

Any answers will be appreciated.

Bill Ridgeway
 
"If I were to use one of these files is it uncompressed automatically?"
Yes, and then compressed again when done.

"Is it possible...to know what files have been compressed...?"
The names of compressed folders and files are colored blue.

"Is it possible...to uncompress them?"
I'm not aware of a way to uncompress en masse all the folders and files
that the wizard has compressed. You'll have to uncompress them manually.
 
Bill said:
I have used "Compress old files" from Disk Cleanup. With hindsight I'm
not
sure whether or not this was a wise move. I don't know either how it
determines "files you haven't accessed for a while" or how it
compresses
files. If I were to use one of these files is it uncompressed
automatically? Is it possible / necessary to know what files have
been
compressed and be able to uncompress them?

So many questions! I wish I hadn't used "Compress old files".

Any answers will be appreciated.

Bill Ridgeway
Click to expand...
Hi bill ridgeway, any file that is compress or encrypted will be in
blue
to un compress a file just right click on file click on properties,
then click
on advanced, and untick compress contents to save disk space, hit ok
and apply and now it should be uncompressd
 
4238dwight said:
Hi bill ridgeway, any file that is compress or encrypted
will be in blue
to un compress a file just right click on file click on
properties, then click
on advanced, and untick compress contents to save disk
space, hit ok and apply and now it should be uncompressd
Click to expand...

Correct for compressed files, not correct for encrypted files.
Encrypted files are a different color.
 
Thanks but that raises more questions.

Is there any harm done in compressing files and is it worth worrying whether
or not a file is compressed?

Is it possible to search for files by attribute (in this case C)?

(By way of curiosity than anything else) what colour are encrypted files?

Thanks.

Bill Ridgeway
 
Bill said:
Thanks but that raises more questions.

Is there any harm done in compressing files and is it worth
worrying whether or not a file is compressed?

Is it possible to search for files by attribute (in this
case C)?
(By way of curiosity than anything else) what colour are
encrypted files?
Thanks.

Bill Ridgeway
Click to expand...

Sorry! I should have included that in my post. Encrypted files
are green as defaulted. You can change the colors used for
compressed and encrypted files, but I see no reason for doing so.

If you ever decide to mess with encryption, be ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN
you read up on it first, AND create the recovery disk!! It's
very easy to "lose" access to encrypted files if you reinstall XP
or move them to another computer: The encryption is specific to
the installation they were encrypted on, and you do not have
access to change it. It works so easily it's easy to lose sight
of the possible problems that could lie ahead.

Regards,
Pop
 
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