Compress contents to save space attribute

[Laurel]

Once (and only once) I chose "compress old files" during disk cleaup. After
that I had a lot of files showing up blue in explorer, and found out that
this meant they had been compressed. OK, but I decided Explorer had slowed
down and I wanted to de-compress them. I couldn't find a way to do this
globally (is there one???), but it looked like I could do it one by one
(arghhh). If I right-mouse/properties/advanced on one of those blue
entries, the "compress contents to save space" box is checked. If I uncheck
it, the color turns back to black BUT the size stays the same. I would have
expected it to increase. What's going on?

tia
las

 

[Alias]

Once (and only once) I chose "compress old files" during disk cleaup. After
that I had a lot of files showing up blue in explorer, and found out that
this meant they had been compressed. OK, but I decided Explorer had slowed
down and I wanted to de-compress them. I couldn't find a way to do this
globally (is there one???), but it looked like I could do it one by one
(arghhh). If I right-mouse/properties/advanced on one of those blue
entries, the "compress contents to save space" box is checked. If I uncheck
it, the color turns back to black BUT the size stays the same. I would have
expected it to increase. What's going on?

tia
las

Just leave them alone and don't worry about it.

Alias

 

[R. McCarty]

Click Start, Run (Type) Cmd [Enter]

cd .. [Enter]
cd .. [Enter]

(Should be operating at the Root of C

Compact /S /I /U [Enter]

Documentation on the Compact command & it's Qualifiers at:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/compact.mspx?mfr=true

 

[Laurel]

Thanks, this is just what I need.
But I'm still curious about what's going on when I un-check "Compress
contents...." in WE. I see from following your steps below that the
compression ratio is very, very low. Perhaps they're being uncompressed but
it just doesn't show?

Click Start, Run (Type) Cmd [Enter]

cd .. [Enter]
cd .. [Enter]

(Should be operating at the Root of C

Compact /S /I /U [Enter]

Documentation on the Compact command & it's Qualifiers at:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/compact.mspx?mfr=true

Once (and only once) I chose "compress old files" during disk cleaup.
After that I had a lot of files showing up blue in explorer, and found
out that this meant they had been compressed. OK, but I decided Explorer
had slowed down and I wanted to de-compress them. I couldn't find a way
to do this globally (is there one???), but it looked like I could do it
one by one (arghhh). If I right-mouse/properties/advanced on one of
those blue entries, the "compress contents to save space" box is checked.
If I uncheck it, the color turns back to black BUT the size stays the
same. I would have expected it to increase. What's going on?

tia
las

 

[R. McCarty]

The command sequence I gave you, mostly works. I've found
that a few folders/files may remain compressed. I use a stand-alone
tool called "FindCompressed.Exe" that you run from a command
prompt window. It will catalog all the compressed files on your
drive - invoke as >FindCompressed C:
You can pick up a copy here:
http://exodusdev.com/products/find-compressed-ntfs-files

Thanks, this is just what I need.
But I'm still curious about what's going on when I un-check "Compress
contents...." in WE. I see from following your steps below that the
compression ratio is very, very low. Perhaps they're being uncompressed
but it just doesn't show?

Click Start, Run (Type) Cmd [Enter]

cd .. [Enter]
cd .. [Enter]

(Should be operating at the Root of C

Compact /S /I /U [Enter]

Documentation on the Compact command & it's Qualifiers at:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/compact.mspx?mfr=true

Once (and only once) I chose "compress old files" during disk cleaup.
After that I had a lot of files showing up blue in explorer, and found
out that this meant they had been compressed. OK, but I decided
Explorer had slowed down and I wanted to de-compress them. I couldn't
find a way to do this globally (is there one???), but it looked like I
could do it one by one (arghhh). If I right-mouse/properties/advanced
on one of those blue entries, the "compress contents to save space" box
is checked. If I uncheck it, the color turns back to black BUT the size
stays the same. I would have expected it to increase. What's going on?

tia
las

 

[Bob I]

Open the drive in question, Ctrl-a to select all, R-click on the
selection, Pick Properties, pick advanced, UNcheck the "Compress
contents....." box to clear it, OK, Apply, include subfolders.........

Thanks, this is just what I need.
But I'm still curious about what's going on when I un-check "Compress
contents...." in WE. I see from following your steps below that the
compression ratio is very, very low. Perhaps they're being uncompressed but
it just doesn't show?

Click Start, Run (Type) Cmd [Enter]

cd .. [Enter]
cd .. [Enter]

(Should be operating at the Root of C

Compact /S /I /U [Enter]

Documentation on the Compact command & it's Qualifiers at:
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/compact.mspx?mfr=true

Once (and only once) I chose "compress old files" during disk cleaup.
After that I had a lot of files showing up blue in explorer, and found
out that this meant they had been compressed. OK, but I decided Explorer
had slowed down and I wanted to de-compress them. I couldn't find a way
to do this globally (is there one???), but it looked like I could do it
one by one (arghhh). If I right-mouse/properties/advanced on one of
those blue entries, the "compress contents to save space" box is checked.
If I uncheck it, the color turns back to black BUT the size stays the
same. I would have expected it to increase. What's going on?

tia
las