Compress Old Files - What is it?

[QED]

What exactly is the "Compress Old Files" function do in the Disk CleanUp
Utility?

This utility was inadvertently run on an older laptop. While it has resulted
in a 1.2 GB gain in free space, it seems to have made the machine slower.

Is there a way to undo the compression on the machine?

TIA

QED
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[DL]

It merely compresses little used files that havent been used for xx weeks
It is unlikely to be the cause of any slowness

 

[Lanwench [MVP - Exchange]]

It merely compresses little used files that havent been used for xx
weeks

Yes - well, for some period of time. Don't know how long.

It is unlikely to be the cause of any slowness

I disagree. As it will copress OS and program files that you may actually
need (i.e., not merely your data files), there is a performance hit - the OS
has to deal with compression/uncompression as it uses the files. I don't use
CompressOldFiles -I remove the option via the registry when I set up a new
PC. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/812248

The OP ought to be able to find the compressed files (they ought to be blue,
in Explorer) and remove the compression in the properties, or perhaps
rerunning Disk Cleanup will give you the option to undo that. I'm not sure
as I don't use this.

 

[QED]

What exactly is the "Compress Old Files" function do in the Disk CleanUp
Utility?

This utility was inadvertently run on an older laptop. While it has
resulted in a 1.2 GB gain in free space, it seems to have made the machine
slower.

Is there a way to undo the compression on the machine?

TIA

QED
------

Thanks for the informative responses. I really appreciate it. I think I can
handle it now, with your help.

Regards.

QED
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