Disk Cleanup Utility Compress Old Files

[raggmopp]

When I run the Disk Cleanup Utility, I get 2,729,332 in "Compress Old Files."
I run it fairly frequently and there is always a very large size listed. Is
this OK and can just be ignored, or is there some steps I can take to rid
myself of the old files. I don't know how to find out what old files they are
referring to, so I don't know whether I need them or not. Any help would be
appreciated. Thanks.

 

[Jim]

When I run the Disk Cleanup Utility, I get 2,729,332 in "Compress Old
Files."
I run it fairly frequently and there is always a very large size listed.
Is
this OK and can just be ignored, or is there some steps I can take to rid
myself of the old files. I don't know how to find out what old files they
are
referring to, so I don't know whether I need them or not. Any help would
be
appreciated. Thanks.

"old files" are those which haven't been used lately. Since you failed to
mention file names, it is anybody's guess as to what might happen when you
delete them.
Jim

 

[Leonard Grey]

"Compress old files" is something you don't really want to do. It won't
hurt anything, but there's hardly ever a good reason to do it.

What is an 'old' file? It's a non-system file that you haven't accessed
in X days. You can can choose the number for X. (IIRC the default is 90
days.) "Compress old files" compresses these files so they take up less
space on your hard disk. Here's why it's not a good idea:

It can take a real long time to compress all those files.

It doesn't make your computer run any better or any faster. It can
actually slow your computer by a half second or so when you want to
access a compressed file (depending on how large the file is), because
Windows has to uncompress it.

Once the file has been accessed, Windows does not automatically
re-compress it.

"Compress old files" is a relic from when hard disks were small and
expensive. These days, hard disks are huge and cheap. The only reason
you want to "compress old files" is if your new, larger hard disk hasn't
been delivered yet.

 

[Nepatsfan]

When I run the Disk Cleanup Utility, I get 2,729,332 in "Compress Old Files."
I run it fairly frequently and there is always a very large size listed. Is
this OK and can just be ignored, or is there some steps I can take to rid
myself of the old files. I don't know how to find out what old files they are
referring to, so I don't know whether I need them or not. Any help would be
appreciated. Thanks.

The Disk Cleanup Utility will offer to compress files that you haven't accessed
recently. If you click on this entry and hit the Options button you should see a
dialog where you can set the number of days that must pass before an unaccessed
file will be compressed. File compression is designed to save space on your hard
drive. None of the files in this category will be deleted.

File compression comes with a cost in performance. Should you need to access any
of these files they will need to be decompressed before they are opened. For
that reason, unless you are pressed for hard drive space, this is an option that
you might want to leave unchecked.

Good luck

Nepatsfan

 

[raggmopp]

How do I find out what files they are. I can't see them listed anywhere.

 

[Leonard Grey]

Use Windows built-in search function and the 'when was it modified'
selection.

 

[Gerry]

Leonard

I agree with the sentiments you express but doubt that this is correct
"It's a non-system file "? Are Windows Update uninstall files system
files?


--
Regards.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Gerry]

In Windows Explorer by default compressed files appear in a blue font.

The next paragraph may apply in your situation.

Go to Start, Control Panel, Folder Options, View, Advanced Settings and
verify that the box before "Show hidden files and folders" is checked
and "Hide protected operating system files " is unchecked. You may need
to scroll down to see the second item. You should also make certain that
the box before "Hide extensions for known file types" is not checked.
Next in Windows Explorer make sure View, Details is selected and then
select View, Choose Details and check before Name, Type, Total Size, and
Free Space.


--



Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~
FCA
Stourport, England
Enquire, plan and execute
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Leonard Grey]

How sentimental are you, really?