file names blue

  • Thread starter Thread starter TC
  • Start date Start date
T

TC

This has got to be really simple, but I can't get it !

Some of my file names in explorer have turned blue. Can't work out the logic
of which ones have done it.

What is going on and how do I make them all black again ?

Thanks
 
TC said:
This has got to be really simple, but I can't get it !

Some of my file names in explorer have turned blue. Can't work out the logic
of which ones have done it.

What is going on and how do I make them all black again ?

Thanks
Click to expand...

Those are compressed files. Don't worry about it.

Alias
 
It's the result of Disk Cleanup, which runs on a fixed schedule. The
Blue denotes the folder/files as being compressed. Harms nothing,
but is a feature I don't use/employ. I prefer to maintain my PC using
my own methods. You can individually de-compress the folders if
you want or do a Global reset from the Root of the Drive. Cleanup
can be disabled via the Registry by adding a NoRun key/value of 1
to HKey_Current_User\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\
Explorer\Desktop\CleanUpWiz.
 
Some hidden files are blue in color.
Check your "folder options" under View toolbar.
Press "Restore folder defaults".
 
Some hidden files are blue in color.
Check your "folder options" under View toolbar.
Press "Restore folder defaults".
Click to expand...


This is totally off base. Blue file names in Explorer signify that
the file is compressed. It has absolutely nothing to do with hidden
files.
 
Maybe "you" don't know what you are talking about!!

Open C:\windows folderin My Computer.
Got to Tools>Folder Options> check show hidden files and folders
 
Dennis

Some hidden files are blue in color.

Are you sure?

--


Regards.

Gerry

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FCA

Stourport, Worcs, England
Enquire, plan and execute.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Open C:\windows folder in My Computer.
Got to Tools>Folder Options> View>check show hidden files and folders
 
Maybe "you" don't know what you are talking about!!

Open C:\windows folderin My Computer.
Got to Tools>Folder Options> check show hidden files and folders
Click to expand...


Just because a hidden file happens to be blue, means it is compressed
is all. It does not mean its blue because it is a hidden file.

The blue color on a file name means one thing and one thing only. The
file is compressed.
 
Thanks for the response everyone (!)

Does the compression system work on all files - it dosn't appear to effect
any of my graphics. Also what level of compression is likely to be used (I
presume that file type will cause this to vary). I suppose I am trying to
work own how much space I'll loose if I decompress all files in a drive.

Tobit
 
Denis

Something which is hidden can have no colour because it is not
displayed!

--


Regards.

Gerry

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FCA

Stourport, Worcs, England
Enquire, plan and execute.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
In
TC said:
Thanks for the response everyone (!)

Does the compression system work on all files - it dosn't appear to
effect any of my graphics. Also what level of compression is likely
to be used (I presume that file type will cause this to vary). I
suppose I am trying to work own how much space I'll loose if I
decompress all files in a drive.
Tobit
Click to expand...

Why would you want to decompress all files on a drive? Have something
against blue? 8-)
Graphics files are compressed and will change very little. Text files will
exhibit the most change.
--
Michael Stevens MS-MVP XP
(e-mail address removed)
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com
For a better newsgroup experience. Setup a newsreader.
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/outlookexpressnewreader.htm
 
TC said:
This has got to be really simple, but I can't get it !

Some of my file names in explorer have turned blue. Can't work out the logic
of which ones have done it.

What is going on and how do I make them all black again ?

Thanks
Click to expand...


By design, WinXP automatically compresses files that do not get
used frequently, and, if you've left the default settings intact,
displays those file names in blue.

If you wish to change this behavior, in Windows Explorer, click
Tools > Folder Options > View > Advanced settings: Show encrypted or
compressed NTFS files in color.


--

Bruce Chambers

Help us help you:



You can have peace. Or you can have freedom. Don't ever count on having
both at once. - RAH
 
If you wish to change this behavior, in Windows Explorer, click
Tools > Folder Options > View > Advanced settings: Show encrypted or
compressed NTFS files in color.
Click to expand...

Bruce

This sounds like what I am after but when I go to Tools > Folder Options >
View , there is no Advanced settings option - am I missing something ?

Tobit
 
TC

Are you have no Advanced Settings list or no option "Show Encrypted and
Compressed NTFS Files in Color"?

You need to scroll down to see the Setting Option -it the penultimate
one.


--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
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Using invalid email address

Stourport, Worcs, England
Enquire, plan and execute.
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Please tell the newsgroup how any
suggested solution worked for you.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
I suspect the OP is running XP Home. One can't encrypt
files with XP Home. I'm running XP Home and I don't have
the Advanced Settings tab, either.
 
Okay. Compressed files are blue, if option to "show encrypted or compressed
files in color" is enabled in view folder options.

Some (blue) compressed files exist in "Hidden" folders and will display if
option "to show hidden files" is enabled and above option for color.

The "Advanced settings" is the list displayed with check boxes in front of
each option. Scroll down the list to find the "show encrypted or compressed
files in color" option.

If your viewing "Hidden" folders with blue files, press "restore folder
defaults".

The "advanced setting" list does exist in XP Home, also.
 
Joe

That's not the answer.

Leaving aside Encrypted files a Home Edition user can still compress
files. I have Home Edition.

BTW it's not an Advanced Settings tab ( tab being what might be causing
confusion ).

Start, Control Panel, Folder Options, View tab and you will see the
Advanced Settings List below Folder View. Then scroll down the list to
it's end and you will see "Show Encrypted and Compressed NTFS Files in
Color" on the line above.

In the same list -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.

A good place to see Compressed files or files capable of compression is
your Windows folders where folders like this one "$NtUninstallKB810217$"
illustrate what can be done. Click on the folder, select Properties,
General tab, Advanced and all is revealed.

However, for anyone else reading this what I have said only applies if
the folder / file resides on an NTFS formatted drive / partition. You
cannot compress any folder / file on a FAT32 formatted drive /
partition.

--


Hope this helps.

Gerry
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FCA

Using invalid email address

Stourport, Worcs, England
Enquire, plan and execute.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please tell the newsgroup how any
suggested solution worked for you.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Gerry,

You're correct in assuming that my confusion was caused by the lack
of seeing an Advanced tab when I right click on a file and examine its
properties. I don't see an Advanced tab in such cases.

Followed your instructions to change folder display properties
by means on Control Panel > Folder Options. My Advanced Options
display selections were 100% in agreement with your suggestions.

My apologies for any confusion I might have caused.

Uncle Joe
 
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