Disk Cleanup - Compress Old Files

[Jeremy]

What directory are these files stored in?

[baggers02]

The NTFS file system supports the compression of files, the file is simply compressed and lives in the same directory as it did before it was compressed, same file name and extension.

In effect the compression is 'transparent' it is stored on the disk compressed but if you access it, it is decompressed 'on the fly' and is used as if the file was not compressed.

You can spot compressed files in Explorer as they are shown in blue when look at the files in details view.

[Jeremy]

Ah, ok. Thank you.

[Spinman]

If I copy (or move) a compress file to another directory or drive - does the file in the new location remail compressed or is it returned to its original size?

If I burn a copy of the file to a CD-RW or DVD-RW drive - are they burned in the compressed or uncompressed state? (for example - if compressed files are burned - would they be readable on a machine that runs w98 or w95?

Thanks -

[Spyder2k]

If I copy (or move) a compress file to another directory or drive - does the file in the new location remail compressed or is it returned to its original size?

If I burn a copy of the file to a CD-RW or DVD-RW drive - are they burned in the compressed or uncompressed state?  (for example - if compressed files are burned - would they be readable on a machine that runs w98 or w95?

Thanks -

I'm guessing that if you move a compressed file from one location to another, if the target location is NTFS it would retain its compression. Otherwise it would be transferred to a decompressed state.

Yes they would be readable if you move them to another drive/cd (that is of course if the 'reading' software (OS) is capable of reading from the target file system.

PS. You can change a files compression state by right clicking file -> properties -> advanced -> "compress contents ..."

[gpctexas]

The file will retain its compressed attribute if it is moved from 1 folder to another on the same partition. If file is moved from 1 partition to another or another disk the compression attribute is lossed and file is uncompressed.