To compress or not to compress ?

Sometimes I think it is better to compress C: other times I don't.

Does anyone have any views/evidence to indicate which is best ? Is there any 3rd party software that will allow files over a certain age to be compressed but
become uncompressed if used again ?

It seems to me that having C: at say 5 gig with old files compressed might be quicher than having C: at 7 gig with no files compressed ?

 

Hello,
See no purpose in compression. BTW, what are old files?
The benefit between space gain / hard disk speed / time to codec / possible errors using data on other machines, recovery when failures occur etc - simply not worth it.
Mrk

 

Thanks

Windows cleanup defaults to compressing "files that haven't been used in a while" set at 50 days. Originally it may have been included to save disk space but my thoughts were that installation files and files for parts of the system never used might be better compressed ?

 

I never used compression. I only use IZarc to uncompress stuff.
In the beginning I used compressed snapshots (FDISR) out of curiosity, but I didn't really need it because I have 70 GB for FDISR and I use only 12 GB for 2 uncompressed snapshots. Compressed snapshots contain also alot of blue colored files due to compression and I didn't like that. I know you can change these colors, but I like to keep things unchanged when there is no improvement.
I would rather expand my physical volume, than reduce my volume with compression.

 

Hi,
You're better off with a dedicated maintenance tool then.
Mrk

 

You can try another way to save space: delete all the hotfix uninstallers...or move them to DVD.

 

Hotfix uninstallers went a long time ago.

Its probably just that I'm getting bored --- time to try Linux no doubt.
Perfect disk is working fine, deepfreeze 6 and Returnil are working and making life much easier either alone or when combined with FD-ISR. Acronis never fails.

so my thoughts about compressing were just a case of looking for trouble.
All back to uncompressed

 

http://www.neowin.net/forum/index.php?showtopic=80511

There's still more to do...it never stops...no time to rest or look for trouble...must...tweak....

 

In addition to the above, you can also check out Bold Fortune's Slimming Down Windows XP: The Complete Guide

 

eniqmah and WSFuser - thanks - looks like I will have hours of fun here removing things and then finding out that I need them. My wife can never sees the logic in spending 6 months working on a project that ultimately saves 20 seconds several times a day.

 

Hi Long View,
Maybe this will help her to see your wisdom:

1) 20 secs several times a day (assume several means 3) = 60 seconds/day
2) 6 months ~= 180 days
3) Minus weekends (have to take some time off) - 4 weekends/month = 16 days
4) Time not saved due to relaxing = 16*60 = 960 secs
5) Total potential time saved - 60*180 = 10800 seconds
6) potential time saved minus time relaxing = 9840 seconds

Conclusion

You have saved (conservatively) - ((9840sec/60sec per minute)/60 minutes per hour) = 2.73 hours

So in this case you have found a way to add an additional ~ 5.5 hours per year to spend with her...

Edit: 16 days is used rather than more as there are probably some times when you do not take the days off...

Just a thought...