Compressing Old Files

LythincaMan · 03-4-2007, 06:07 PM

Hello. I'm running out of disk space on my laptop. I have 19.5 gb out of 32 gb.

I was wondering, I could compress some files on my computer (1.3 Gigs worth).

When I just have a questions.

1) If I have a certain driver, that has not been accessed in a while. (My wireless router driver, it doesnt need to be accessed to work, as its a driver.)
Would that driver get compressed?

2) Does anything thats compressed still work?

3) If I compress a file, can I still use it? Or do I need to uncompress it?

shade11 · 03-4-2007, 06:45 PM

1. It wouldn't get compressed. Don't worry much about that though.

2. What do you mean by work?

3. It depends, certain zip files can work properly compressed, but if you want maximum compression, like say you want to use an RAR or 7z compression, you cannot.

A few suggestions:
If you plan to archive things, then try using 7-zip, it is perfect for maximum compression. If you want to you could do something like "Gmail Drive" and upload the compressed files online, so you can keep your space.

LythincaMan · 03-4-2007, 06:50 PM

I dont know if you follow me. Windows wants me to compress old files, to save disk space.

shade11 · 03-4-2007, 07:21 PM

Oh that old thing.

1. Yeah, well drivers wont be compressed as far as I know

2. It all depends, I don't think it compresses applications, just documents. I've never actually used it before.

3. See number two.

If your trying to give it a nice cleanup then try CCleaner, it finds a bunch of junk to take out, and is much more efficient than windows. Just, don't use the registry cleaning tool.

Tps222 · 03-4-2007, 07:42 PM

Run a disk cleanup, and a defrag of your hard drive. This will not allow you to use your comp for a couple of hours, but should clear up some space.

LythincaMan · 03-4-2007, 08:16 PM

It says I dont need to defrag. and I also dont need to Clean up, as I just did.

Tps222 · 03-4-2007, 08:30 PM

Hmm.

Well, you don't want to compress drivers. I suggest clearing all your internet temporary files for a start.

After that, XP takes about 2.4 gb on it's install.

19.5 gb is still a decent amount. Window's shouldn't run slow at all, as the page filing is sufficiently over 10%.

I guess just .rar anything you don't use too often. MP3's, pics ect.

**Pyroshock** · 03-4-2007, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shade11

If your trying to give it a nice cleanup then try CCleaner, it finds a bunch of junk to take out, and is much more efficient than windows. Just, don't use the registry cleaning tool.

Holy wow. That just cleared off a gb for me.

Tps222 · 03-4-2007, 09:11 PM

Yeah, not trusting that. For all I know it's deleting my registry and converting my processing power to the equivelant of an abacus.

EDIT:
"

Registry cleaner
Advanced features to remove unused and old entries, including File Extensions, ActiveX Controls, ClassIDs, ProgIDs, Uninstallers, Shared DLLs, Fonts, Help Files, Application Paths, Icons, Invalid Shortcuts and more... also comes with a comprehensive backup feature. "
Oh yay, take away everything I have cached that makes my computer fast to make space to alledgely make my computer run fast!

**Pyroshock** · 03-4-2007, 09:14 PM

That's why I disabled mostly everything system-related.

Tps222 · 03-4-2007, 09:15 PM

So all it does is delete stuff you can do straight from your browser

03-4-2007, 06:07 PM	#1
LythincaMan FFR Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 33 Posts: 661	Compressing Old Files Hello. I'm running out of disk space on my laptop. I have 19.5 gb out of 32 gb. I was wondering, I could compress some files on my computer (1.3 Gigs worth). When I just have a questions. 1) If I have a certain driver, that has not been accessed in a while. (My wireless router driver, it doesnt need to be accessed to work, as its a driver.) Would that driver get compressed? 2) Does anything thats compressed still work? 3) If I compress a file, can I still use it? Or do I need to uncompress it?

03-4-2007, 06:45 PM	#2
shade11 FFR Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 373	Re: Compressing Old Files 1. It wouldn't get compressed. Don't worry much about that though. 2. What do you mean by work? 3. It depends, certain zip files can work properly compressed, but if you want maximum compression, like say you want to use an RAR or 7z compression, you cannot. A few suggestions: If you plan to archive things, then try using 7-zip, it is perfect for maximum compression. If you want to you could do something like "Gmail Drive" and upload the compressed files online, so you can keep your space.

03-4-2007, 06:50 PM	#3
LythincaMan FFR Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 33 Posts: 661	Re: Compressing Old Files I dont know if you follow me. Windows wants me to compress old files, to save disk space.

03-4-2007, 07:21 PM	#4
shade11 FFR Player Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 373	Re: Compressing Old Files Oh that old thing. 1. Yeah, well drivers wont be compressed as far as I know 2. It all depends, I don't think it compresses applications, just documents. I've never actually used it before. 3. See number two. If your trying to give it a nice cleanup then try CCleaner, it finds a bunch of junk to take out, and is much more efficient than windows. Just, don't use the registry cleaning tool.

03-4-2007, 07:42 PM	#5
Tps222 FFR Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Age: 33 Posts: 6,167	Re: Compressing Old Files Run a disk cleanup, and a defrag of your hard drive. This will not allow you to use your comp for a couple of hours, but should clear up some space.

03-4-2007, 08:16 PM	#6
LythincaMan FFR Player Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Age: 33 Posts: 661	Re: Compressing Old Files It says I dont need to defrag. and I also dont need to Clean up, as I just did.

03-4-2007, 08:30 PM	#7
Tps222 FFR Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Age: 33 Posts: 6,167	Re: Compressing Old Files Hmm. Well, you don't want to compress drivers. I suggest clearing all your internet temporary files for a start. After that, XP takes about 2.4 gb on it's install. 19.5 gb is still a decent amount. Window's shouldn't run slow at all, as the page filing is sufficiently over 10%. I guess just .rar anything you don't use too often. MP3's, pics ect.

03-4-2007, 09:11 PM	#9
Tps222 FFR Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Age: 33 Posts: 6,167	Re: Compressing Old Files Yeah, not trusting that. For all I know it's deleting my registry and converting my processing power to the equivelant of an abacus. EDIT: "Registry cleaner Advanced features to remove unused and old entries, including File Extensions, ActiveX Controls, ClassIDs, ProgIDs, Uninstallers, Shared DLLs, Fonts, Help Files, Application Paths, Icons, Invalid Shortcuts and more... also comes with a comprehensive backup feature. " Oh yay, take away everything I have cached that makes my computer fast to make space to alledgely make my computer run fast!

03-4-2007, 09:14 PM	#10
Pyroshock ε=-dΦ/dt Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: College Station, TX Age: 31 Posts: 1,170	Re: Compressing Old Files That's why I disabled mostly everything system-related. __________________ http://pyroshock.bandcamp.com http://soundcloud.com/pyroshock

03-4-2007, 09:15 PM	#11
Tps222 FFR Player Join Date: Nov 2004 Age: 33 Posts: 6,167	Re: Compressing Old Files So all it does is delete stuff you can do straight from your browser

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