Microsoft KB Archive/325367

= HOW TO: Use File Compression in Windows Server 2003 =

PSS ID Number: 325367

Article Last Modified on 4/5/2004

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Datacenter Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Enterprise Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003, Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003, Premium Edition

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This article was previously published under Q325367



For a Microsoft Windows XP version of this article, see 307987.

IN THIS TASK

 * SUMMARY
 * Overview of NTFS Compression
 * How to Compress an NTFS Drive
 * How to Compress Files or Folders on NTFS Drives
 * How to Display Compressed Files or Folders in Color
 * REFERENCES



SUMMARY
This article describes how to use file compression in Windows Server 2003.

When you compress files, folders, and programs, this reduces their size and reduces the amount of space they use on your drives or removable storage devices. Drive compression reduces the amount of space that is used by all of the files and folders that are stored on that drive.

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Overview of NTFS Compression
NTFS compression is available on drives that use the NTFS file system. NTFS compression has the following features and limitations:
 * You can use NTFS compression to compress individual files and folders, and to compress whole NTFS drives.
 * You can compress a folder without compressing its contents.
 * You can display NTFS-compressed file and folder names in a different color to make them easier to identify.
 * You may notice a degradation in performance when you work with NTFS-compressed files. When you open a compressed file, Windows automatically decompresses it for you, and when you close the file, Windows compresses it again. This process may degrade your computer's performance.
 * NTFS-compressed files and folders remain compressed only while they are stored on an NTFS drive.
 * You cannot encrypt an NTFS-compressed file.

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How to Compress an NTFS Drive
NOTE: You must be logged on as an administrator or as a member of the Administrators group to complete this procedure. If your computer is connected to a network, network policy settings may also prevent you from completing this procedure.

To compress an NTFS drive, follow these steps:
 * 1) Click Start, and then click My Computer.
 * 2) Right-click the drive that you want to compress, and then click Properties.
 * 3) Click the General tab.
 * 4) Click to select the Compress drive to save disk space check box, and then click OK.
 * 5) In the Confirm Attribute Changes dialog box, click the option that you want, and then click OK.

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How to Compress Files or Folders on NTFS Drives
To compress a file or folder, follow these steps:
 * 1) Click Start, and then click My Computer.
 * 2) Double-click the NTFS drive or folder that contains the file or folders that you want to compress.
 * 3) Right-click the file or folder that you want to compress, and then click Properties.
 * 4) Click the General tab, and then click Advanced.
 * 5) Click to select the Compress contents to save disk space check box, and then click OK two times.
 * 6) In Confirm Attribute Changes dialog box, click the option that you want, and then click OK.

NOTE: If you move or copy a file into a compressed folder, it is compressed automatically. If you move a file from a different NTFS drive into a compressed folder, it is also compressed. However, if you move a file from the same NTFS drive into a compressed folder, the file retains its original state, either compressed or uncompressed.

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How to Display Compressed Files and Folders in Color
You can display the names of compressed files and folders in a different color so that it is easy to identify them in Windows Explorer or My Computer. To display compressed files and folders in color, follow these steps:
 * 1) Click Start, point to Control Panel, and then click Folder Options.
 * 2) Click the View tab.
 * 3) Click to select the Show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in color check box, and then click OK.

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