Files in blue with Attribute C, what is this?

[1LUV1T]

Hi, perhaps this is a ultra-newbie question but i've never paid attention to this before. Some of my network files are displayed in blue text as opposed to the standard black text. The only difference is the attribute which is A for black color and C for blue. I'm almost sure this has started happening only lately. Anyone care to explain? Thx in advance!

 

[BMcAnly]

If I remember right, blue text indicates that the file is compressed hence the C in the attributes. The A indicates the archive bit for back ups.

 

[Lemon13]

that are compressed files.

 

[1LUV1T]

Right but almost all the server files are in this color now, spreadsheets, word docs, etc. etc. What effect if any does it have on the original?

 

[gbaughma]

Look at the properties for your "C" drive.

I'll bet the "Compress files to save disk space" is checked, and therefore, your entire drive is compressed.

It uses a lossless compression, so there won't be any ill effect on the original files, however there will be some speed degradation just from the compression/uncompression process.



Just my 2¢
-Cole's Law: Shredded cabbage

--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[1LUV1T]

See that's the strange part -- The properties of my C:/ does not have that option checked. Neither is "Allow Indexing Service...". I also dont have VSS enabled. The only other thing I can think of is BackupExec but again, does not make sense?

 

[Glenn9999]

You can set specific folders for this option too...it's handy for backups - Microsoft's patch process will leave the old files in a compressed state. Check your advanced file attributes and you should have the option presented to you.

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Those who work hard are rewarded with more work and remembered come time to downsize. Those who hardly work are given a paycheck and ignored completely.

 

[1LUV1T]

See, I also checked per individual folder on the server (not just entire drive), and none of the folders have the option for compression enabled - not even in Advanced Attributes.

Still wondering what is causing this?

 

[1LUV1T]

Just to clarify, the files in blue, in Advanced Attributes are enabled for compression but the part that I'm confused about is "what" is selecting these random files to be compressed? None of the parent folders or drives have compression enabled it's only some files and they're all scattered so there is no pattern here.

 

[harebrain]

They're probably selected by age. I did that on another machine a while ago, but I can't remember how. I'll bet if you look at the last access dates of the "blue" files, you'll see that they haven't been used for a while.

 

[karlisi]

harebrain is right, in Disk Cleanup tool there was 'Compress old files' checked.

===
Karlis
ECDL; MCSA

 

[linney]

You can uncheck the box in Disk Cleanup concerning Compressed Files.

You can permantly disable it via the Registry. 812248 - Disk Cleanup Tool Stops Responding While Compressing Old Files

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;812248&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Locate, and then click the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\VolumeCaches

On the File menu, click Export, and then click Desktop, type VolumeCaches in the File name box, and then click Save.

Note This step creates a backup of the VolumeCaches registry key. If you experience any problems after you complete the steps that are listed in this procedure, you can use this backup to restore the VolumeCaches key to its original state. To restore the key, double-click the VolumeCaches.reg file on your desktop, and then click Yes.

Expand the following registry key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Volume Caches

Delete the Compress old files registry key.

310312 - Description of the Disk Cleanup Tool in Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;310312

 

[1LUV1T]

I appreciate everyone's help in this matter but unfortunately every thing suggested so far does not match the current settings that I have:

"I'll bet the "Compress files to save disk space" is checked, and therefore, your entire drive is compressed."
Nope. Nothing checked anywhere.

"Microsoft's patch process will leave the old files in a compressed state. Check your advanced file attributes and you should have the option presented to you."
Checked advanced settings per folder, nothing checked anywhere. The blue files have this checked but it's not as if I selected them manually, so I'm trying to find what is checking it for these files?

"They're probably selected by age. I did that on another machine a while ago, but I can't remember how. I'll bet if you look at the last access dates of the "blue" files, you'll see that they haven't been used for a while."
Nope. Files are completely random. Some from late 07, some from early 08, and some from as early as yesterday (accessed today).

 

[1LUV1T]

Going to flag this thread to move to Windows 2003, maybe this is happening at the server level based on some Windows 2003 functionality?

 

[linney]

Make Disk Cleanup Compress Older(or Newer) Files on XP

http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windows/make-disk-cleanup-compress-olderor-newer-files-on-xp/

Microsoft DOS compact command

http://www.computerhope.com/compact.htm

Compact

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-au/library/bb490884.aspx

"Compressed" Attribute Is Missing from Your Local Files When You Use a Roaming Profile for Domain Logon

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;283486