COMPRESS FILES AND DIRECTORIES

Modern versions of Windows use NTFS file system, which is a lot more efficient than the previous FAT16 and FAT32. NTFS also has some very useful built-in features like file compression. Unlike .zip and .rar compression, this compression feature leaves the files in their native format, but forces them to occupy a smaller space on the hard drive. The average compression factor is 1.6/1, although with some files you'll get a 10/1 or even 50/1 compression factor. Some files, like .jpeg image files, can't be compressed. In any case, using NTFS compression will save disk space and improve hard drive performance. Keep in mind that if you have an SSD drive, you shouldn't use NTFS compression, as it will only slow things down and jeopardize stability.

To experience the maximum performance increase, you'll need to compress the following directories:

• Users (Documents and Settings in Windows XP)
• Program Files
• Program Data (Windows Vista and Windows 7)
• Windows
• All your .exe and .dll files

NTFS file compression is done through the Command Prompt with a simple command:

compact /c /s /i

Before you open the Command Prompt, make sure that you are logged in as administrator.

Follow the below given steps.

1. Click on Start, type cmd in the Search box (Run box in Windows XP) and press Ctrl+Shift+Enter
2. In Windows Vista and Windows 7, type CD \Users and press Enter to change the directory. If you are on Windows XP, type CD \Documents and Settings and press Enter
3. Now type the compression command compact /c /s /i and press Enter. Depending on the amount of files and their size, compression can take like 10 to 20 minutes.
4. When that's done, do the same for Program Files by typing CD \Program Files, pressing Enter (CD \Program Files (x86) for 64-bit systems), typing compact /c /s /i and hitting Enter for the second time. Again, this could take a while.
5. And now we'll do the same for the Windows directory. To do that, type CD \Windows, then press Enter to change the directory and then type the compression command compact /c /s /i and press Enter. Wait for the compression to complete.
6. Then we are going to compress all .exe and .dll files. To do that, type CD\ and press Enter to change the directory to C:\>. Then type the compact /c /s /i *.exe command, press Enter, and when it's done, issue the compact /c /s /i *.dll command and press Enter. Wait for it to complete.

When everything is done, you'll need to make sure that files that were in use and couldn't be compressed will be compressed.

You will need to reboot your computer into Safe Mode and repeat steps 1-6 in Safe Mode. To enter Safe Mode, restart your PC and keep tapping F8 until the option to boot in Safe Mode appears. Select the option and proceed. When the compression is finished, reboot your computer once again, keep tapping F8 and enter Normal Mode.

NTFS compression will make the files in the compressed directories occupy 2/3 of the original space and your hard drive will open them faster. This should give you a bit of a performance increase. But the main performance boost comes from defragmenting your hard drive and optimizing system files placement.