Optimizing your file storage can make a significant difference in the fast-paced world of technology, where every byte counts. One way to achieve this is by using NTFS compression. This article will guide you through utilizing NTFS compression and help you understand when it's advantageous.
We often come across files that are of utmost importance, but we do not need to access them regularly. For most of us, this can be a slight inconvenience because we realize that these files end up taking up a lot of space on our system or hard drive. However, we cannot afford to delete these files. So, what can we do when we need the space but cannot manage it by keeping all these files? Are you curious about the simple solution to keeping these files and creating more space? Then, continue reading...
The easy and simple solution is to compress these files. It is an easy way to back up these important files and a simple solution to create more space. NTFS, which stands for New Technology File System, is one of the ways to compress your files. To learn more about NTFS compression, continue reading.
NTFS, which stands for New Technology File System, is the default file system used by Windows operating systems. NTFS compression is a feature that allows you to compress files and folders, reducing their size on the disk. This compression technique is lossless, meaning it doesn't affect the quality of your data.
The answer is as easy as it can get. Whenever you have an important document like an account sheet from a few years ago or a medical record that you need but do not refer to often. These are a few examples of important documents that are required, but you do not have to open these files regularly. It is then that you create and use NTFS compression. At the same time, you can also use this as a backup for your files. You can also use this to save space as most of these files can take up a lot of space, and if you need space for every important current file, you can always use NTFS compression.
Every time you open that file that has been compressed, you end up decompressing it. And every time you close the file after reading it automatically compresses it. Remember, this is for an already compressed NTFS. So, now the main question arises.....
Using NTFS Compression is simple and easy. Just follow the instructions below. Remember, this is for backup purposes and not for frequent access. Here are the steps to compress files using NTFS Compression:
One of the key advantages of this method is that you can have both compressed and uncompressed files in the same folder. If you want to keep a file uncompressed, simply open the file you wish to keep that way and follow step 4 again, but this time uncheck the box for 'Compress contents to save disk space' and click 'OK.' This will leave you with both uncompressed and compressed files within the same folder.
Also Read: NTFS Vs FAT32: What is Right for you?
Now, you might be wondering when I use this NTFS compression. It is recommended as a backup for files you do not open often. The more often you compress and decompress the folder you end up wearing it out then you are more likely to have the files stored and scattered in different spaces. So, it is suggested that you use NTFS compression on documents you don’t use, mostly accounts or folders of the past that are important but not used often.
Also Read: How to Recover Data From NTFS Partition.
NTFS compression is particularly useful in scenarios such as:
Avoid using NTFS compression in the following situations:
Note: While doing all of this, sometimes it can get a bit tricky, or if you are in a hurry and you end up formatting an NTFS partition, then don’t panic. These things happen, and luckily, there is a solution. Simply go ahead and read and learn how to unformat a formatted NTFS partition.
NTFS compression offers several advantages, including:
While NTFS compression is beneficial, it's essential to be aware of its drawbacks:
NTFS compression is a valuable tool for optimizing disk space usage and improving system performance. You can make the most of this feature by understanding when and how to use it without compromising your data. Remember to monitor your storage and consider the nature of the files you compress.