[ The PC Guide | System Optimization and Enhancement Guide | System Optimizations and Enhancements | File System Optimization and Freeing Disk Space ]

Use Disk Compression to Gain Free Disk Space

If you are using an older system with limited hard disk space, and if buying a new hard disk is not an option for you, you may want to consider using disk compression to buy yourself some free disk space. Disk compression involves the use of special software drivers to pack typically 1.5 to 2 times the amount of data into the same amount of space.

Enabling disk compression will net you some hard disk space, but it has its drawbacks and risks. It generally hurts performance, due to the overhead of the decompression step when a file is read. It makes freeing up conventional memory more difficult. It can also increase the risk of data loss. For this reason, I don't recommend it for newer systems with a lot of free disk space. However, for older systems it can be a life saver. Make sure you get the facts before deciding, because there are a lot of people who make unwarranted generalizations about disk compression simply on the basis of one experience with it (and often, with a five-year-old version of the compression software).

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