Compressing Files and Folders

Native file and folder compression is one of the many benefits of using the NTFS file system, as discussed briefly earlier in the chapter. The compression algorithm used by NTFS is a lossless one, which results in no data loss during the compression or decompression routine. Windows XP, however, has another trick up its sleeve when it comes to compression.

Realizing the fact that data compressed on your local hard drives using NTFS compression does you no good when you have to transmit it via email or removable media, Microsoft has included support for reading and writing ZIP files natively within Windows XP…without requiring the use of any third-party compression products, such as the ever-popular WinZIP by WinZip ...

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