OS drive mainly means where you keep the program-related files on your computer. Most people keep the program file in the “Local Disk (C),” But keeping several files in that section will dry up the storage. Less storage will make the computer slow and even can cause problems like hanging up.
So, it is mandatory to keep the OS drive less occupied to operate the computer smoothly. To free some storage, compress OS drive Windows 10 is a pretty effective solution. While applying this method, there is no fear of losing the necessary files. You just need to compress those files, and those files will always remain accessible.
The Necessity of Compressing OS Drive on Windows 10
Freeing up space from the “Local Disk (C)” is essential to keep the computer running properly. But deleting the files from there is not always the solution to the problem. On the other side, compressing the files is much more effective regarding the scenario.
You won’t need to delete those files and can access them whenever necessary. At the same time, the storage will free up a lot, and your computer running experience will smoothen as well. Moreover, the performance of the laptop and desktop will increase because of this. The reasons why you should compress the OS drive on Windows 10 are:
- The unnecessarily occupied storage will become free
- Your computer’s performance will increase, and the operating experience will become smooth
- No need of deleting the necessary files anymore
- You don’t have to install any third-party software to complete the process
The Necessary Steps to Follow to Compress OS Drive Windows 10
Compressing the files is pretty helpful to free up the storage from the OS drive of a computer. All you need to do is compress them, and you can access those files whenever you feel like doing so. There won’t be any necessity to delete the essential files anymore. The steps you should follow to perform this OS drive compressing task are:
Step-1: Open File Explorer and Locate the OS Drive
Open the “File Explorer” from the computer’s home screen or from the bar below. Double-click on that “File Explorer” icon to open it. As the “File Explorer” tab will appear, you will see all the local disks there. There can be two, three, or five local disks based on your laptop or desktop ROM.
One of those local disks will be the OS drive. In maximum cases, the “Local Disk (C)” is where almost all the program files are located. After locating it, double click on that disk, and make sure all the program files are there.
Step-2: Access to the OS Drive Properties
As the “Local Disk (C)” contains the program files, take your mouse cursor over it. Then, right-click the mouse, and a small window will pop up containing some options. The last one of that options list will be named as “Properties,” and you need to right-click on it.
As you do so, the OS drive properties section will open up in a small window. There will be a total of seven sections named Security, Previous Versions, Quota, General, Tools, Hardware, and Sharing. You need to enter the “General” to start the compressing process of the OS drive.
In this section, you will see the total capacity of that OS drive. The available space of that drive will also be shown there, along with the occupied storage.
Step-3: Prepare for Compressing
This compressing process is also known as the New Technology File System (NTFS). At the bottom part of the “Properties” tab, there will be a “Compress this drive to save disk space” option. Select it by clicking on the box at the left of this option. After selecting, there will be a button named “Apply” at the bottom-right side of the “Properties” tab.
Step-4: Confirm Attribute Changes
As you will press the “Apply” button, another tab of “Confirm Attribute Changes” will pop up. From the newly opened window, select the “Apply changes to drive: \ c, subfolders, and files,” and press “OK” to confirm.
Step-5: Confirmation for Compressing
When you press the “OK” button, a new small window will appear, and click “Continue” from there.
Right after that, another tab will appear, and select “Ignore All” to start the compressing process finally.
It will take a while to compress the whole OS drive, and you need to wait until it’s done. Once completed, a large amount of storage from the “Local Disk (C)” will be freed. Then you can access those compressed folders Windows 10 whenever you want. Hopefully, all the lag, hiccups, and slowing down will disappear.
FAQs
Is it bad to compress your C drive?
It is not harmful to compress the C drive, but it is necessary to free up space. Completing this process will enhance the performance of your device. You won’t need to delete essential files anymore, as you can easily access the compressed files.
But if your device is low-end or very old, try to avoid this method and use a large external drive instead.
What is the after-effect of compressing the OS drive?
After compressing the OS drive, the space becomes free, and the computer performance enhances. Whenever you need to open those compressed files, just decompress and open them. Then again, compress those files after using, but excessive usage of this method can slow down your device.
Should I compress my os drive- save disk space
Conclusion
Both the laptop and desktop need a less occupied OS drive for better performance. So, it is essential to keep the “Local Disk (C)” as much free as possible. But you can’t delete the necessary files to achieve that, and it is not the permanent solution.
Compress OS drive Windows 10 can relieve you from this irritating situation without deleting the files. Just compress the whole OS drive, and a large amount of occupied storage will become free. And the best thing is, you can open those compressed files whenever you feel the necessity of doing so.
I love technology for this reason always try to share my knowledge with my all friend and communities. If you are want to know the trend of technology today and tomorrow keeps with us by commend and regularly share with a view.
