Disable NTFS Compression for Users

[Guest Snuffy]

Is there a method to disable users from compressing NTFS drives, folders,

and/or files on a server? For example, if a user goes into properties for a

network drive there is a check box option for "Compress drive to save disk

space". If they check this option there are not denied access and the

compression occurs.

 

A couple users have already compressed their home folders. Luckily nobody

has done this for the common shared folder yet. I played with this in the

lab and it appears write access or higher allows a user to compress.

 

This MS article says how compressing can affect performance so I find it odd

it can't be easily disabled for users.

 

"Best practices for NTFS compression in Windows"

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/251186/EN-US/

 

I have done a lot of searching and have yet to find a good solution. I was

hoping for a group policy method so it can be done centrally and quickly.

 

This is the only possible solution I have found, 2 quotes from MS below. It

would basically mean formatting the drive with a cluster size larger than 4

KB. I haven't tested this yet. I'm hoping there is a better way.

"Because file compression is not supported on cluster sizes greater than 4

KB, the default NTFS cluster size for Windows Server 2003 never exceeds 4

KB."

 

"The compression algorithms in NTFS support cluster sizes of up to 4 KB.

When the cluster size is greater than 4 KB on an NTFS volume, none of the

NTFS compression features are available."

 

This is what I am working with.

 

Client: Windows XP

Server: Windows 2000 & 2003

 

Anyone familiar with this issue and its solution?

[Guest Meinolf Weber]

Re: Disable NTFS Compression for Users

 

Hello snuffy,

 

Have a look on this one:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328597

 

Best regards

 

Meinolf Weber

Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers

no rights.

** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups

** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm

> Is there a method to disable users from compressing NTFS drives,

> folders, and/or files on a server? For example, if a user goes into

> properties for a network drive there is a check box option for

> "Compress drive to save disk space". If they check this option there

> are not denied access and the compression occurs.

>

> A couple users have already compressed their home folders. Luckily

> nobody has done this for the common shared folder yet. I played with

> this in the lab and it appears write access or higher allows a user to

> compress.

>

> This MS article says how compressing can affect performance so I find

> it odd it can't be easily disabled for users.

>

> "Best practices for NTFS compression in Windows"

> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/251186/EN-US/

> I have done a lot of searching and have yet to find a good solution. I

> was hoping for a group policy method so it can be done centrally and

> quickly.

>

> This is the only possible solution I have found, 2 quotes from MS

> below. It

> would basically mean formatting the drive with a cluster size larger

> than 4

> KB. I haven't tested this yet. I'm hoping there is a better way.

> "Because file compression is not supported on cluster sizes greater

> than 4

> KB, the default NTFS cluster size for Windows Server 2003 never

> exceeds 4

> KB."

> "The compression algorithms in NTFS support cluster sizes of up to 4

> KB. When the cluster size is greater than 4 KB on an NTFS volume, none

> of the NTFS compression features are available."

>

> This is what I am working with.

>

> Client: Windows XP

> Server: Windows 2000 & 2003

> Anyone familiar with this issue and its solution?

>

[Guest Snuffy]

Re: Disable NTFS Compression for Users

 

Thank you Meinolf. I did come across that during my search. I was hoping for

a simpler, centralized method, but may end up using this or formatting with

a larger than 4kb cluster size if nothing easier comes up. The distribution

method and making sure all clients always have this may be a pain.

 

"Meinolf Weber" <meiweb(nospam)@gmx.de> wrote in message

news:ff16fb66a1ada8caa15041e9e840@msnews.microsoft.com...

> Hello snuffy,

>

> Have a look on this one:

> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328597

>

> Best regards

>

> Meinolf Weber

> Disclaimer: This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and

> confers no rights.

> ** Please do NOT email, only reply to Newsgroups

> ** HELP us help YOU!!! http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm

>

>> Is there a method to disable users from compressing NTFS drives,

>> folders, and/or files on a server? For example, if a user goes into

>> properties for a network drive there is a check box option for

>> "Compress drive to save disk space". If they check this option there

>> are not denied access and the compression occurs.

>>

>> A couple users have already compressed their home folders. Luckily

>> nobody has done this for the common shared folder yet. I played with

>> this in the lab and it appears write access or higher allows a user to

>> compress.

>>

>> This MS article says how compressing can affect performance so I find

>> it odd it can't be easily disabled for users.

>>

>> "Best practices for NTFS compression in Windows"

>> http://support.microsoft.com/kb/251186/EN-US/

>> I have done a lot of searching and have yet to find a good solution. I

>> was hoping for a group policy method so it can be done centrally and

>> quickly.

>>

>> This is the only possible solution I have found, 2 quotes from MS

>> below. It

>> would basically mean formatting the drive with a cluster size larger

>> than 4

>> KB. I haven't tested this yet. I'm hoping there is a better way.

>> "Because file compression is not supported on cluster sizes greater

>> than 4

>> KB, the default NTFS cluster size for Windows Server 2003 never

>> exceeds 4

>> KB."

>> "The compression algorithms in NTFS support cluster sizes of up to 4

>> KB. When the cluster size is greater than 4 KB on an NTFS volume, none

>> of the NTFS compression features are available."

>>

>> This is what I am working with.

>>

>> Client: Windows XP

>> Server: Windows 2000 & 2003

>> Anyone familiar with this issue and its solution?

>>

>

>