File Compression Archives

Winsage

February 17, 2025

7 alternatives to built-in Windows tools that will blow you away

- Process Lasso is a powerful alternative to Task Manager, offering features like dynamic CPU adjustments and SmartTrim memory management. - Notepad++ is a text editor that supports multiple programming languages, syntax highlighting, and includes macros and plugins. - 7-Zip is a file compression tool that handles various formats and allows users to split, merge, and encrypt files. - Everything is a search tool that quickly finds files and folders, scanning both names and document contents. - Audacity is a multitrack digital audio workstation for recording audio, supporting various formats and real-time effects. - Flow Launcher allows users to launch files, folders, applications, and websites without using the Start menu. - VLC Media Player plays a wide range of audio and video file formats and offers features like file conversion and live stream recording.

Winsage

December 24, 2024

Free Guide – How to Edit a PDF File on Windows 10

Editing PDF files on Windows 10 is often necessary for correcting errors, filling out forms, adding comments, or updating information. Various free PDF editors are available online, including Tenorshare PDNob, which offers a free month of premium features. To edit a PDF using Microsoft Word, open the program, select the PDF file, and make edits after it converts to an editable format. Adobe Acrobat allows for professional editing but requires a subscription for advanced features. Tenorshare PDNob provides a free solution with features like text editing, file conversion, compression, watermark removal, image extraction, and secure editing. Windows 10 does not include a built-in PDF editor, but it has Microsoft Edge for basic viewing and annotations. Editing a PDF file is possible with tools like Microsoft Word, Adobe Acrobat, or dedicated editors like Tenorshare PDNob.

Winsage

December 2, 2024

The Windows File Explorer isn’t good enough — 5 file managers for power users

The native File Explorer in Windows 11 is perceived by users as lacking in speed and functionality, prompting interest in alternative file management applications. Notable alternatives include: - Files app: Features a modern design with Mica and Acrylic materials, dual-pane view for file transfers, and a compact overlay mode. - Total Commander: Offers a dual-pane view by default, customizable interface, FTP support, and file compression capabilities. - FreeCommander XE: Combines a dual-pane interface with enhanced readability, customizable menus, and additional tools for screenshots and file compression. - OneCommander: Balances modern design with functionality, featuring a dual-pane view, preview pane, color-coded file labels, and batch processing capabilities. - Directory Opus: Highly regarded for its efficiency, dual-pane layout, navigation tree, and extensive features including image conversion and customizable themes. These applications can potentially replace File Explorer and serve as default file managers, enhancing user productivity and file management experiences.

Winsage

November 24, 2024

This popular Windows utility for ZIP files has a dangerous vulnerability

A significant security vulnerability has been identified in early versions of the file compression software 7-Zip, with a severity score of 7.8 out of 10. The flaw affects all versions prior to 24.07, allowing potential attackers to execute arbitrary code on a victim's machine. The issue was discovered by Trend Micro’s Zero Day Initiative, with researcher Nicholas Zubrisky identifying it in June. Users are advised to update to the latest version to mitigate risks associated with this vulnerability.

Winsage

October 27, 2024

6 best file compression tools for Windows PCs

PeaZip compressed a 1.63GB collection of files to 1.50GB in just over a minute using LZMA2 compression. 7-Zip reduced the same files to 1.51GB in 1 minute and 9 seconds. WinRAR compressed files to 1.6GB in 38 seconds. Bandizip took 2 minutes and 18 seconds to compress the files to 1.51GB. 8 Zip compressed the files to 1.58GB in 1 minute and 58 seconds. The built-in Windows 11 version 24H2 compressor took 16 minutes and 25 seconds to create a 1.50GB .7z file.

Winsage

October 16, 2024

Dev boasts “tiny” Windows 11 24H2 that you can run off a DVD

Microsoft unveiled Windows 11 Enterprise LTSC 2024, generating interest in the tech community. NTDEV released an update to tiny11, based on Windows 11 LTSC 2024, with a size of 3.54 GB that fits on a standard DVD. This compression is achieved using LZX delta compression. Tiny11 can operate on as little as 176 MB of RAM, and a "text-only" version has been created that requires only 100 MB of RAM.

Winsage

October 2, 2024

Windows 11 2024 Update promises faster file copying, thanks to ReFS

ReFS (Resilient File System) is being introduced in the upcoming Windows 11 2024 Update, featuring Block Cloning, which enhances performance for development drives. Block Cloning allows data duplication by creating pointers to original data locations, reducing storage space usage. A comparison chart released by Microsoft in May 2024 shows that ReFS can copy a 10GB file in just over half a second, a 92% improvement over NTFS, which takes nearly 8 seconds. A 1GB file copies in 38 milliseconds, showing a 94% speed increase, while copying an 18GB folder is 80% faster with ReFS, taking only 6 seconds. ReFS is not designed for typical disk operations and cannot be used as the primary file system for booting Windows, which requires NTFS. ReFS focuses on data resilience with automatic management of bad sectors, unlike NTFS, which requires CHKDSK for repairs. NTFS still offers features like file compression and encryption that are not available in ReFS. Transitioning to ReFS requires a complete drive format, and Microsoft continues to support NTFS for client editions of Windows 11.

Winsage

October 2, 2024

Microsoft’s new Windows 11 update comes with energy use and Wi-Fi enhancements

Microsoft is initiating a significant update for Windows 11, known as the Windows 11 2024 Update or version 24H2, aimed at improving essential PC operations such as file downloads, document compression, and energy management. Windows contributes 9% to Microsoft's billion revenue for fiscal 2024, and the operating system is crucial for driving clients towards Azure cloud services. Support for Windows 10 will end in October 2025, while Windows 11 has seen a 50% increase in active devices year over year since its 2021 launch. The version 24H2 update introduces several new features: - Enhanced Energy Controls for minimizing power consumption. - Advanced Hearing Aid Connectivity for Bluetooth LE Audio-compatible hearing aids. - Faster Internet Access with Wi-Fi 7 routers for higher data throughput. - Streamlined Wi-Fi Sharing using a QR code feature. - Rich Backgrounds with .JXR image files for HDR-capable displays. - Mobile File Management allowing access to mobile files via Bluetooth in File Explorer. - Compact Clock Display option in the System tray. - File Compression Options directly in File Explorer for formats like ZIP, 7z, or TAR. Users can access the new features through the Settings app under Windows Update, with a gradual rollout starting for devices running versions 22H2 and 23H2. Educational institutions and businesses can find guidance for deploying version 24H2 in a dedicated Microsoft blog post.

Winsage

August 29, 2024

15 open-source apps that make any Windows PC better — for free

Borg Calendar is a calendar application that allows users to manage appointments and synchronize with platforms like Google and Microsoft. Calibre is an e-book management tool that helps users organize digital libraries and convert e-books into various formats. Clavier+ enables users to create personalized keyboard shortcuts for quick access to programs and text insertion. Double Commander is a dual-pane file manager that simplifies file navigation and organization. Filezilla Client is an FTP client for transferring files to and from servers, featuring real-time transfer monitoring. Greenshot allows users to capture and edit screenshots with customizable shortcuts and cloud integration. Inkscape is a vector graphics editor with extensive drawing and editing tools. Keepass is a password manager that securely stores access credentials in a database. Kodi is a multimedia platform for streaming music and movies with customizable add-ons. Libre Hardware Monitor provides real-time information about PC performance using various sensors. Luminance HDR is a tool for creating and editing high dynamic range images. PeaZip is a file compression tool that supports various archive formats and offers password protection. Sumatra PDF is a lightweight PDF reader with annotation features. SM Player is a multimedia player that supports audio and video files with customizable settings. TV-Browser is an application that provides information about television programs and allows customization of channel lists.

BetaBeacon

April 19, 2024

How writing zip support for Windows almost cost its creator his job at Microsoft

- Dave Plummer, a retired Microsoft operating system engineer, was the brain behind the original zip file support in Windows. - Plummer's innovation simplified file management, saved disk space, and expedited file transfers. - The integration of zip file support into Windows was a significant contribution that set a standard for file compression and decompression.