Hi all,

I have a dual boot vista/kbuntu system. I was using windows and was running low of space on my c drive so I thought to compress it.

Upon completion I re-booted my system to only be made aware og the error message that my Windows Boot Files were compressed and so windows could not be booted.

I have some questions relating to this issue for which any knowledgeable input would be greatly appreciated.

1. Why has Microsoft imposed no safety mechanism or warning upon compressing the c drive if this is the result of the action?

2. Why can compressed boot files be booted? This may be a stupid question but I would like to understand.

3. I have been reading on the web for possible solutions to this problem. The most common seems to be to insert the original OS vista cd, boot from it and click repair. I have my vista system set up perfect in terms of programs and data. Will the repair operation preserve this state?

4.Using the CD method above is there any means to uncompress only the boot files and not the whole of the c drive so I can still achieve my original goal of space savings?

5. My system is dual boot. I can stilll load Kbuntu and access my NTFS c drive on the kbuntu desktop. I can even see the specific windows boot files folder. I am new to linux but tried to adopt a windows seasoned approach of right clicking the boot files folder and going into properties and looking for uncompress option there. Suprise suprise no such option there. But since my system is dual boot and I can see my windows boot file folder if there is a means to uncompress these files this way it would seem to be the easiest way of doing it. Are there any know possible means by this approach?

6. If linux is not up to this job my next idea was to use a storage bridge and connect my hard drive to another computer running windows to uncompress. If I try this method does it have to be another vista OS based operating system or would other versions of windows work just as well e.g. XP and or x32, x64 bit OS systems.


Keen to learn, so again any advice or suggestions relating to these queries much appreciated

It would be useful to know the exact mechanism you used to enact the compression, the extent of what you compressed, as well as the actual error message you now see when trying to boot into Windows.

I have vista x64 bit OS. I went into the C drive in My computer. Right clicked c drive. Properties. Then ticked the box to Compress all files and sub folders. The operation completed successfully. Read first post for all other details.

Error message on boot pretty much as described. MBR compressed. Press Ctrl Alt Delt to restart.

Speak up folks! Any help much appreciated to my questions in the first post. But please dont just post to up your post rating unless your the real deal or have the know how!