11/19/15 - I hope this is the right place to post this. So I just installed the BIG Windows 10 update (can't remember what it was called, 1511 or something) and so farit seems all right, except my desktop is a little different. One, my desktop background picture was removed and needs to be reset, no big deal, but all my Microsoft Word files open in Wordpad now (yes, I have a current license, just bought 2016 a few weeks ago--Excel comes up normal...) and the thumbnails have these mysterious blue arrows that point at each other in the corners. I think they might have something to do with file compression? But the arrows are also on some of my program icons in the taskbar, too. Can anyone tell me what's going on and how to fix it?
((I would attach a screenshot but I'm not sure how...))
Hello skitz, and welcome to windowssh blog.
The tutorial below can help show you how to post a screenshot.
Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in windowssh blog
If the blue arrows look like the ones in the tutorial below, then yes it means that the file is compressed.
Compress or Uncompress Files and Folders in Windows 10
Thank you, Brink! I don't think a screenshot is necessary any more, but I bookmarked the link for future reference. They were indeed compression arrows. I went through and uncompressed everything. And I'm embarrassed to say the Word/Wordpad thing was an easy fix that I could have figured out on my own if I hadn't been impatient and tired. I just needed to switch the default app with which to open those docs.
BUT... In file explorer, all the launchers, installers, setups, etc., still have compression arrows on their thumbnails, even after restarting. I right-clicked on the entire Download folder, went into the properties, and uncompressed everything inside, but they still have the compression arrows after restarting. Do I need to redownload/reinstall all of my programs?
This is rather a lot of "clean-up" after an update...kind of a pain...
This compression thing seems to have ruffled quite a few feathers after the update, so if there's a thread where this is already solved, feel free to point me in that direction.
Yeah a lot of people seem to be bothered my similar problems... Do you know if there's a place where I can give Microsoft some constructive feedback about the update?
It all depends on what you compressed to make uncompressing it easier.
Did you use "System compression" in Disk Cleanup by chance?
In addition, use step 3 below to see if you may have compacted the OS.
Compact OS - Compress or Uncompress Windows 10
The tutorial below can help show you how to send feedback to Microsoft.
Feedback - Send to Microsoft in Windows 10
I've never ever compressed anything myself, so I absolutely did not use System Compression in Disk Cleanup. All I've been doing is trying to undo all the compressing the Windows update did automatically. If I compressed something, it wasn't intentional, and I would have no idea how I'd managed to do so.
The system is not in the Compact state because Windows has determined that, it is not beneficial for this system.
Do you have any 3rd party utility type programs installed that may have an option to compress? If so, you may have inadvertently set it by mistake.
The good news is that compression will not hurt anything, and can save some hard drive space.
If you like, you can add the context menu in the tutorial below to help make uncompressing the random files easier.
Compress and Decompress - Add to File and Folder Context Menu - Windows 7 Help blog
I don't know what that means. So probably not? But possible.Do you have any 3rd party utility type programs installed that may have an option to compress? If so, you may have inadvertently set it by mistake.Yeah, that's the only thought that's keeping me from completely freaking out Everything seems to function correctly, it's just foreign and (most importantly) unauthorized by me.The good news is that compression will not hurt anything, and can save some hard drive space.
I did add the context menu so it's there in case I ever want to utilize it. Thank you very much.
Those would be these all in one tweaking type programs. A lot of them have default settings that can make changes without you knowing, or unclear settings that are mistakenly set.
You're most welcome.
