Disk compression for Windows ME

[aesx86]

Hello!

I am looking for some tool which can mount compressed files (ZIP or own format) to the file system. It would be good if mounted ZIP archives can be modified; it would be great if an archive can be mounted to a directory (like Sysinternals' junction.exe on NTFS).

I need this because I have a large amount of source code (so I get a lot of slack space and overhead on file search, Scandisk checks, defragmentation).

I used DriveSpace in DOS and Windows 98 for some time, but now all my partitions are FAT32, so DriveSpace won't work.

Could you suggest something?

Thanks in advance.

[submix8c]

XP doesn't "mount" ZIP files either, and am unaware of any (OS/software) that will. Maybe someone else does.

 

ZIP is supported in Windows ME Scroll down).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_ME

 

Of course, it appears to allow creation and extraction only, not update/modify.

 

Hove you done this Google Web Search?

mount zip file windows

There seems to be a number of products but it appears non of them support update/modify either. Well, I found WinMount *but* I don't know if you can install it on Windows ME.

[loblo]

For free LookDisk lets you search for text content in zip files, then if you've got those associated with 7-Zip you can open open them with it from LookDisk's results and edit in place. You'll need an old version of LookDisk from the wayback machine as I don't think current/recent versions work properly even with KernelEx. 

 

For pay there are tools such as PowerGrep or ZipScan but I don't know whether they run OK under 9x.

 

You may find something else along those line by googling  adequately.

[jaclaz]

XP doesn't "mount" ZIP files either, and am unaware of any (OS/software) that will. Maybe someone else does.

ZIP is supported in Windows ME Scroll down).

Well, just for the record XP has the same support for "Compressed folders" as Me:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/272996

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/kb/306531

since the Dunzip32.dll, Dzip32.dll and Zipfldr.dll have the same functionalities in Me and XP.

 

and just for the record, that's the basic idea (mounting to a virtual folder) behind Pismo File Mount :

http://www.pismotechnic.com/pfm/ap/

but the mounted zip is read only and anyway it will work fine on XP but not on previous OS's .

 

Also (warning, maybe .Net ):

https://mountziplibrary.codeplex.com/

 

An experiment might be to see if Diskinternals NTFS reader might do (with compressed NTFS):

http://www.diskinternals.com/ntfs-reader/

it has a "search feature" for mounted images, but still you need *something* to actually create/write/populate the NTFS (compressed) image(s).

 

Compatible to 98/me there is a Commercial tool:

http://www.winarchiver.com/index.htm

 

More loosely  what the OP is asking for is a form of Fuse, but the Windows ports (dokan and similar) are AFAIK/AFAICR for 2K/XP and later:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filesystem_in_Userspace

 

jaclaz

[submix8c]

FTR, I already was aware of that (and it indicates such in the Wiki link) and also found said software during search. That's why I suggested as I did.

 

Whether the NTFS idea works, who knows? Besides there will have to be some facility to create the NTFS partition. If the OP can manage to get a commercial version of NTFS98RO (Winternals NTFS for Windows 98? or is it NTFS-Pro?) this may work (?) and it would require a setup of it to function (I've done this on a 98SE and *maybe a WinME - can't remember) as well as the associated 2K/XP files required. BTW, (AFAICR) it (oddly) *does* allow for RW. -BTW, the DiskInternals link gives a link to LINUX READER?-

refs and other links - http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/110814-ntfs-support-in-win-98seme/

 

I suppose it's up to the OP to decide which route to take, which may or may not work and may cost $ to find out it doesn't.

[jumper]

This should work:

1) use RamDisk98 v0.5 to create a 512MB FAT16 ram disk

2) select the Load/Save image on Startup/Shutdown checkboxes

3) Drivespace the new drive to 2GB (the limit?)

From the readme:

"DriveSpace works normally on a RamDisk98 drive, and can be used to increase the

storage of a RamDisk98 drive in the same was as for a regular hard disk. If a

compressed image is stored and loaded on startup (see below), the compressed volume

will be mounted automatically."

[submix8c]

@jumper - From the Windows ME link.

Other features removed or never updated to work with Windows ME included Microsoft Fax, QuickView and DriveSpace, as well as the GUI FAT32 conversion tool.

You see the problem, don't you?

[jumper]

Clicking through to the DriveSpace article...

DriveSpace in Windows Me

Because of the removal of real mode support, FAT32 going mainstream and the decreasing popularity of DriveSpace, DriveSpace in Windows Me had only limited support. DriveSpace no longer supported hard disk compression, but still supported reading and writing compressed removable media, although the only DriveSpace operation supported beside that was deleting and reallocating compressed drives.

So the ramdisk image must be created on a pre-ME box and the disk might need to be made removable or even a 2.88MB FDD.

A simpler test would be to find a 512MB-1GB FAT16 flash drive (or even a floppy disk) and DriveSpace it on a pre-ME box and then try it on ME. This probably wouldn't meet the speed and capacity requirements, however.

[submix8c]

Still, if you read the Original Post...

And here's a link to Ramdisk98 v1.1 ("Time Limit", don't bother with it.)

http://www.programfiles.com/Default.asp?LinkId=13727

Here's what you gave -

http://www.msfn.org/board/topic/146671-large-ramdrive-in-windows-98/#entry991828

Here's a functional FTP site for it -

ftp://ftp.bu.edu/pub/mirrors/simtelnet/win95/diskutl/

I assume the above is not time-limited? Errr - No, but it *does* have a limitation.

How do I register the software?
    You may download and use the shareware version for evaluation purposes. The
shareware version of the software contains an annoying reminder to register that is not
present in the registered version, and will default to a 1.44MB floppy after the software
is used 100 times.  If you like it and find it useful, please support ongoing development
efforts and register the software by sending $20 U.S. to:

John Lajoie

Soooo.... what now?