Some file names in blue text

Have only just noticed this, but the words under some of files on my xp system seem to have changed to being in blue text. This seems pretty random, as for example the words in some text files are in blue, yet others are still in black. It's no problem, but curious to know why this only recently seems to have happened.

 

If you mean the colors show up when you look at a list of files in windows explorer, there is a setting to 'Show encrypted or compressed files in color'.

Gives this sort of effect.

 

It sounds like you have run Disk Cleanup and tagged the "Compress Old Files" box. The default setting (user selectable under Options) is to compress files that haven't been accessed in 50 days. This applies to your user created files and not to the system files, as I understand it.

Then as Newt pointed out, the blue files are compressed files.

 

You can change the color here:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer
AltColor:REG_BINARY:00 00 ff 00 (default RGB hex code).

In order for this to work, alternate coloring must be enabled here:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\
Advanced
ShowCompColor:REG_DWORD:0 (disable) or 1 (enable)

I personally like a dark brown (73 30 08 00). It is less striking but you are still able to see what files are compressed in case you choose to uncompress them (to improve gaming performance, for example).

 

Thanks all for your prompt & knowledgeable replies, as yes I did compress my old files a few days ago, so this explains it.

Another little gem of info to store away.