Short on disk space? You can now start conserving precious free space by creating compressed folders in Windows Me that automatically compress every file and folder that you put into it. To create a blank compressed folder, follow these steps.

1. Open the window and folder where you want the new compressed folder to be.

2. Choose File, New, Compressed Folder.

Windows creates new folder icon (sporting a zipper to indicate its special zip-type-compression abilities) that sports the temporary filename, New Compressed Folder.

3. Replace the temporary filename, New Compressed Folder, by typing your own filename; then press Enter.

You can also create a new compressed folder on the Windows desktop by right-clicking the desktop and then choosing New, Compressed Folder on the shortcut menu.

After creating a compressed folder, you can copy or move files and folders into it just as you would a regular file folder. As you copy or move files or folders, Windows Millennium Edition compresses their contents. You can then copy compressed folders to removable media like floppy diskettes and zip drives. You can also attach them to e-mail messages that you send over the Internet.