Blue Double Arrows

Anonymous
2010-03-10T14:16:08+00:00

What are the blue double arrows that sometimes appear on my desktop icons and pictures and how can I get rid of them?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

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Anonymous
2010-03-10T15:05:51+00:00

Do you have Norton 360 or some other Norton security suite?   If so, that's why.  The double blue icons means there are files that haven't been backed up. It can be turned off.  Go to Norton 360 http://www.symantec.com/norton/support/dtree.jsp?pvid= and learn how to turn it off, reboot and they will be gone.  For anyone that does have Norton 360, if you kept it turned on, when you backed up the files, the icon would turn a solid green arrow instead of the 2 blue arrows.

I hope this helps.

Good luck!

Lorien - MCSE/MCSA/Network+/A+ --- If this post helps to resolve your issue, please click the "Mark as Answer" or "Helpful" button at the top of this message. By marking a post as Answered, or Helpful you help others find the answer faster.

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  1. Anonymous
    2015-12-17T04:13:19+00:00

    These blue arrows have only just appeared, two on the top right hand corner of every photo file.  I thought it was a duplicate creation, and deleted one, of several photos and they disappeared from every file, including the original and did not show in the trash as when I normally delete. This computer has never had Norton. I have only used Defender.

    This has occurred just now as a problem with Picasa has happened. My Picasa file disappears  when I shut it down. Icons from the Left of my screen, tool bar ? and the bottom of my screen, task bar ? just disappear.  I then have to delete every Picasa file and from the trash, ( picasa will not reload, it shows an error ? if left in the trash)  then reload Piccasa from fresh/new.  

    I have also had an issue at the same time with Defender not updating and aborting. That has now appeared to have sorted it's self out.

    Any help for a not computer genius, really basic could help. 

    Steve B

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-12-13T14:30:08+00:00

    Registry hack to remove blue double arrows icon overlay indicating compression

    Use that method to remove the double arrows without decompressing your files.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-12-13T14:05:08+00:00

    Simple and fast way to remove double arrows. The double blue arrows indicate that the files were automatically compressed.

    1. Open File Explorer and navigate to your top level directory (i.e. Documents)
    2. Right click on that directory name and select "Properties" from the bottom (at the bottom of the list)
    3. Under the General tab, select Advanced in the bottom right corner.
    4. Deselect "Compress contents to save disk space"
    5. Click "OK"
    6. Select "Apply" in the bottom left corner
    7. You will get a pop-up > Select option two - Apply changes to all folders and sub-folders
    8. Dialog screen will appear that files are being changed. Blue arrows will be gone.
    9. Repeat for other top level directories (i.e. Pictures)

    This is simple?

    Really??

    Eight steps in multiple folders to fix a problem Microsoft caused with no way to turn it off?

    How is wasting my time undoing another MS FUBAR simple?

    Just curious.

    BTW - What if I actually WANT to keep my files compressed?

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-12-11T03:23:17+00:00

    Just found this answer.  And yes, this behavior is BRUTAL.  Are people actually running across situations where it matters if the file was compressed?  Since having the compression enabled is not the default, why do users who knew enough to enable it need a cheesy visual indication of the fact that the files are compressed...  Somehow, we've gotten by without this.

    And, yes...if you are going to change it, at least let it be easily changed back.

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