Ok, this is probably so obvious, and this is definitely something I should know with how much I work on computers... but here it is...

In my folders and drives some of the file names are blue, but most are black...

Why are my file names suddenly blue?

I am running Windows XP Home Edition.
The computers are networked.
The files that are blue are not all shared.

Thanks for help... I'm sure there's a good and simple reason.

Open Folder Options in Control Panel.
> Start > Settings > Control Panel. > Folder Options.
> View tab
De-select "Show encrypted or compressed NTFS files in colour"

3rd option from bottom

Ok, this is probably so obvious, and this is definately something I should know with how much I work on computers... but here it is...

In my folders and drives some of the file names are blue, but most are black...

Why are my file names suddenly blue?

I am running Windows XP Home Edition.
The computers are networked.
The files that are blue are not all shared.

Thanks for help... I'm sure there's a good and simple reason.

Black is a "normal" file
Blue is a compressed file
Green is an encrypted file.

You'll get more blue files as you use Disk clean up more as the older files are compressed to save space.

Hope this helps

Ok Thanks very much to the both of you! I understand it now! Thanks.