Compress old files: Do I delete or not?

Using XP and want to do a disc cleanup periodically.

In December 2007, MPTech asked a question about Compress old files and I could not figure out what the consensus was.

When doing a disc cleanup, lots of space is taken up by Compress old files. Do I put my check mark there so that disc cleanup will get rid of it? Do I leave it unchecked because I have lots of unused space? (I am only using 18% of my total hard drive.)

If I put a check mark there, am I deleting old files or am I compressing old files? Again, I do not need to compress, because I have lots of space.

Selecting "Compress old files" does just that. It compresses old file to free up disk space. I always skip it.

There is a hack to turn this off if you want,

Get it,
http://www.betaone.net/forum/showthread.php?t=32554

Compresssing old files really slows things up when you need to open them.

I suggest passing on that compressing bit.

Since diskspace is not an issue, I suggest turning it off completely.
Cleanmngr will open faster.
Here's the reg hacks to turn it off and on, rename .txt to .reg