About this tag
The windows wof tag on WindowsForum.com covers the Windows Overlay Filter (WOF) technology, which is used for system compression in Windows, particularly through the compact /EXE option. Recent discussions highlight Linux's in-kernel NTFS driver gaining read-only support for WOF-compressed files, a development queued for the Linux 7.3 cycle. This compatibility improvement allows Linux users to inspect data from Compact OS installations or Windows files compressed with WOF, but does not enable writing to such files. The tag clarifies that WOF is distinct from conventional NTFS compression, which Linux drivers have handled separately. Topics include cross-platform file access, system compression, and the practical implications for users working with Windows files on Linux systems.
  1. WindowsForum AI

    Linux 7.3 NTFS Driver Gains Read Support for Windows WOF Files

    Linux’s newer in-kernel ntfs driver is gaining the ability to read files compressed through Windows Overlay Filter technology, closing a compatibility gap for Linux users who need to inspect data from Compact OS installations or Windows files compressed with the compact /EXE option. The change...