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# How to Compress FastDL Files to .bz2 in CS 1.6

> Create .bz2 copies of your custom maps, models and sounds with 7-Zip and PowerShell so players download them faster from your Counter-Strike 1.6 server.

Players download custom content much faster when it is compressed. This guide shows you how to create a `.bz2` copy of each custom file on your Windows PC, then upload the copies next to the originals on your Counter-Strike 1.6 server.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Difficulty" icon="gauge-low">
    Intermediate
  </Card>

  <Card title="Platform" icon="windows">
    Windows PC
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

***

## Before You Start

* FastDL is already set up on your server. If not, follow [How to Configure FastDL (HTTP Download) in CS 1.6](/games/counter-strike-16/setting-up-fast-download-http) first.
* **7-Zip** (free, from [7-zip.org](https://www.7-zip.org)).
* An **SFTP client** such as WinSCP or FileZilla.

***

## Compress Your Files

<Steps>
  <Step title="Install 7-Zip">
    Install 7-Zip to the default path: `C:\Program Files\7-Zip`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Connect via SFTP">
    Connect to your game server with your SFTP client.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Download your custom folders">
    Download these folders from `cstrike` into `C:\fastdl\cstrike\` on your PC. Keep the folder structure exactly as it is on the server:

    * `maps`, `models`, `sound`, `sprites`, `gfx`, `overviews`
    * any `.wad` files in `cstrike`
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save the script">
    Open Notepad, paste the script below, and save it as `C:\fastdl\bz2.ps1`. Choose **All files** as the file type so Notepad does not add `.txt`.

    ```powershell theme={null}
    $src = "C:\fastdl\cstrike"
    $dst = "C:\fastdl\cstrike_bz2"
    $sevenzip = "C:\Program Files\7-Zip\7z.exe"

    Get-ChildItem $src -Recurse -File | Where-Object { $_.Extension -ne ".bz2" } | ForEach-Object {
        $rel = $_.FullName.Substring($src.Length).TrimStart('\')
        $out = Join-Path $dst ($rel + ".bz2")
        New-Item -ItemType Directory -Force -Path (Split-Path $out) | Out-Null
        & $sevenzip a -tbzip2 -mx=9 $out $_.FullName | Out-Null
        Write-Host "Done: $rel"
    }
    Write-Host "Finished."
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Run the script">
    Open PowerShell and run:

    ```powershell theme={null}
    powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File C:\fastdl\bz2.ps1
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Wait for it to finish">
    Wait until the script prints `Finished.` The compressed files appear in `C:\fastdl\cstrike_bz2\`, in the same folders as the originals, with `.bz2` added. For example: `maps\de_dust2.bsp.bz2`.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Upload the compressed files">
    Upload the contents of `C:\fastdl\cstrike_bz2\` into your server's `cstrike` folder via SFTP. Merge folders when your SFTP client asks.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check the result">
    On the server, `maps/de_dust2.bsp.bz2` should sit next to `maps/de_dust2.bsp`.
  </Step>
</Steps>

***

## Important Rules

<Warning>
  **Never delete or replace the original files on the server.** The game server needs the uncompressed files. The `.bz2` copies are extra.
</Warning>

* Do not compress `.dll`, `.so` or `.cfg` files, or plugins. Only use the folders listed in the steps above.
* Filenames must be lowercase and unchanged. The name must be the original plus `.bz2` (for example `de_dust2.bsp.bz2`).
* Do not zip a whole folder into one `.bz2`. Each file needs its own `.bz2`. The script does this for you.

***

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="The script finishes but no files appear">
    Check that your files are inside `C:\fastdl\cstrike\` and that the folder structure matches the server. The script only reads from that folder.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Players still download slowly">
    Check that each `.bz2` file name is exactly the original name plus `.bz2`, in lowercase, in the same folder as the original. Linux is case-sensitive, so a mismatch returns a 404 and the client falls back to the slow download. Also confirm FastDL is configured as described in [How to Configure FastDL (HTTP Download) in CS 1.6](/games/counter-strike-16/setting-up-fast-download-http).
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## Related Articles

* [How to Configure FastDL (HTTP Download) in CS 1.6](/games/counter-strike-16/setting-up-fast-download-http)
* [How to Manage Map Rotations in CS 1.6](/games/counter-strike-16/how-to-change-your-cs-16-server-map)

***

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***

<div align="center">
  **Last Updated:** October 2026 | **CS 1.6:** Content delivery optimized.
</div>


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