Zipping files
File compression overview
Compressing files, folders, and programs decreases their size and reduces the amount of space they use on your drives or removable storage devices. Drive compression decreases the amount of space used by all of the files and folders stored on that drive.
Compressed (zipped) Folders
- You can run some programs directly from these compressed folders without decompressing them. You can also open files directly from compressed folders.
- Zipped compressed files and folders can be moved to any drive or folder on your computer, the Internet, or your network, and they are compatible with other file compression programs.
- Folders compressed using this feature are identified by a zipper icon.
- You can protect files in a zipped compressed folder with a password.
- Compressing folders using Compressed (zipped) Folders will not decrease your computer's performance.
- To compress individual files using Compressed (zipped) Folders, create a compressed folder and then move or copy the files to that folder.
To create a zipped compressed folder
- Double-click a drive or folder.
- On the File menu, point to New, and then click Compressed (zipped) Folder.
- Type a name for the new folder, and then press ENTER.
Notes
- To open My Computer, click Start, and then click My Computer.
- You can also create a zipped compressed folder by right-clicking the desktop, pointing to New, and then clicking Compressed (zipped) Folder.
- You can identify compressed folders by the zipper on the folder icon.
- If you share compressed folders with users on other computer systems, you may want to limit the compressed folder names to eight characters with a .zip file name extension.
To Create a new zip file.
- Right click on the file
- And then select “Send To” then click on Compressed (zipped) Folder.The first time you do this you will get a dialog box asking you if you want to make this association with zip files.
- Select Yes and continue.
- The file will then be placed in a folder with the zipped Icon.