HOW TO ZIP A FOLDER
There is a built-in program within Windows XP which can compress a file or folder.
You can then send the compressed (or zipped) file or folder by email or upload to a server faster, as folders that are compressed using the zipped folders feature use much less drive space and can therefore be transferred to other computers more quickly than normal files/folders.
Please be take care when opening .zip files from unknown mail recipients since .zip files can contain viruses. Confirm with the known sender before opening the .zip file, unless it is a reputable source. You should always have a good firewall in place, regardless.
Note: Installing a different zip/unzip program to Windows (as I do) may remove Compressed (zipped) Folders from the right-click menu choices and replace it with the new zip program's icon.
How To Zip a file or folder (using Windows)
1. Select the file or folder you want to compress.
2. Right click and choose Send To
3. Go Right and choose Compressed (zipped) folder
4. Wait while the file or folder compresses.
5. You should now see an icon with the same name with a Zip file extension. * It may even have a zipper on the folder.
6. This is the compressed file that you may put on the server or send via email.
How To Unzip a file or folder
If you receive a Zip file, you need to uncompress or unzip the file to use it.
1. Double-click on the Zip file.
2. It should automatically unzip.
3. A file or folder with the same name (but without the Zip extension) should appear.
4. Drag the contents of the Zip file to the desktop (or another location). When you do this, you will be copying the information from the Zip file to the computer. This will be your working copy of the data from the Zip file.
5. Close the Zip file window. You may now delete the Zip file.
There are various other zip/unzip programs available.
Perhaps the best known is winzip: http://www.winzip.com/index.htm This is by far the most popular zip/unzip program, but you can only use a free version for 45 days.
I use two programs, both are free:
Just Zip it: http://www.justzipit.com/
Cam unzip: http://www.camunzip.com/
Note: Camunzip only unzips files, it doesn't zip them, but you will find that you will be unzipping far more than zipping.
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