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Unzipping a File

Sometimes when downloading a file for Windows, the file has a .zip at the end. That is a file extension and means that the file has been compressed or made smaller for faster downloading.

The process is called zipping the file.

So once it is downloaded you have to uncompress it or unpack it, which is referred to as unzipping.

Windows comes with a program that unzips files but it doesn't always work well with all files.

I like to use a separate program for unzipping.

Right now, my preference is for a program called 7-zip. http://learnhub.com/redirect?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.7-zip.org%2F

For Windows, you need to download the file that ends with .exe . That file extension means the file can run in Windows. It is an executable file.

Once you have downloaded and installed 7-zip, you don't have to start it. It will appear as an option in the menu when you right click on a .zip file.

For instance:

Once I have downloaded a zipped file to the place I want it to be, I unzip it as follows:

1. hover over the file with the mouse
2. right click
3. observe the menu choices
4. observe 7-zip situated somewhere in the middle of said menu
5. hover over the 7-zip words on that menu
6. observe the existence of a new menu with the following choices:
Open archive
Extract Files...
Extract Here
Test Archive
Add to Archive...
7. hover over "Extract Files..." and select
8. a window entitled "Extract" will appear
9. I usually accept the defaults and press the "OK" button

The program default is set up to unpack the file in the same directory as the zipped file resides. Which means that after a short wait, your zipped file should find itself with a neighbour; an unzipped directory of the same name as the zipped file. Click your way through the unzipped directory and find an .exe file of the name of the program you want to install. You should be able to click and install.

Of course, once you have an md5 program installed you would check the md5 sum of the new download prior to unzipping the file.

I hope this lesson was useful for you.

Thanks,
Anita.

  1. jredse saidSun, 09 Mar 2008 02:56:49 -0000 ( Link )

    Hi Anita,

    Good lesson the instructions are very clear and to the point. I think it might be a good idea to mention that 7zip is free to download as that is a huge incentive for people to check that great little program out = )

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  2. Carsten saidFri, 14 Mar 2008 21:06:30 -0000 ( Link )

    Good content Anita, 7zip is my archive utility of choice too if using Windows.

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  3. sglc saidSun, 27 Jul 2008 11:17:24 -0000 ( Link )

    Good lesson. Quite often when downloading software, WinZip is presented as the choice to use. Any comments on this?

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  4. darkdeoxys saidThu, 21 Aug 2008 18:29:01 -0000 ( Link )

    winRAR is more popular these days for it can compress more and supports zip, 7zip and rar files

    winrar and winip needs to be registered though

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