Windows XP File and Folder Compression

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Running out of room on your hard disk? Need some extra space to install a new program? Want to keep some data files available, but worried about wasted space?

No problem, both Windows XP Professional and Home Edition include a zip compression utility that you can use to compress files and folders on your hard disk.

There is no need for a separate utility like WinZip, unless you just like them or need more compression control.

TO COMPRESS A FILE OR FOLDER WITH THE XP UTILITY:

  • Right click the file or folder to be compressed.
  • Point to Send To.
  • Then click Compressed (zipped) Folder.

This will make a compressed folder, identified by a zipper icon, which displays the same name as the file you compressed with a zip extension (The zip extension is visible, if you don’t hide extensions for known file types in your folder options view).

YOU CAN ALSO MAKE A COMPRESSED FOLDER FROM SCRATCH, BY FOLLOWING THESE STEPS:

  • Right click the desktop.
  • Point to New.
  • Click Compressed (zipped) Folder.
  • Open the new compressed folder and drag files inside that you would like compressed.

Now that is easy isn’t it?

NOTE:
If you are going to be emailing a zip file, be aware that not all email clients will let you attach a file with a zip extension.

One way around that is to rename the file with an extension like bbb or something similar that you can remember, and when you download it at the other end, rename it back to have the zip extension, before trying to work with it.

Don’t forget to rename your file back with the zip extension after you have attached to your email!

Retired, grandfather, blogger, participating in creative writing prompt blogs, and love to read.