How do I UNZIP Files?

A: First a bit of explanation to all readers so you know what a ZIP file is. Whenever you want to send a file to someone, or just store it on your PC so it takes less hard drive space, ZIP it. This actually compresses all the information in the file into a smaller file size; or it collects all the files--if there are multiple files--into ONE ZIP file. This allows the file with all the original information to consume less hard drive (or floppy) space and/or to be able to send a copy to a friend through email and not take so long to transfer it--especially for modem/dialup users on the Internet. You can put many files into a ZIP file, have multiple floppies contain ALL the files, with the floppies each containing part of the entire collection.

You will need to know where the file is--obviously--, then presuming you already have the WINZIP program installed on your PC, you double click the file. You'll recognize it because the file extension is ZIP as in MYFILE.ZIP or WHATEVER.ZIP. (All files have a name and file extension. The name describes the contents of the file and the extension--a three character format, describes what TYPE of file it is. For example, ASSIGNMENT.DOC is a Word document, MySong.AVI is a video type of file, etc.)

After Winzip opens, a list of the files compressed in the ZIP file displays.

In this example, there is only one file in the JUNIPER_GENERIC.ZIP file. The name is shown on the title bar at the top of the window.

Now you need to EXTRACT the file(s) in the listing to a location where you want the files to be. Click the EXTRACT icon and you will see the default. This location is where the ZIP file is currently located.

You can allow WINZIP to place them in the default location as shown in the "Extract to:" in the upper left corner of the picture above, or you can change the location by clicking the down pointing triangle to the right of the "Extract To:" window, or you can CREATE a "New Folder" by using the button for the "New Folder" in the lower right corner of the picture.

If the file that is un-compressed is a DOCUMENT, you can now use WORD or whatever program you have to read documents. If the files extracted are a collection of files to install an application, the SETUP or INSTALL file will be in the location you've extracted the files to and running it (double-clicking on it) will start the installation of the application.