File Compression (Zipping) and Unzipping
with Windows XP and 2003* 

Compressing (zipping) files, folders, and programs decrease their size and reduce the amount of space they use on your computer drive or removable storage devices, and makes them easier to email. 
Windows XP and 2003 has built-in zipping capabilities which allow you to create (zip) and extract (unzip) compressed files, no matter how they were created.

To create a zipped file:

• Using “Windows Explorer” or “My Computer”, navigate to the folder containing the file and folder to be zipped.
• Right-click in an open area (blank area) of your screen, or use “File/New/Compressed (zipped) Folder.

- OR -

• From the pop-up menu, select the “New/Compressed (zipped) Folder” command from the file menu
  
• Rename the folder with the same name as your file (keeping the “.zip” at the end of the file name)
  
• Drag and drop files or folders into the zipped folder

To extract a zipped file (or unzip the file):
• While viewing the contents of a zipped file, click on the folder or file, then use “File/Extract All”.  This will launch the “Compressed (zipped) Folders Extraction Wizard”
• The “Extraction Wizard” will take you through the process of unzipping the folder
        *If you don’t have WinXP or 2003, you can download a free utility  
          (ZipCentral) to use to compress your files from: 
      http://www.dist.maricopa.edu/training/pdf/zipcentral_download.pdf