downloaded 7-zip but my windows xp wont recognise it to open files

loopy_lass

hi

im not the most technically minded, but as my laptop is as slow as a gokwe bus.... so i thought i would zip a few files make em smaller. Now winzip wants money after so long so i downloaded 7-zip. all ok, will zip files but when i come to unzip them it says cannot do and do i want to go on internet to find programme that will do it.???

any ideas ?

loops

bat999

Are you using the 7-zip program to try and unzip them?

davb

If you want to double click a zip file and open with 7zip, then you will need to open 7zip file manager from the start menu, then select tools >options >then on the system tab select what you want to associate.
Otherwise just right mouse click the zip file and use the 7zip context menu.

totalsolutions

A slow PC does not make for faster smaller files go quicker -- IYSWIM. Get a faster PC or tell us what is wrong with the current configuration.

loopy_lass

thanks for your replies, i need to go through them carefully as i say im not a techie... i think the problem with my computer well laptop/notebook is that the memory is full... i thought by zipping some stuff it mite free up some memory?


loops

loopy_lass

ok folks, ive managed to unzip said file by right clicking it, but then it put it somewhere and i couldnt find it... is, as ive read on here jzip a better UI?

loops

b33r

Personally I think Izarc is the easiest to use compression utility, open source too.

loopy_lass

someone told me xp offers a zip folder ... so how come people download other programmes...now im confused... lol

right, ive downloaded jzip before i read above post, now i seem to have this one reasonably sussed out ;-) ... now what is this you say about my computer being slow and why? i think out of 40 whatever it is i have 8 whatever they are left. so once i open say skype i cannot open or use internet .. and so on.

thanks loops

Vibrant

XP does have a pretty good zip/unzip system built in. People use other programs, either because they don't realise how good the XP system is, or they want more features.
Some links that explain the XP zipper:
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q=Compressed+folders+in+Windows+XP&btnG=Search&meta=

Note that using Winzip and 7Zip may have turned off some of the XP zip features, so XP may ask to reassociate zip files, just click ok.

GeoffX

7-ZIP is an excellent choice. Open the 7-Zip File Manager via the Start Menu, click Options on the Tools menu, then click Select All on the System tab. Finally, click OK. That will associate different file archive types with 7-zip.

Personally, I hate XP's zip handling with a passion.

loopy_lass

well thanks everyone, time has now run out for me and i have to shoot... so i will come back on here tomorrow to catch up...many thanks again

loops