How to Extract Files From a Compressed Folder in Windows Explorer

Compressed folders are folders that have been zipped up along with their content to save space on your computer. If you want to view the files inside the compressed folder, you need to extract those files first. This is a simple process that can be done in only a few steps using Windows Explorer.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Windows XP

1. Right-click on top of the "Start" button on the bottom left hand side of your computer to display a shortcut menu. Choose "Explore" from that shortcut menu to open up Windows Explorer.

2. Use the file tree on the left hand side of Windows Explorer to browse to the drive and compressed folder that you want to extract files from. The compressed folder will show up on the right side of Windows Explorer once you have located it.

3. Right-click on top of the compressed folder to display the shortcut menu. Choose "Open With" from the shortcut menu to open the Open With dialog box.

4. Verify that the compressed folder that you want to extract files from is selected in the Open With dialog box.

5. Click the "OK" button to close the Open With dialog box and instruct Windows XP to extract the files from that compressed folder.

6. Locate the files in Windows XP that have been extracted from the compressed folder. They are in the same location as the compressed folder was stored.

7. Close Windows Explorer by clicking "Close" from the File menu.