How to Unzip a ZIP File in XP
A zipped folder is an archive containing files that have been compressed. Many websites provide downloads as ZIP files, instead of the actual files, to reduce download time and stress on the server. Although you can preview the contents of these archives, you cannot access the actual files without decompressing them. Since the release of Windows XP, Microsoft has included the capability to decompress, or "unzip," these files without installing any additional software.
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Instructions
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Right-click on a zipped archive and choose "Extract All" to unpack the entire archive.
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Specify the extraction location when prompted.
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Click "Extract" to unzip the folder. Windows opens the extracted folder in a new window.
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Tips & Warnings
You can double-click on the zipped folder to open it and preview the contents. Click and drag the contained files to a new location, such as your desktop, to unzip individual files. You can then double-click on the unzipped files to access them.
Not all archives use the ZIP format. If you are unable to unzip an archive that uses a different compression format, you may have to download a program such as WinZip or WinRAR.
