Description of Compressed Folders and Files With .Zip File Extensions in Windows Millennium Edition

When you use Compressed Folders in Windows Millennium Edition (Me), you can create and access compressed files that have the .zip file name extension. This is the same feature that is included in Microsoft Plus! 98, and Compressed Folders is compatible with other Zip programs. Compressed Folders can also secure files and folders by using encryption. When you use this feature, you can restrict access to files by requiring the use of a password.

Installing Compressed Folders

The Compressed Folders feature is not installed by default during a typical installation process. To install Compressed Folders, follow these steps:

1. Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
2. Double-click Add/Remove Programs.
3. Click the Windows Setup tab.
4. Double-click System Tools.
5. Click to select Compressed Folders.
6. Click OK.

Creating Compressed Folders

To create a compressed folder or file, use one of the following methods:

• Double-click My Computer, on the File menu, point to New, and then click Compressed Folder.
• Right-click in any folder or on your desktop, point to New, and then click Compressed Folder.
• Right-click any file or folder, point to Send To, and then click Compressed Folder.

Sharing Compressed Folders

A compressed folder or file cannot be shared directly. Instead, the parent folder of the compressed folder or file must be shared. It is recommended that you maintain the .zip extension of the compressed folder or file if it is to be shared. This allows users with other Zip programs to access the archive, even if they do not have Compressed Folders installed.

When you run an executable file from within the compressed folder or file, the following message appears:

Encrypting and Decrypting Compressed Folders

You can use either of the following procedures to encrypt a compressed folder or file:

• Right-click the compressed folder or file, and then click Encrypt.
• Double-click the compressed folder or file, and then click Encrypt on the File menu.

You can use either of the following procedures to decrypt a compressed folder or file:

• Right-click the compressed folder or file, and then click Decrypt.
• Double-click the compressed folder or file, and then click Decrypt on the File menu.

When you open an encrypted folder, you receive a dialog box prompting you for the password. The password is stored in the .zip archive. If you forget the password, there is no way to retrieve it. If you do not enter a password in the Extract Wizard, you will not be prompted for a password when you open a compressed folder or file.

File Systems

The Compressed Folders feature uses the following system files:

Settings for Compressed Folders in the Registry

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

The following registry key contains the settings for Compressed Folders:

For additional information about working with compressed files in Windows Me, click the article numbers below to view the articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: