Where to download a zip archiver for windows 7. Open the ZIP archive

An archive is simply one file in which other files are compressed to make it smaller. overall size. If you still sigh when you receive another file in a ZIP, RAR, 7-Zip or any other archive, then this article is for you.

For those who like to watch, I’m posting a video:

The easiest way to extract a ZIP archive

ZIP archives are regular files with the extension ".zip". In fact, you don’t need any programs to simply unzip files from ZIP; everything is already built into Windows Explorer 7/8/10. Just click right click by file and select “Extract all...” from the menu.

A dialog box will appear where you will need to specify the path to unpack the files, or leave it as default (current folder). As you can see, in the example I have a “Checklist.zip” file with a zipped Word document.

If you leave the “Show extracted files” checkbox enabled, then at the end of the unzipping procedure, another Explorer window will open with a new folder open. Or you can not unpack the files at all, but go into the archive like a regular folder and open the desired file from there.

How to unpack RAR archive

Unfortunately, Explorer cannot work with RAR files. For them you need to install one of the programs that will be discussed. The free program 7-Zip has long established itself as a simple and free archiver. Can unpack files 7z, zip, rar and others.

Using the program is almost as simple, just right-click on the file and select one of the items from the “7-Zip” submenu:

  • “Unpack” – to open the extraction dialog
  • “Extract here” – to simply extract the files to the current directory
  • “Extract to “Folder Name” - extract files to a folder with the archive name (I recommend)

The simplest are the second and third options, because... do not require any further action. If you select the first option, the following dialog will appear:

Here we can specify our path for the files. If you select the “No paths” option, then all files from the archive will be in one heap, without subfolders. The “Overwrite” parameter is responsible for the mode of overwriting existing files. By default, the program will ask about each such file.

You can extract files not only from the right-click menu. If you double-click on the file, it will open in the 7-Zip program window. To unzip files, simply select them and click the "Extract" button

Alternative free method - Hamster Lite Archiver

I also want to introduce you to one newfangled program Hamster Lite Archiver. It is even simpler, free and has a modern interface. After installing it, new items also appear in the Explorer context menu. To unpack a rar or zip archive, right-click on it and select one of the options:

  • Extract files… - opens a dialog window
  • Extract Here – extracts files into the current folder
  • Extract to “Folder name” - unzip to folder

Although the points context menu in English, the program itself is in Russian. Apparently we haven’t gotten around to translating these points yet, but by the time you read this article the situation may have already improved. The dialogue looks like this:

Universal program WinRAR

The WinRAR program is very widely used for working with RAR archives, I only use it. The program is possible. Look immediately for the Russian version in the list. Installing WinRAR It’s very easy, just click “Next” all the time. The program is paid, but with a trial period of 40 days. After graduation trial period WinRAR continues to work, but it starts to bother me with a window reminding me about the license every time I start it.

To unpack a RAR file, or any other archive, just right-click on the file and select one of the options:

  • Extract files... - the unpacking dialog will open
  • Extract to current folder – contents will appear in the current folder
  • Extract to "folder name" - unzip the contents into new folder with the archive name (I recommend)

The most simple options this is the second and third. If you select the first option, a dialog will appear in which you can specify the specific path where your files will be placed and a few more parameters:

Update Mode:

  • Extract with file replacement - if the folder already contains the same files as in the archive, then they will be replaced with new ones
  • Extract with file update is the same, but only older files will be replaced
  • Update only existing files– only the update will occur, the remaining files will not be extracted.

The “Overwrite mode” items are responsible for the behavior of the program when replacing existing files.

Using this dialog, you can unpack a damaged or incomplete archive. By default, if a file has an error, it will not be unpacked. If you check the “Leave damaged files on disk” checkbox, then the damaged archive will be partially unpacked. If it is a video or music, then it can be opened. But, of course, the completeness of the resulting file will depend on the degree of damage to the archive.

You can also unpack files from the window WinRAR programs. To do this, it is enough to select necessary files and click on any of the buttons: “Extract...” or “Master”.

WinRar will also help you organize a backup of your information.

Please note that after installing any of the listed programs, standard item The "Extract..." menu for ZIP archives may disappear from Windows Explorer.

How to unpack a multi-volume archive

Multi-volume archives are created to split one huge archive into several small ones. In this case, there will be numbers at the end of the file names, for example.z01, .z02, .z03 or part1, part2, part 3 or 001, 002, 003, etc. To unpack this multi-volume archive you will need ALL the parts, otherwise nothing good will come of it. The unpacking process itself is no different from the usual one.

You just need to unzip the first file from the list in the usual way, and the rest will be picked up automatically.

If, in addition to the numbered parts, there is also a “regular” archive, then it is this file that needs to be unpacked, it is the main one.

note that multi-volume ZIP archives created by WinRAR can only be unpacked by the same program! Other programs give an error and even if you crack! And vice versa, WinRAR does not understand multi-volume files created by other programs.

Conclusions:

So, you can extract files from zip, rar, 7z archives using Windows Explorer (ZIP only) or using the free programs 7-Zip and Hamster Lite Archiver, as well as using paid program WinRAR. Choose a method that is convenient for you and use it for your health!

Imagine how grateful your friends will be if you share this information with them in in social networks! By the way, you can also create your own archives using these programs.

One of the most important programs, in my opinion, is a program that allows you to archive and unarchive files. Especially for a novice PC user, of these two options, most of them need to be unzipped. And in this post we will look at free archiver 7-Zip.

Archivers allow you to compress data so that it takes up less space on your computer. And especially now, archivers are used if you need to transfer any files over the Internet, in order to reduce the size or weight of the transferred files as much as possible.

Typically, files packed by archivers have a designation (extension) that looks like this at the end of the file name: .rar or .zip.

So, if you have a file with one of these extensions and when you click on this file, it does not open for you, it means that you do not have the archiver installed.

One of the most common paid archivers is WinRar, whose free period of use ends in a month (or a little more). For example, it allows you to both archive and unarchive rar files or zip.

And the most popular free archiver: 7-Zip.

7-Zip does not pack files into rar, but packs, among other things, in zip files that WinRar can also open.

7-Zip can unzip rar or zip files, including those that were packed with WinRar.

Therefore, I think that for novice PC users, and most experienced users, this 7-Zip archiver is quite suitable.

Installation and review of the free 7-Zip archiver.

The 7-Zip installation process itself is very simple. When you launch the program downloaded above, the following window will appear:

By default the folder is created 7-Zip V shared folder Program Files(on the computer hard drive where the operating system is installed). You don't have to change anything here. Just click on the button Install and in the window that appears, click on the button Finish.

All! Ready! Let's move on to using the archiver.

Using the 7-Zip archiver

Using 7-Zip is also easy.

Unpacking compressed files in 7-Zip

Let's say you have a file that is packed with some archiver.

On your computer, this archive file will look something like this: or like this:

Since you already have 7-Zip installed, when you click on this file with the left mouse button (double click), this file will open. Everything is fine!

If you need to unpack this file, then when you right-click on it, you will see extra menu choice of actions.

Find the 7-Zip line. When you hover, another submenu will open with a choice of actions. I recommend choosing: Unpack to “File Name”.

Thus, a folder is created with the name of the packed file, and all files that were packed by the archiver are unpacked into this folder.

Compressing files with 7-Zip

Let's consider the same situation, only now you need to compress the file or folder with files.

Also right-click on a folder or file. Just now choose: Add to “File name.zip”. The result is an archive (packed file or folder with files).

If desired, the resulting archive can be renamed by also right-clicking on it and selecting the function: Rename.

Please note that you also have the option to choose: Add to “File name.7z”. Extension .7z This is a type of archiving that belongs directly to the 7-Zip program and packed files with this extension are intended for opening these files, also with the same program.

This means that if you pack files with your 7-Zip program with the extension .7z In order to give this archive to someone, then for that user to open this file, he must also have the 7-Zip archiver installed.

And since not 100% of users use this program, I recommend packaging files so that the extension is .zip(as shown in the picture earlier). This way you will be sure that the person to whom you are sending this file will open it (if he has another archiver installed).

To solve this problem, go to the menu Start-> 7-Zip-> as shown in the picture:

There in the tab Language select again Russian language(even if it is already selected), click Apply, and then OK:

Reboot the computer for the settings to apply to the context menu.

Updating the 7-Zip program

The program version described in this note is 9.20. And it is sufficient for the tasks described above (and not only). But developers improve its functionality from time to time.

If you want to download the most latest version, you can do this on the 7-Zip program website.

To summarize: Archivers are used to reduce file size. If any file with the extension .rar or .zip does not open, then install an archiver for yourself. The 7-Zip featured in this post is great. free alternative paid analogue WinRar.

Unpack the files into a folder as shown in the picture and, if you need to give the archive to someone, pack it with the .zip extension.

In addition to archiving itself, 7Zip can encrypt compressed data. For this, a reliable 256-bit algorithm is used AES encryption. The program is free to download and is distributed with open source source codes. Download 7Zip free for windows 7. The program has a simple Russified GUI user.

Creating an archive

7z archiver supports several data archiving formats, so there is a choice required format archive. By default, the program uses its own format – 7z. It is he who provides best quality compression. ZIP and TAR formats can also be used.

If you need to restrict access to the archive, you can protect its contents with a password. To ensure a higher degree of data protection, the program can encrypt file names, which will not allow you to guess their contents by name.

Extracting files from an archive

To extract files from the archive, you need to select in the main window of the 7Zip program required archive or a file in the archive and use the button Extract or the menu command file 7 –zip Unpack (if instead of the Unpack command you select Unzip here, the program will automatically unpack the archive into the current folder)

Performance test

7Zip contains a built-in test of computer performance when archiving data. To run the test, you must use the menu item Service - Performance testing. After selection of this paragraph menu, the PC testing window will appear. By default, the program itself correctly determines the number of cores and threads in your installed processor. The developers of 7Zip for Windows 7 recommend running a performance test immediately after installing the program in order to be sure of its functionality on this computer.

7-Zip - a popular version of the archiver for the operating room Windows systems with increased compression rates. It is the leader among a family of paid and free programs.

TO distinctive features This archiver needs to be attributed to the fact that it supports 265-bit AES encryption. Can work with popular RAR archives, including RAR 3, CAB and ZIP. On any specialized website you can download the 7-zip archiver for free.

7z archiver

In general, this archiver provides the following features:

  • supports decompression formats: CAB, MSI, DEB, ZIP, 7z, Z, RAR, ARJ, LZH, CHM, GZIP, WIM, TAR, CPIO, RPM, ISO, NSIS, RPM, BZIP2;
  • supports formats ZIP archiving, 7z, BZIP2, GZIP and TAR;
  • shows the highest compression ratio in 7z format with LZMA compression;
  • compresses GZIP and ZIP formats 2–10% more than WinZip and PKZip;
  • 7-Zip archiver provides the ability to encrypt archives;
  • has a built-in file manager;
  • integrated into Windows;
  • has a plugin for FAR Manager, as well as in Total Commander,Windows Shell;
  • work with command line with advanced capabilities;
  • has multilingual support, the archiver is translated into 74 languages ​​(you need to download 7 Zip rus);

Just download the 7-Zip archiver and you will have access to excellent software with open source with mixed GNU license LGPL, unRAR is closed. It is free to download without any hidden fees, but there is also the possibility of volunteering to help the project.

The versatility of the archiver and free delivery imply its popularity. For effective use All you need to do is download the 7z archiver and install it on your computer. In 99% of cases, the provided formats are sufficient for successful work with archives.

Strong 256-bit encryption allows it to be used in secret archives or, if desired, to pack an archive with high degree compression. For maximum compression You can use a proprietary format. The archiver’s capabilities complement each other well and confidently place it in a leading position in the ranking of paid and free archiver programs. The project is developing quite rapidly, which means regular updates that are available to users. It is expected that the 7 Zip project will in the near future maintain its leading position and promote new format 7z.

ZIP is an archive file format used to losslessly compress one or more files. It was created in 1989 to replace ARC compression.

What's in .ZIP files

A ZIP file, like other archives, is a collection of one or more files and/or folders, collected into one file for easy sharing.

ZIP format(not only supports various methods compression, but also archives files without changing them. ZIP files - best option, when it is not possible to send several files (or an entire folder) at once, and they take up less space, so you can additionally add other documents to the attachment. Today this is the most popular archive format.

The most common use of ZIP files is to append software to the website. This saves space on the server, reduces the time required to download it to a computer, and hundreds program files thus will be supplied complete with the installer.

Another example is loading or sharing dozens of photographs. Instead of sending each image by e-mail or saving one by one from the site, the sender can place the files in a ZIP archive for easier transfer.

How to open a .ZIP file

The easiest way to open a ZIP file is to simply double-click it and let your computer show you the folders and files it contains in Explorer. In the majority operating systems, including Windows and Mac OS, ZIP files are handled internally, so there is usually no need to install any additional software.

For ZIP creation and data encryption is used special applications- archivers. PeaZip And 7-Zip- these are excellent and absolutely free programs, with which you can work with ZIP format. The most popular archiver is WinRAR.

The ZIP file will also open on most mobile devices. iOS users install for free iZip, and owners of Android devices have the opportunity to work with ZIP files using B1 Archiver or 7Zipper.