compressed files

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Hi,
I’ve been sent some compressed files that have been zip’d using WinZip (v12) – unfortunately my OEM Windows XP(H) SP3 system’s zip/unzip facility (at least 6 years old) doesn’t seem to recognise the method used and just gives me the ‘file skipped unknown comression method’ error message – I’ve look around for something (free) that’s compatible and have found one called 7-zip and another jzip 1.3 – unfortunately, the ‘free’ tag actually means I have to download other facilities onto my computer in order to get the ‘free’ version – something I’d rather not get into.

Can anyone recommend a suitable, genuinely free, bit of software that will un-zip files that have been compressed using WinZip (v12)?

Thanks,
Keith

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I’ve look around for something (free) that’s compatible and have found one called 7-zip and another jzip 1.3 – unfortunately, the ‘free’ tag actually means I have to download other facilities onto my computer in order to get the ‘free’ version – something I’d rather not get into.

7-zip is genuinely free, if you get it from the source: http://www.7-zip.org/download.html (choose your version from the top table)

That said, the Feb. 2009 release might not be able to decompress WinZip version 12 files that used the new compression. There is a new version of 7-zip in beta if the stable release doesn’t work. (Further down the download page.)

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7-zip is genuinely free, if you get it from the source: http://www.7-zip.org/download.html (choose your version from the top table)

That said, the Feb. 2009 release might not be able to decompress WinZip version 12 files that used the new compression. There is a new version of 7-zip in beta if the stable release doesn’t work. (Further down the download page.)

Thanks John – As you thought, the Feb 2009 wasn’t able to decompress ver 12 files but I downloaded the Beta and that did the trick. pointer much appreciated

Regards,
Keith

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7-zip is… (choose your version from the top table)

What is the difference between x64 and IA-64? The table shows downloads for both.

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What is the difference between x64 and IA-64? The table shows downloads for both.

See x86-64 – Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Joe

--Joe

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What is the difference between x64 and IA-64? The table shows downloads for both.

IA-64 is “Intel Architecture, 64-bit”, the older one. x64 is Microsoft’s term for “Extended 64”, I think (specified by AMD as x86-64 an extension on the x86). It’s used by both Intel and AMD, such as AMD64 and very common.

As for the IA-64, the processor family is called Itanium, and it’s a bit special, think you’ve seen Windows Server OSs for Itanium based systems. They are not backward compatible with (32-bit) x86. See here for example, Microsoft Computing on Itanium: http://www.microsoft.com/servers/64bit/itanium/overview.mspx

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unfortunately, the ‘free’ tag actually means I have to download other facilities onto my computer in order to get the ‘free’ version – something I’d rather not get into.

Can anyone recommend a suitable, genuinely free, bit of software that will un-zip files that have been compressed using WinZip (v12)?

I use WinZip and like it very much. If you have no long term need for a zipping utility , I’d download the 45 day trial. It’s free…for 45 days, and there’s no strings attached.

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I use WinZip and like it very much. If you have no long term need for a zipping utility , I’d download the 45 day trial. It’s free…for 45 days, and there’s no strings attached.

Thanks Mike – I only get zipped files once in a blue moon so I’ll stick with the 7-zip Beta for now. But good to know that WinZip has a no strings 45 day trial – I’ve made a mental note should things go awry with the Beta

Regards,
Keith

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Joe, Argus, thanks for clearing that up for me.

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