Create A Compressed Folder (aka: ZIP File)

Windows XP now has a built-in file and folder compression feature, that allows you to shrink a file's original size. The feature is called 'Compressed Folder', it uses the industrial standard ZIP compression to compress a file. This feature eliminates the need to use a third party ZIP file utility to perform the same function (such as WinZip).

The amount of compression you get will vary from file to file. For example, most video files already use some type of compression, so for the most part they're generally not worth the effort to compress them. On the other hand, I have had large log file that where shrunk to 90% or more of their original size.

• To compress a file or folder, right-click it and select 'Send To' > 'Compressed (zipped) Folder'.