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Zip or exe and why? (Read 6343 times)

phoenix77

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Fargo ND

	Zip or exe and why? Apr 8^th, 2007 at 12:56pm I am wondering why so many sites offer both zip formats and exe formats and what advantages are there with using or saving either one of them???
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NightOwl

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Re: Zip or exe and why?
Reply #1 - Apr 8^th, 2007 at 3:03pm

phoenix77

When compressed files were first introduced--if you did not have the software on your system to *unzip* a file, you could not get access to it--so *self extracting* *exe* files were created so you click on it and the files would be extracted to your system so you could use them without having the *zip* handling software present. Most newer *file manager* programs now have built-in native support for compressed zip files.

Also *exe* files can often times include an *install* routine that can be called as part of the extracting of the files if they require being installed. Otherwise, after extracting, you then have to find the install *setup.exe* file to proceed.

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DrWho2006

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Central Florida USA

Re: Zip or exe and why?
Reply #2 - Apr 17^th, 2007 at 4:06pm

A huge drawback to .zip files is that many people don't know what to do with them. Roll Eyes

If the receiving person doesn't have a suitable UNZipping program on their computer, they can never get into the zipped file. Big bummer!

On the other hand, if the file is a self extracting .exe file, they have only to click it to unpack it.
Nothing could be any simpler.

I now prepare all my zipped files with 7Zip which makes preparing a self extracting file so simple even a Cave Man could do it. Grin

7Zip is free, too.

Cheers Mates!
The Doctor Cool

Norton Killer = http://www.symantec.com/symnrt/&&Don't WORK your Computer, Make your Computer WORK for you!&&

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clayco

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	Re: Zip or exe and why? Reply #3 - May 6^th, 2007 at 1:03pm I personally see a ton of .rar files also.
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Rad

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	Re: Zip or exe and why? Reply #4 - May 6^th, 2007 at 2:03pm The good stuff usually comes packaged in .rar files. zip can also make self-extracting files, btw.
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