unzipping downloads

Some of the downloadable freeware shows up as a zip file, whatever that really means, and won't open/install. I get a message to choose a program to open the file, which is the end of the process, so far. Nothing on the list: Word, Quicktime, etc. opens such files.

What to do...?

 

What os are you using?

 

Windows 2000 Professional

 

A ZIP-File is a container for files. To access the files within the ZIP file, an application is needed which understands how to access the container. The following applications have been recommended by some:

http://www.tugzip.com/
http://www.izsoft.dir.bg/

 

Or this way.

 

Thanks. I was actually a programmer in the old days (RPG II circa 1980's), but have avoided technology for the last decade and a half. These new (!) windows systems seem arcane and so much is invisible.

Any suggestions for getting up to speed on current PC tech?

 

Think you could crawl into a cave and stay there for 5 years studying Windows, and you would still not know everything about Windows (And what about Linux ?)

What kind of knowledge are you looking for ?
- How the internals of Windows are working together ? (Kernel, Services, Network)
- How to configure Windows ? (User Options, Registry,Security)
- How to maintain Windows ? (Windows Update, Backup, AntiVirus, Firewall)
- How to perform daily tasks in Windows ? (E-Mail, Music, Pictures, Games, etc.)

Some of my favorite websites about Windows

 

A great start, I'm sure. Not having the five years, (that sort of thing is what soured me on programming/tech in the first place), I see from the resources you've posted that I can begin burrowing in and discover what my questions really are. The architecture (old word?) is really first priority. At the time I bowed out, PC's ran with 256K ram.

My system uses Windows NT, and a big concern, re:spy, hack, intrusion stuff, was to find out what was actually running at a given moment. Loaded Zone Alarm, Spyware Blaster and Mc Afee, which seem to help. As I access the system resources/dir info, I expect to see a list of files, and what I get is icons that seems to not describe all that most be going on. Presumably I'll get used to the format...

 

This pretty much describes the Windows Microkernel, the layout haven't changed much with the release of Win2k/WinXP:

http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/ntwrkstn/evaluate/featfunc/kernelwp.mspx

Think the major change from a programmer's perspective is one can run multiple programs at the same time. Because of this several layers have been added to the OS to prevent one from writing directly to the hardware, but instead provide structured access to the hardware. This is done to protect the individual application from the other applications.

The Task Manager [CTRL+SHIFT+ESC] is your friend and will show you the applications currently running.
StartUp.CPL will show you what applications are configured to be launched when your computer starts.
Services.msc will show you what services are configured to launch when your computer starts.

 

Again, thank you. A quick look at Task Manager added a whole 'nother layer of questions. This looks like fun, for the first time since my little brother gave me the infernal laptop.