How to make a .zip file on Windows PC's

• On Windows 7 machines:
   
  1. Start Windows Explorer (if you're not sure how to do this:  usually, there will be a yellow folder icon on the toolbar on the bottom of your screen:
     
     
     
     Click on this icon. If you don't see a yellow folder icon, then right-click on the Start button and select "Open Windows Explorer":
     
     
      
  2. Navigate to the folder that contains the files you want to place into your zip file.
  3. Move your cursor to an area of empty white space in the Windows Explorer window so that no file or folder is selected.
     
     
      
  4. Right-click your mouse. Select New... and then "Compressed (zipped) folder". A new zip icon or file will appear, depending on how you are viewing your folder:
     
     
     
     NOTE:  Even though it calls itself a "folder", it's really a single compressed FILE that you can upload or download, etc. as if it were a single file.
      
  5. At the time you create the new zip folder, the folder name will be highlighted.  You can enter a new name for the folder at this time, or do so later.
  6. To add files (or even complete folders) to the new zipped folder, simply drag it into the zip file. Repeat this process for each file/folder that you want to include in the zip folder.  
  7. If you've not already done so, rename the zip folder to something that makes sense to you (but don't change the .zip extension!).

• On (older) Windows XP machines:
   
  1. Start Windows Explorer (right-click the Start button, then choose Explore):
     
     
      
  2. Follow steps 2-7 above.