• What Is Compressed Zipped Folder
• Compressed Zipped Folder Error
• Open Compressed Zipped Folder
• Windows 7 Compressed Zip Folder Password Protect

Feb 20, 2017  So I am trying to figure out how to password protect a zip file using the built in zipping utility in windows 7. In windows xp and vista once you have created a zipped file you open the file and select fileadd password. Jan 31, 2012  I get the same results when I create a compressed folder on the desktop. General Discussion: New Folders always compressed.zip I'm running Windows 7 Ultimate x64. Whenever I right click on the desktop to create a new folder, I am only ever given the. Dec 24, 2015  Windows 10 has suddenly stopped allowing me to zip files together in a file explorer window. I select the files, then right click, expecting to see the 'send to' options in my shell:sendto folder (Bluetooth device, Bluetooth, Compressed (zipped) folder, Desktop (create shortcut), Documents, Fax recipient, Mail recipient).

Yesterday, when I was trying to copy some files to my new microSD card (that I was eventually going to use in my smartphone), Windows 10 suddenly threw up the “Compressed (Zipped) Folders” error. This error read – “Please insert the last disk of the Multi-Volume set and click OK to continue”. This caused the file copying process in the middle and I had to take the microSD card out of my notebook computer forcibly. When I attached it again, another similar error window opened up.

After some analysis of the situation I figured out that the error was caused because I was copying the ZIP files to the SD card and the file copying was interrupted in the middle.

To resolve and prevent this error, you can follow these steps:

1. Reinstall the USB drivers once again
The device drivers responsible for the smooth file transfer between various storage devices through your USB ports may become corrupt. You need to reinstall them. You can do this simply by opening up the Device Manager (to open it, press Win+X hotkey, then select Device Manager from the menu) and then right-click on the USB controllers one by one and choose Uninstall. Make sure you have a PS/2 mouse to work your computer with or it will become unresponsive.

2. Clean motherboard and connectors
Cleaning the inside of your computer keeps it running smoothly. As far as USB storage devices are concerned, a heavy layer of dust over USB connectors and motherboard can reduce its performance and can make it unreliable. You can use a soft paint brush to remove the dust and then use an isopropyl alcohol spray can to sanitize the motherboard and all the USB ports as well as the connectors.

3. Use a third party file manager to copy files
Apparently this error is shown because of the inbuilt compressed folders feature in Windows File Explorer. You can perhaps minimize the possibility of this error by installing third party software like 7-Zip, WinRar or PeaZip in Windows. But if you are not averse to the use of third party file managers, then it is better to use them to completely prevent this error. There are many third party file managers available like Midnight Commander or Far Manager.

4. Format the USB storage device that caused this error
This error could also indicate some issues with the file system of the USB storage device (in my case the microSD card). So it is wise idea to backup the files from your storage device and format it before reattaching it once again to your PC.

I hope these tips can prevent and eliminate the “Compressed (Zipped) Folders” error in your Windows PC. If it still continues to haunt you, then you can always restore the PC to a previous state.

What Is Compressed Zipped Folder

Users who had used now “half-dead” Windows XP operating system before switching to Windows 10/8/7 have probably observed that in Windows 7 and above versions one cannot create a zip file with password without the help of third-party utilities.

In Windows XP (not sure if the feature was present in Vista), we could create a zip file and lock up it with a password by right-clicking on a zip file and then clicking Add a password option. In short, we didn’t need a third-party file compressing utility like 7-Zip in order to create a password protected zip file in Windows XP.

Even though Windows 10, Windows 8 and Windows 7 allow you create a zip file, you can’t create a zip file with password without the help of third-party tools.

Luckily, there are plenty of free tools out there to create a password protected zip file. In this guide, we will show you how you can use two popular tools WinRAR and 7-Zip (free) to create a zip file with password.

Using 7-Zip to create a zip file with password

IMPORTANT: If you use the 7-Zip to extract a password protected ZIP file, it won’t ask for the password to view the content of the archive. However, it won’t let you open or view files inside the archive without entering the password.

Step 1: If 7-Zip isn’t already installed, visit this page to download the same and then run the setup file to get it installed. As you likely know, 7-Zip is a free software. Separate setup file available for both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows at the download page. If you’re not sure what to download, download the one available for 32-bit.

Step 2: Now that 7-Zip is installed, right-click on the file that you would to create an archive and add password protection, click 7-Zip, and then click Add to archive option. This will open Add to archive dialog.

Step 3: Here, enter a name for your archive (or you can go with the default name), and then select archive format as Zip by clicking the drop down menu next to Archive format.

Step 4: In order to protect it with a password, move to the Encryption section, enter a password, re-enter the same, and finally, click OK button. This zip file will appear in the same folder where your original file is located.

Note that 7-Zip uses ZipCrypto as the default encryption method, but you can choose AES-256 by expanding the drop-down menu next to Encryption method under Encryption section. Also note that 7-Zip doesn’t automatically delete the original after creating an archive out of it. So, if the file is very confidential, you better delete it after creating a password protected archive out of it.

Using WinRAR to create password protected zip file

Step 1: Download WinRAR from here and install the same by double-clicking on the downloaded setup file and then following dead-simple on-screen instructions.

Step 2: Once installed, right-click on the file that you would like to password protect, and click Add to archive option to see Archive name and parameters dialog.

NOTE: If the above mentioned option isn’t appearing in the context menu (right-click), please follow our how to restore missing WinRAR entries guide.

Compressed Zipped Folder Error

Step 3: Here, Enter a name for your archive (password protected file in this case), and select ZIP as archive format. Be sure to select ZIP as archive format as WinRAR uses its .RAR as archive format with default settings.

Open Compressed Zipped Folder

Step 4: Finally, click on the Set password button to enter a password to protect your file. Once entered, re-enter the password for verification before hitting OK button.

Windows 7 Compressed Zip Folder Password Protect

That’s it!