Need Help-- Free alternatives for Winzip

[ladybegood]

Need recommendations for best Free alternatives for Winzip. Son's honeymoon pictures sent zipped--but my free winzip evaluation has expired.
Thank you

[Markel]

Windows XP has built-in support for standard .zip files.

But 7-Zip (http://www.7-zip.org/) is a free alternative.

[ladybegood]

downloaded 7-zip but must be doing something wrong since even when I try to open the photos with it--keep getting the winzip evaluation countdown. HELP--really frustrated

[mcs328]

Is it possible to download old versions of winzip? The older versions say your evaluation period has ended but you could still use it. The latest version I believe doesn't allow you to use it after the evaluation period ends.

Have you tried looking up the old version? I thin if you google old version software there's a website that keeps old versions of free software.

[Markel]

downloaded 7-zip but must be doing something wrong since even when I try to open the photos with it--keep getting the winzip evaluation countdown. HELP--really frustrated
It sounds like .zip is associated with WinZip, so when you try to open a .zip file WinZip gets invoked. You could try starting 7-zip from the Start menu (or desktop icon) and try opening the zip file with the photos from within 7-zip (if you got the photos in an email, you will have to detach the file first).

[Markel]

Is it possible to download old versions of winzip? The older versions say your evaluation period has ended but you could still use it. The latest version I believe doesn't allow you to use it after the evaluation period ends.

Have you tried looking up the old version? I thin if you google old version software there's a website that keeps old versions of free software.
Older versions are available on the WinZip site:
http://winzip.com/dprob.htm

[Maarchk]

downloaded 7-zip but must be doing something wrong since even when I try to open the photos with it--keep getting the winzip evaluation countdown. HELP--really frustrated

I would reccomend right clicking on the file you wish to open and go to "open with" and select 7-zip. That should use that file. Or the other thing you could do is uninstal winzip and that would definitely take it out of the loop.
Then when you go to open a zip file, it will ask what you wish to open it with and you can select 7-zip and that should make it associate zip files with 7-zip.

[mechmike0034]

Looks and works a lot like WinZip, faster than 7-zip, plus it is free.

www.izarc.org

[ladybegood]

Thanks for everyone's help but still having problems. May relate to my still using AOL.
Took all the Winzip off the computer and installed 7-zip. Most of problem files now listed as .mim(before removal, they were listed as zip files).

Since have Windows XP and 7-zip --thought I should be able to open them. Hate to continue to bother you but should someone--step by step-as if you were explaining to your mother if she were extremely computer unknowledgeable, tell me what to do.

[blueindian]

since you have windows xp, you should be able to right click and then select "extract all" from the context menu that will become visible when you right click.

[gwilks98]

better yet, when you install 7-zip, it installs an option in the right click menu.

Just right click on the file, select 7-zip, and a new menu opens up with options for you.

[Aristo]

Another vote to 7-zip. :)