RARs, ZIPs and other IT not-so novelties

I don't understand how it is even remotely possible to not know how to extract a packed archive file nowadays, with all the IT smell in the air, but it seems like people are still having problems with that. So, this is what you have to do:

a) If it's a .zip file then most of MS Windows users shouldn't have a problem - you just double click it and it opens as a catalog. HOWEVER, I strongly advise you to drag it wherever you want to place it, because all the operations you'd make this file undergo (even the simpliest like opening and saving) will take much more time, as this is a compressed (packed) file.

b) If it's a .rar file then Windows OS itself won't help - you need any kind of archive compression software that handles that kind of files. I urge you to have one, because there are lots and lots of files on the Web that are actually packed as .7z or .rar and you need something to open them with.
There are many different programs on the Web that give you this ability. Google for "rar" and choose as you like or try those:
- 7-zip: www.7-zip.org/
- PeaZIP: peazip.sourceforge.net/
- IZArc: www.izarc.org/
As far as I remember they are all freeware. Download it, install, open a file with it and drag the files included in the archive to wherever you want. Done.

If you have any further problems with using any of the software listed above (or any other you'll find), refer to included help files in the program itself or at the company sites.