Help With Compressing Using WINRAR

Ok. This is the program I have for compression.

However, when compressing a folder to a .RAR file, I right click on the folder. However, there seems to be several options to choose from when trying to compress this. They are:

1. Add to Archive...

2. Add to "CD1.rar"

3. Compress and email...

4. Compress to "CD1.rar" and email

Anyway, I tried right clicking all these to hopefully know what's the difference between them. Right clicked the first one, and it was going to begin something, but instead of starting it I just closed it down.

The second option, I also right clicked, and then it immediately began compressing it, and the compression window at the top said "Creating archive CD1.rar"

I'm beginning to think all of these are the same, except that two of the options involve emailing the compressed file.

Is this true? Do all of these option create the same result in the end? I don't really care about the email part, just the compressed file.

Finally, one last question. When something is compressed to a .RAR file, it is obviously taking up less space on the hard drive.

However, when the contents of the compressed file is extracted, it brings out the same folder and its original size as well?

Like lets say I'm compressing a 2 GB folder, and the compressed file is 1.4 GB. If I extracted the compressed file, would a 2 GB folder come out of it, or would the folder be lighter in size?

Thanks a lot in advance.
 

My Computer

Hello,

1: The usual way for "Add to Archive" and "Add to CD1.rar" to work is as follows:

Add to CD1.rar: Compresses the files to a .rar with normal settings, and the same name of the folder(s)/file(s).

Add to Archive: Opens a window asking for options such as encryption method (.rar, .zip, .7z etc.) and file name etc and by how much to compress. Compressing more means less space taken by archive, but longer to compress and decompress. There may be more settings such as algorithm to use, but ignore these (ie leave as default) unless you really know why you need to change them.

Therefore, you can either provide options and settings, in Add to Archive or just use the default settings in Add to CD1.rar. If you do not change any settings in Add to Archive, then the files created by each will be exactly the same.


2: If you extract an archive, then the files will go back to their original size (2GB in your example) and normal files/folders to open and edit in Windows Explorer.

Any more questions, just ask!

Richard
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 420
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 2.50GHz
    Motherboard
    Stock Dell 0TP406
    Memory
    4 gb (DDR2 800) 400MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 3870 (512 MBytes)
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 x Dell 2007FP and 1 x (old) Sonic flat screen
    Screen Resolution
    1600 x 1200 and 1280 x 1204
    Hard Drives
    1 x 640Gb (SATA 300)
    Western Digital: WDC WD6400AAKS-75A7B0

    1 x 1Tb (SATA 600)
    Western Digital: Caviar Black, SATA 6GB/S, 64Mb cache, 8ms
    Western Digital: WDC WD1002FAEX-00Z3A0 ATA Device
    PSU
    Stock PSU - 375W
    Case
    Dell XPS 420
    Cooling
    Stock Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell Bluetooth
    Mouse
    Advent Optical ADE-WG01 (colour change light up)
    Internet Speed
    120 kb/s
    Other Info
    ASUS USB 3.0 5Gbps/SATA 6Gbps - PCI-Express Combo Controller Card (U3S6)
they are so you can send the compressed file by e-mail to someone.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo Thinkpad T400
    CPU
    Intel Mobile Core 2 Duo P8700 @ 2.53GHz
    Motherboard
    LENOVO 64734VM
    Memory
    2.00GB Single-Channel DDR3 @ 531MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel Mobile Intel 4 Series Express Chipset Family
    Sound Card
    Conexant 20561 SmartAudio HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15 inch
    Screen Resolution
    1280 x 800
    Hard Drives
    1x 180GB Intel 530 series SSD
    1 x 120GB Hitachi 5400rmp
    1 x 650GB Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    1x 1Tb Western Digital Elements 5400rpm
    Internet Speed
    Medium for New Zealand
    Other Info
    Weakest part of my computer is the graphics chipset.
    Only ever used a laptop.
    Also use USB Freeview TV Card
    Lenovo Docking Station
    External Speakers
    Other bits a pieces as needed
Sorry,

Options 3 + 4 do the same as one and two, then attach to a blank email ready for emailing.

Richard
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 420
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q9300 2.50GHz
    Motherboard
    Stock Dell 0TP406
    Memory
    4 gb (DDR2 800) 400MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    ATI Radeon HD 3870 (512 MBytes)
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 x Dell 2007FP and 1 x (old) Sonic flat screen
    Screen Resolution
    1600 x 1200 and 1280 x 1204
    Hard Drives
    1 x 640Gb (SATA 300)
    Western Digital: WDC WD6400AAKS-75A7B0

    1 x 1Tb (SATA 600)
    Western Digital: Caviar Black, SATA 6GB/S, 64Mb cache, 8ms
    Western Digital: WDC WD1002FAEX-00Z3A0 ATA Device
    PSU
    Stock PSU - 375W
    Case
    Dell XPS 420
    Cooling
    Stock Fan
    Keyboard
    Dell Bluetooth
    Mouse
    Advent Optical ADE-WG01 (colour change light up)
    Internet Speed
    120 kb/s
    Other Info
    ASUS USB 3.0 5Gbps/SATA 6Gbps - PCI-Express Combo Controller Card (U3S6)
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