Password Protect a compressed zip file in Windows Vista

[Guest]

How does one password protect a compressed zip file in Windows Vista?
This was an option in Windows XP, but now it seems to be missing from
Windows Vista options......

 

[Michael]

Vista no longer password protects its zip files (it will unzip a password
protected zip however).

Michael

 

[Guest]

How is an administrator supposed to submit virus samples to Virus Protection
companies without having to use third party software then?

 

[Guest]

Please see this article.

http://vil.nai.com/vil/submit-sample.aspx

One should not have to purchase third party software on a new OS when it was
included in the predecessor.

 

[David B.]

One should if the feature was removed from the new OS.

 

[Guest]

Pitiful reply...

One should if the feature was removed from the new OS.

--

----
Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375
How to Post http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
_________________________________________________________________________________

 

[David B.]

Not more pitiful than yours, why does one think that just because a feature
used to be there, that if it is removed they are entitled to it for free?

 

[Andrew McLaren]

How is an administrator supposed to submit virus samples to Virus
Protection
companies without having to use third party software then?

This is somewhat apochryphal, but ... I believe the reason the password
protection feature was withdrwn in Vista was that the quality of the
password security was actually pretty poor. I don't remember which algorithm
it used, but it was easily hacked. It did not meet the security standards
Microsoft required for Vista. So, it was judged better to have no password
at all, than to create an erroneous illusion of security, by providing weak
password protection. There were some complications about adding a strong
password facility to the zip compression - I am not sure what they were,
but possibly revolving around the fact Microsoft licenses the Zip code from
a 3rd party. But that's just a guess.

Maybe it was a good decison, maybe bad. But there was a rationale behind it;
it wasn't just a "screw the customers" moment.

There are several inexpensive 3rd party apps to create password-protected
Zip files.

 

[Rick Rogers]

One doesn't. A decision was made to remove that feature, so the only option
you have is to use a third party program to fulfill that requirement. I
don't disagree that it's inconvenient, but that's the only answer that there
is.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[Guest]

RE: "it wasn't just a "screw the customers" moment"

MS needs to focus not on intention, but on results and impact.

Example: McAfee requires a password protected zip file if writing about a
potential virus. I needed to send them a file. BUT, what seemed simple has
now turned into a 1/2 hour production.

One more example of Vista hindering doing what used to be quick and simple,
and requiring one to spend time searching for solutions and alternatives and
work arounds.

Why even include a zip compression program if it can't do the basics?

I don't question your intent. But I do wish that MS developers would gain
more understanding about users — and the time required to do what used to be
so easy.

 

[Andrew McLaren]

I don't question your intent.

Well, when you say "your" ... do you mean *me*? Hey, it wasn't my idea. I'm
not a Microsoft employee, or contractor, and they never asked my opinion.

I'm just a simple MVP, relaying info I heard at a few briefings and stuff.

But I do wish that MS developers would gain
more understanding about users - and the time required to do what used to
be
so easy.

I agree with you about this, 120%!

 

[Guest]

Andrew,

Sorry for seeming to imply that your = you.

I was confused, since it sounded like you were supportive of their decision
when you said: "But there was a rationale behind it; it wasn't just a 'screw
the customers"' moment.

They may not intend to, but all too often, they do screw the customers.
Their not realizing it is what's so disturbing.

It occurs to me now that beta testing may have some flaws. The testers
probably are not a valid sample of most users. People who test may skew
toward those who are tech savvy and have access to power machines. If so, my
theory is that MS tests + beta tests do not reflect the real world.

I was just having another Vista moment. I've traveled with MS from DOS
through each operating system. I find Vista to be the most major "screw the
customer" system. Because they assume that we all have all the hours needed
to unlearn old habits, learn new ones, maneuver through the worst Help system
yet, find out that basic functions are no longer available. and so on.

Anyway, I know that you are you, not them!

Aaron

 

[Andrew McLaren]

Cool! Thanks Aaron; sounds like we're in broad agreement. I know
Microsoft did extensive user testing during Vista development - but then,
there are the moments when I want to hurl Vista out the freakin' window
(sic), in anger and frustration. So all that usability testing seems to have
skipped over some issues ...

Cheers
Andrew

 

[Ian Betts]

Andrew,

Sorry for seeming to imply that your = you.

I was confused, since it sounded like you were supportive of their
decision
when you said: "But there was a rationale behind it; it wasn't just a
'screw
the customers"' moment.

They may not intend to, but all too often, they do screw the customers.
Their not realizing it is what's so disturbing.

It occurs to me now that beta testing may have some flaws. The testers
probably are not a valid sample of most users. People who test may skew
toward those who are tech savvy and have access to power machines. If so,
my
theory is that MS tests + beta tests do not reflect the real world.

I was just having another Vista moment. I've traveled with MS from DOS
through each operating system. I find Vista to be the most major "screw
the
customer" system. Because they assume that we all have all the hours
needed
to unlearn old habits, learn new ones, maneuver through the worst Help
system
yet, find out that basic functions are no longer available. and so on.

Anyway, I know that you are you, not them!

Aaron

I'm a beta tester and I am just a retired user of home computers. Have been
for 35 years so perhaps that is why they chose me and many of the other I
know. We are all ordinary users.