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  Archive files are packages that contain other files.
  The files inside an archive file are usually compressed so that the archive file takes up less space than the total space which would be required by the files it contains if they were not archived.
  After you download an archive file, you may have to run the appropriate archive program (the program which created the archive file in the first place), in order to un-archive the files inside. When the files are unarchived, you will be left with: 1) The original archive, and 2) A copy of each file within the archive. Note that the original archive is left intact, so you can move it to another location for long-term storage, and unarchive it again as many times as you want.

   There are basically two kinds of archive files:

  Non-Self-Extracting Archive Files

To get at the files inside, you have to run the appropriate archive program.

  Self-Extracting Archive Files

This type of archive usually has a file type of .exe and it will unarchive itself when you click on it or run it.

   The most popular archive format for Microsoft Windows-based computers is the ".zip" format.
Archives created in this format will have ".zip" or ".exe" as part of their file name. There are many free or "shareware" programs which will archive & unarchive in this format. One of the most popular is called WinZip, and you can download that program from here (see the table below).

1.) If you don't already have the WinZip program, download it by clicking on the link in the right-hand column below. As explained above, you don't even need this program if you want to unarchive a self-extracting archive that has its own .exe file type, but you will need it for files that end in ".zip", so you might as well install it now.
  The Winzip program comes in its own self-extracting and self- installing archive file, which has an .exe file ending. To install it, just download it & double click on it. It will then unarchive itself & take you through its installation procedure.

2.) After you have the WinZip program installed, you can unarchive any archived file by copying the archive file to an empty directory, and then double clicking on the name of the file that you want to unarchive.

  Downloading a file from your internet browser is easy. Just point & click on the link for the file you want to download. A box should pop up asking if you want to open the file or save it to disk. Indicate that you want to save the file, then indicate the directory on your hard drive where you want to save the file. You can save the file with the name it comes with, or indicate a new name. Downloading should begin, and download progress should be indicated as the download continues. When the download completes, go to the directory on your hard disk where you saved the file.