Zip file spanning with diskettes

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This article pertains to WinZip 16.5 and earlier. It is being maintained as archived information. When creating a spanned Zip file, you must add all desired files or folders in one operation. Disk spanning is available only when creating a new Zip file. It is not available when adding files to an existing Zip file.

If a Zip file will not fit on a single diskette, WinZip can create a Zip file that spans multiple diskettes.

If you have a computer that supports writing to diskettes, you can just create a Zip file choosing the diskette drive as the Zip file target and add files to the Zip file as you normally would. WinZip will prompt you to insert additional disks as needed.

Here are the steps you would take using the WinZip ribbon interface on Windows 7 or Windows Vista.

  1. Start WinZip and click the Zip My Files button
  2. Find and select files and folders you wish to zip
  3. Click Zip or choose one of the other options in the drop down menu
  4. In the New WinZip File dialog choose the drive (usually drive A) and type a name for your file
  5. You can use the drop down menu next to the file name to change the file type if you wish, then click Create. If more than one disk is needed, you will be prompted for additional disks. Simply insert a new disk and click the OK button.

If you are using Windows XP, an older version of WinZip, or you have changed your interface configuration, you will see the Legacy menus/toolbar interface and should use the steps below. This example shows how to Zip and span the C:\Data folder to a Zip file on the A: drive.

  1. Start WinZip
  2. Open a folder window and "drag and drop" the C:\DATA folder into the WinZip window
  3. In the Add dialog box, type the name of the Zip file you wish to create (A:\Data.zip)
    Note: The drive you specify must use removable, rewritable media such as diskettes.
  4. Click the Add button; if more than one disk is needed, you will be prompted for additional disks. Simply insert a new disk and click the OK button.

Important: Remember that disk spanning is not available when adding files to an existing archive, only when creating a new archive. You cannot add files to or remove files from an existing Zip file that is spanned.

Unzip a spanned Zip file

To unzip a spanned Zip file, first insert the last diskette of the spanned series and open the Zip file using WinZip; this will display the list of files and folders and allow you to extract them. WinZip will prompt you for each diskette as needed to complete the operation.

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