# Command line unzip / extract in Winxp sp2 **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 27, 2008, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/command-line-unzip-extract-in-winxp-sp2/442970 "2008-03-27T21:24:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2008, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/command-line-unzip-extract-in-winxp-sp2/442970/1 "2008-03-27T21:24:09Z")
Is there a way using the dos prompt or the \*Run… \* option in the Start menu to extract a .zip file to a specific directory. (Assume a fresh install of xp with no additional programs allowed to be installed) Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![Askance](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askance/32/8281_2.png) [@Askance](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askance)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/command-line-unzip-extract-in-winxp-sp2/442970/2 "2008-03-28T01:58:47Z")
A Google for > [@](#): > > zip dos found [http://www.info-zip.org/](http://www.info-zip.org/) ---
**Author:** ![larsenmtl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d78d45/32.png) [@larsenmtl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/larsenmtl)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/command-line-unzip-extract-in-winxp-sp2/442970/3 "2008-03-28T02:11:26Z")
[QUOTE=Folly] Is there a way using the dos prompt or the \*Run… \* option in the Start menu to extract a .zip file to a specific directory. [/QUOTE] I’ve used [7-zip’s](http://www.7-zip.org/) shell integration for years, excellent software. I believe they also have command line exes. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 2:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/command-line-unzip-extract-in-winxp-sp2/442970/4 "2008-03-28T02:25:47Z")
I’m restricted from installing anything. Has to be windows xp only. I was hoping since xp has the ‘compressed folders’ unzip feature built-in that there would be some way to do it from the command line. ---
**Author:** ![DMC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dmc/32/18049_2.png) [@DMC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DMC)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/command-line-unzip-extract-in-winxp-sp2/442970/5 "2008-03-28T03:44:37Z")
Doesn’t EXPAND do what you’re trying to accomplish? ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 4:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/command-line-unzip-extract-in-winxp-sp2/442970/6 "2008-03-28T04:21:04Z")
[QUOTE=DMC] Doesn’t EXPAND do what you’re trying to accomplish? [/QUOTE] That’s only for .cab files. Poking around google, it looks like it’s not possible to do what I wanted. However, If I run the following from _Run…_: rundll32.exe zipfldr.dll,RouteTheCall c: est.zip I can at least get the gui window open and I might be able to use that for my purposes. Will tinker more tomorrow. ---
**Author:** ![Folly](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/folly/32/3219_2.png) [@Folly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Folly)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2008, 4:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/command-line-unzip-extract-in-winxp-sp2/442970/7 "2008-03-28T04:33:04Z")
Ha! All you have to do is run c: est.zip from the \*Run… \* line to do the same thing. How silly of me.