Windows 7 – Can’t save images in ZIP folders

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Problem

By default, Windows 7 uses the “Windows Picture and Fax Viewer” application for opening images and “File Explorer” for opening ZIP files.

Neither are particularly good at what they do – but for the most part they are adequate.

However, a weird combination of these two results in not being able to save images opened from ZIP files.

If you have a ZIP file with images – you open the ZIP then the images, the ‘Make a Copy’ option which would normally save the image is greyed out.

Solution

This is one of those situations where there is no fix – only a workaround.

To be able to save images this way you need to either use another image program or ZIP program.

Option 1: Install 7-Zip and assign to ZIP files

  1. Download and install 7-Zip
  2. In the Start menu you’ll find ‘7-Zip File Manager’
  3. Open it
  4. Open the ‘Tools’ -> ‘Options’ menu
  6. In the ‘System’ tab, click where ‘zip’ and ‘All users’ intersects.
  8. The ZIP file will now open using 7-Zip. The ‘Make a Copy’ option will now work.

Option 2: Install paint.net and assign to image files

  1. Download and install paint.net
  2. In the start menu, search for ‘change the file type’ and open it when it appears in the list
  4. Under the ‘Name’ column, find and double click on ‘.bmp’ 
  5. From the list of programs, click on ‘paint.net’ and click ‘OK’
  7. Repeat for other image types – 
    1. .jpg
    2. .jpe
    3. .jpeg
    4. .png
  8. The image files will now open using paint.net. You can save copies using the File – > Save as menu in paint.net.