Does zip or rar compression damage files?
By gohan2091
@gohan2091 (544)
January 19, 2009 9:20pm CST
Hi,
I sometimes compress video files into zip, rar or 7z format to save myself hard drive space. Over time, I've noticed that some of these video clips have been resized into a smaller screen size (resolution) and are more pixelated than before. However, some video files are ok.
Am I seeing things or does compression methods like these actually damage your files?
3 responses
@saichandtalluri (1486)
• India
20 Jan 09
No, compression method do not degrade the quality the movies acctually compression methods uses special type of encryption and decrease the size of the files but it has no affect on the quality of the file.
@gohan2091 (544)
•
22 Jan 09
Ok, thanks, I am not sure how my video files got a reduction in resolution but I will investigate!
@wanpisu (207)
• Malaysia
20 Jan 09
Compressing you video or data files using Winrar or Winzip will not damage or affect the quality your files. And its kind of weird that your video resolution has been resize to smaller resolution. I guess you re-encode it yourself but didn't remember about it.
@gohan2091 (544)
•
22 Jan 09
Although I do re-encode sometimes, I know I didn't encode these video files. They resized on their own. This is very odd but I will take your word for it that it's not because of WinRAR.
@etavasi (749)
• Malaysia
20 Jan 09
Hi gohan, i use Winzip or Winrar long time ago. I like the concept of compress file so i will get more space. Beside compress i like to use the security password for winzip to lock my document so other people cannot read it. So far from my experience there is no damage in my files. I think more save because virus cannot enter that zip folder that already been lock.
@gohan2091 (544)
•
22 Jan 09
Yes, one of the reasons why I use WinRAR, it's security feature keeps my files safer than if I didn't have a password confirmation box appear.
