1. A method in a data processing system of installing a set of particular files contained in a compressed archive of a plurality of files, the method comprising: decompressing the set of particular files; and installing the set of particular files from the compressed archive into a memory of a data processing system by using an index associated with the compressed archive and a configuration logic section associated with the compressed archive, said index containing the locations of files within the compressed archive and said configuration logic section adapted to allow an installation program to determine which files among the plurality of files should constitute the set of particular files.