Can't open Zipped files in Windows 7

Hi

what does she use normally for the zip files?

You can use 7-ZIPs, free and very good.

http://www.7-zip.org/Download

What files are those ,and how are they supposed to be open?

Thanks, Wilder and Aboo_s,   I don't want to use a third party program, I want Windows to work correctly, lol.  
She just normally had used the program native to Windows to open the zip files.  They can be any file that was in the zip file, pdf's, xls, doc.  any.  It can come from anyone.  Me sending her a file I zipped in Windows 7, someone using winzip, doesn't matter.  It unzips the files, she clicks and no go.

I never new you could open zip files without a ZIP 3rd party software.

If this is true, i keep learning every day.

But i still think that 7 zip is a good one to have.

Just to start will something many overlook - is your user actually removing the files from the zipped folder?
Because Windows handles zip files like Windows folders I often get people opening the zip and then trying to use the enclosed file while it's still compressed so an .mdb looks as if it should open but Access thinks it's corrupted because it's still inside the .zip.

When you click on the same file with WinZip installed it decompresses and opens the file into a temporary location to work on - Windows doesn't.

I've extracted the files into it's own folder, and still no go :)

Very strange problem. Are you aware if it ever worked? If recently, then use a System Restore. If not available (or it's been too long, or you can't remember if it ever worked), use sfc (system file checker) to see if Windows is still having all original files.

does the have the relevant program installed to open the file contained within the zip folder?

what is the file type of the file in the zip folder?

Any file, zip, doc, xls, etc etc.  any and all types :)

Ed, yes they have those programs.  Kimputer, it did work at some point, but it's been too long to do a system restore. I'm not sure what you mean by:  "to see if Windows is still having all original files. "   ?

do normal zip, doc, xls open up OK?

is it just ones extracted from a zipped up file?   Are you saying that any file type cannot be opened by this user after it has been extracted from the zip file?

Maybe a windows shortcut icon been zipped up instead of the real file?   Does that shortcut point to a network resource that you have access to but the user does not?

yes to normal files open up ok.

It is just ones extracted from a zip file, but only in Windows 7, she is using winzip now, and files extracted into winzip open fine.  I know this seems like a solution, but to the user it is not.  We both want it to work correctly using the W7 zipping capabilities.  She does not like having to open the 3rd party program

No shortcut zipped, and it is not pointing to a network resource :)  

Thanks!

this hotfix might fix the issue

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/981603

Can the files be opened if you open them from within the program that is meant to use them in, for example from LibreOffice Writer use file, Open, then select the file you unzipped? If you can open the file that way, the problem is likely due to file associations being wrong. If it doesn't open then either, try using a different user account. Maybe it is corrupt. If that doesn't help either, open an elevated CMD prompt and run SFC /scannow.

Is said you should use system file checker: see support.microsoft.com/kb/929833

Looks like it was caused by windows update. Roll the system back to before the update was installed.

Read this

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-files/cant-extract-zipped-files-with-windows-7-built-in/eef9ec85-3d48-e011-a756-78e7d160ad4e

Thanks, Ed, rindi and Kim...I will try these suggestions and get back to you! :)

Ed, I don't know when this started to occur, so I don't know when to roll back to.  There would have to be a fix for it, other than rolling back.  Also, in that hotfix you sent me, I get no error messages, that solution doesn't seem to apply to my issue.    

What does the SFC accomplish?

Thanks!

As it says, system file checker. It checks all the files belonging to the Windows OS being original and not tampered with (or corrupted). Since the zip function is built-in, these files will be checked as well.

thanks Kim, I'll try it :)

roll back to before the last windows update. no data will be lost if you do that

Ed, It's been happening a lot longer than the last windows update :)  Months

It sounds like something like an update or virus may have damaged Windows.

Open up an administrator command prompt. if you dont know how, click Start, then enter in the Run box cmd and hold down Ctrl+shift+Enter. In the command prompt type sfc /scannow.

This command will have windows check all its files and replace them if they are damaged.

Try to re-enable the built-in support for windows 7  zip archives

1.Go to Start Menu -> Run.
2.paste the following command and press enter: regsvr32 %windir%\system32\zipfldr.dll
3.Restart Windows and return to a life bound by zip folders!

LOL, thanks Ed.  I will try that first.

I want you to please try something out ,try running any file on customer's computer.
Then simply zip and then unzip it and try again ,does the file now not open!?
This just to clarify where the problem is ,cause it could be the compressing decompressing system or maybe mail transfer issue , so this has to be dubugged.

do file names change after decompressing them?
I would like to understand what the problem is Inorder to try and solve it !

And you take control over customers PC and try those steps yourself!?

If SFC does not work, scan completely for viruses and malware. Then run Windows 7 Repair Install. You need the Windows 7 DVD for this. Here is a Seven Forums tutorial to assist you. The unzip function should return after the repair.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/3413-repair-install.html

I will try that too aboo_s, thanks

Aboo,  I tried that, when I zipped it, and then extracted it and tried to open it, it did not open.

Ed, I could not perform the : 1.Go to Start Menu -> Run.
2.paste the following command and press enter: regsvr32 %windir%\system32\zipfldr.dll
3.Restart Windows and return to a life bound by zip folders!

John, I'm running an SFC now, will see what happens!

the sfc stopped at 62%  and said Windows resource protection could not perform the requested operation.  I guess I should do it in safe mode?

Try that (safe mode) but it is looking like a Repair may be necessary.

I don't think my user has her disks :(

Is there a recovery partition? See if that is available.

If SFC fails, you may also need to run a chkdsk C:\ /f /r to repair the file-system should there be any corruption on it. After that try SFC again.

I think you have a RAM problem!

I would consider changing PC memory chip before proceeding to anything else.
It could also be the Hard Disk but it is less likely!

Hi!  I've been away!  Sorry to not get back.  I will try these solutions and report back! :)
Lisa

Thanks for this additional info.  Nothing had worked.  She was due for a new machine anyway, so the old is gone, lol.  :)