Repair Windows XP Cannot Open ZIP Files

“Few days back, I downloaded a ZIP file from internet. When I try to open it in Windows XP, it displayed an error message saying as ' cannot open ZIP files'. How to open this ZIP file on Windows XP computer, can anyone suggest me a solution for this ZIP file issue? Awaiting for suggestions...”

The best software used to compress large file is WinZip. ZIP is a popular archive file format used to share data over internet. However, sometimes when you try to open ZIP file on Windows XP system, it might display an error message and stops you from accessing data compressed in it. This usually happens when ZIP file is corrupted due to different reasons and one is specified above. There are many other reasons where compressed ZIP file will not access or open by WinZip.

Few common scenarios are listed below:

  • Incorrect compression technique can cause corruption of ZIP file structure making it to display cannot open ZIP files error on Windows XP system
  • ZIP file header can get corrupted due to incomplete transfer or download process and it may refuse to open in Windows XP system
  • Changing ZIP file extension from one format to another can result in damage of ZIP file
  • While downloading Zip file if there is no enough space on Windows XP hard drive to save the extracted files, then it may leads to corruption of Zip files

Sometimes you can solve these above mentioned issues using manual methods as given here:

Method 1:

  • Click on Start menu
  • Click on Run option from Start menu
  • When dialog box opens, enter 'regsvr32 %windir%\system32\zipfldr.dll' in open field
  • After typing, click on Ok. This will enable built-in ZIP support for your computer
  • Then Restart your system

Method 2:

  • Click on file
  • On Home Tab select Properties and Open it
  • Next, on General Tab it must be set to Open with: File Explorer
  • If not change it to files explorer
  • At bottom is Security. Click UNBLOCK
  • Click on Ok
  • On selected file, go to Extract next to View tab
  • And Click Extract All

If these methods do not work, then you start worrying. Don't get disappointed, when Windows XP cannot open ZIP files, you can fix it using reliable ZIP repair software.

ZIP file repair utility:

Yodot ZIP Repair tool assists the user to fix damaged ZIP file when Windows XP cannot open ZIP files. This tool recovers inaccessible content from corrupt ZIP file by fixing all sorts of errors with the archive. It has friendly and interactive interface so that user with less technical knowledge can fix inaccessible ZIP files without taking anyone’s help. And it can even fix password protected, incompletely downloaded and damaged ZIPX files. Along with Windows XP, this app is compatible on both 32 and 64 bit computer operating systems including Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1, Windows Vista, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003 and Windows 2008 to fix corrupt ZIP / ZIPX files irrespective of reason behind its error. Moreover, it is provided with an option to save your fixed ZIP files to desired specific location.

Steps to fix error ZIP files:

  • Download and install Yodot Zip Repair program on Windows XP computer
  • Run the repair tool and follow the instructions present on screen
  • Browse and select error ZIP file that you want to repair
  • Now the tool initiates to scan the selected ZIP archive
  • You can view the repair process in the progress bar
  • After completion of scanning process, you will get a window displaying that ZIP file is successfully repaired
  • Now you can verify your data from repaired ZIP file
  • At last, you can save the repaired ZIP file to desired destination location using 'Save' option

Golden Points:

  • Don’t use unauthenticated compression technique to compress ZIP files
  • Take regular back up of all important ZIP files

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