Cannot Extract Files Windows 10

Data corruption can happen to anyone on any computer at any time because you never know if your important files are being placed at the bad sector of a hard drive. This will cause the file to become incomplete and unreadable. The same thing can happen for a ZIP file where multiple files are compressed into one and all it need is just one corrupted bit to prevent some file archiver in opening and extracting the file. Here is an example of trying to open a corrupted ZIP file from Windows 7 Explorer that says “Windows cannot open the folder. The Compressed (zipped) Folder ‘C:Pathtofile.zip’ is invalid“.

Although it is great that Windows 7 support creating and extracting ZIP files by default without third party software, but it is definitely weak. If you are experiencing problems in extracting a ZIP file, there are some software that can help you to fix them but most of them are shareware that cost money. Here we will introduce 6 working ways to repair the corrupted ZIP file so you can extract it without problems.

Dec 30, 2017 I downloaded Windows 10 yesterday and I have two problems. First, when ever I click on a folder it loads for a second, the screen flashes black then nothing happens. I can't open any file folder at all. I've tried restarting my computer and accessing it via right click Open instead of double. Hi i found a solution I had the same problem, could. 7z files require the appropriate software to open, much like any other file format. Windows comes with the software for certain formats, like zip, built.

DiskInternals ZIP Repair

DiskInternals is a company that specializes in data recovery and they’ve released ZIP Repair as a freeware. It only takes a few clicks to repair the corrupted archive file through the user-friendly wizard. Simply select the corrupted file to recover, the location to save the repaired file and the program shows you the list of files that can be recovered.

Download DiskInternals ZIP Repair

2. Zip2Fix

Zip2Fix recover files from damaged ZIP files by simply extracting the good ones and then zipping it back to a new archive file appending _ZFX at the end of the file name. To use it, run the program, click on the Open button to locate the damaged ZIP/SFX file and it will automatically start scanning for the good files available to repack. Do take note of the installation of adware during setup which can be avoided by unchecking the checkboxes.

Download Zip2Fix

3. Object Fix Zip

Object Fix Zip is a dedicated free tool that attempts to repair corrupted or partially damaged archive file. The whole process involves an easy 4-step wizard style where you add the files to be checked, specify the location to save the repaired file, recovery process and finally exploring the repaired files. This program was last updated on 2008 which makes it a bit obsolete in trying to fix today’s broken archive files. It failed to repair one of our damaged ZIP file that we used in testing but you can still give it a try and it may work for you.

Download Object Fix Zip

If you haven’t notice, some of the file compressor software comes with a built-in tool to repair corrupted ZIP files. After testing a bunch of them, we conclude that only a handful of them really works. Although all of the below archiver software are shareware, but they can be used without limitation other than getting the nag screen when opening the program.

4. PoweArchiver

Run PowerArchiver, click on the Tools tab and select Repair ZIP. The Repair Zip Archive dialog box will open and you can click on the folder icon to browse for the corrupted ZIP file that you want to repair. Click the Start button to start fixing. The fixed ZIP file will be saved under the same file name with an additional _PAFixed.

Download PowerArchiver

5. WinRAR

WinRAR is able to repair ZIP and RAR format. Run WinRAR and select the corrupted ZIP file from the file manager. Once the corrupted ZIP/RAR file is selected, go to Tools and select Repair archive. The repaired file will be saved under a new file with “rebuilt.” appended to the front of the file name.
Download WinRAR

6. ALZip

All you need to do is open the corrupted ZIP file with ALZip. The program will prompt that the file is corrupted and will ask you if you want to restore the file if it can be restored. Just click the Yes button and the restored file will be saved under a new file with .repair appended at the back of the original file name.

Download ALZip

Final Note: The success rate of recovering files from damaged archive files highly depends on the corrupted bit at the affected file. For example, if the corrupted archive file contains only one file, the chances of recovering that single file from the archive is nearly impossible. However if there are a lot of files in a corrupted archive file, you can probably get part of it back if only a small part of the archive file is unreadable.

You might also like:

5 Free Tools to Repair and Preview Corrupted AVI Files5 Ways to Remotely Extract Uploaded ZIP Archives Online6 Ways to View and Extract Content from an MSI File6 Ways to Play Downloaded RAR Video Files Without Unpacking5 Tools to Repair Corrupted JPEG Photos and Images

In my case WinRAR failed to repair but DiskInternals ZIP Repair has repaird the zip successfully, thanks for recommending the software.

sdasd3 months ago

WINRAR!!!! the best.

I hope you guys all BOUGHT WinRar to show support :D

HAL9000 Admin4 months ago

I doubt anybody bought WinRAR just on the basis of this article. ;)

I have tried everything under the sun to open a TGZ archive and NOTHING worked until I tried WinRar. I had literally given up, but found this article and tried it. It worked. Amazing XO

Hassan8 months ago

WINRAR did a fabulous job,
100% recommended

winrar saves the day

Dan11 months ago

All others failed but WinRAR saved the day!!

Bro,Thanks for this blog
its really works me & you r awesome

Ishan1 year ago

This is why you buy winrar – As a developer you have to support then. If you cant afford the full license, send a small donation….every bit helps, especially if it’s helped you in some way (such as save your ass) – just my 2 cents.

DiskInternals ZIP Repair worked fine for me. This article is awesome !!

Corvia2 years ago

Thank you for this post! Winrar saved me

Superb WinRAR

Shams uddin Junejo2 years ago

WinRAR is a great for every archives. In the Repairing field it’s light speed to repair Thank you so much WinRAR for save our lifes….

WinRAR is just amazing .. Recovered a corrupted 25Gigabyte zip file in 30 seconds..

Jeysuke2 years ago

I agree. It recovered mine in less than 15 seconds.

winrar got me #morelife zip folder so helpful

Cannot Extract Files Windows 10 Version

Kelly3 years ago

Thanks for this awesome post!!
One thing,
All these tools are nice, but I prefer to use tools that available online, and one of them is “webzip.co/extract”

WinRAR rocks!

nazir3 years ago

thankssssssssssssss a lotttttttt…
winrar does it for me….

Same, thank you so much! WinRAR worked flawlessly.

Stosh Kowalski4 years ago

I need some help recovering from a total bonehead moment… I don’t deal with zipped files much, and forgetting that Winzip is part of Windows, I received a zipped file and downloaded the free Winzip trial to open it. Right after I realized I already had it, but the stickler was that when the Winzip free trial expired, my built-in Winzip no longer works either… keeps telling me I need to buy it. How do I recover my original Winzip or what should I do to be able to unzip? Thanks for your time and help.

The WinZip program is not part of Windows and never has been so whatever is asking you to buy it is a third party installed program, which you can uninstall using Programs and Features or Add/Remove.

Failing that just install another archiver such as the open source 7-Zip or BandiZip etc.

Windows 10 Cannot Extract Zip Files

Randy Levine4 years ago

I am currently trying to retrieve the completed image files in an incomplete large RAR archive. I am using “RAR Fix Free” and I am surprised as to how long it is taking! … I mean if the RAR archive was complete and had no corruption it would only take a few minutes to extract all the files contained in it…So why then does it take so long to extract the ‘good’ files in an incomplete RAR archive…It doesn’t make much sense…I thought computers work at or near the speed of light, (electricity). … I’m guessing that since this program looks like it was written for computer hardware of the Windows XP era that it doesn’t take advantage of multi-core processing, larger and faster RAM, and among other advancement realities of today.

I can’t believe that the connectedness of bits is only efficient when the RAR is intact…There must be a better way to access the ‘good stuff’ more efficiently when the RAR is incomplete….Why do I need certain bits to be present when I am after other bits?

Programmers aren’t as smart as they look. :)

Thanks a lot! You’re a lifesaver! The Winrar fix works for me :)

Poonam4 years ago

You can also use SysInfoTools ZIP recovery tool, to repair your zip files and fix the files easily.

Great ! IT worked using WinRAR

Shibu4 years ago

Thank you very much for the info. WinRar did it for me.

Thanks this really helped me out….again thank you so much !!!

meister5 years ago

I tried 1-4 with no luck then WinRAR did the trick.. brilliant.

U are nice..

Rana Shadab5 years ago

I had winrar but I never knew that it could repair so I downloaded rar fix toolbox it’s doing it work but it’s a bit slow……

I have a correpted 7z file not the zip file….I have tried all the software but they don’t support the 7z file…help

utkarsh5 years ago

thanks man !!!

Thanks man…

Chad5 years ago

WinRar worked for me. Thank you!

Thanks, thanks thanks……. thank u very much………….

Thomas Staub6 years ago

Another option would be using an online ZIP file repairer like zipfix.org .
Regards

Thanks, man. Nice utility.

Active11 months ago

When I try to extract an exe file out of a downloaded zip file, Windows 10 tells me in a popup:

Windows found that this file is potentially harmful.

To help protect your computer, Windows has blocked access to this file.

I am not sure what the URL of the link is, but clicking on it redirects the browser to:

Cannot Extract Files Windows 10 File Explorer

(Well more precisely to the German equivalent of that page.)

Given that I trust the source, how can I extract the file anyway?

Marcus

MarcusMarcus

3 Answers

It depends on what is actually causing that popup. Do you have Windows Defender or some other Anti Virus solution installed? Is it a popup from them? Are you sure you can trust the file? What options does the dialog give you?

One solution might to tell Windows to 'Extract All' through the context menu.

Otherwise it might be sufficient to check the file properties and click unblock as the file might just be marked as a 'internet file'.

SethSeth

7,0721 gold badge12 silver badges29 bronze badges

Its pretty simple!Right click on the compressed folder and view properties, then select 'Unblock' then apply.This should solve any issues you had.

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Can you upload a screenshot of this message?

If it is an windows message with teh title 'Windows protected your PC' you have an link 'More info' and after you clicked on it you can make an exception for this file.

Cannot Open Exe Files In Windows 10

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