Can't double or right click to extract .ZIP files

Hey guys,

I know it sounds like an incredibly newbie question but the weirdest thing happened recently: I can't figure out how to double click or right click a .zip file in order to open it!!! I used to be able to do it fine with WinZip or WinRAR before, but all of a sudden both programs can DIRECTLY EXTRACT all other compressed files EXCEPT .zip files. I uninstalled and reinstalled both, but nothing changed... I have to open either WinRAR/WinZIP first and go to File - Open Archive in order to open these files.

(FYI - I can right click or double click ANY other file or program on my PC, its only RECENTLY, that I can't do so for .ZIP files...)

Not being able to figure it out, I removed the file association for both programs and let Windows XP handle .ZIP files but I still can't double or right click the file directly in order to extract it...

Hopefully someone can help me figure this out... Thanks in advance for reading my post and offering any suggestion in order to correct it.

__________________________________________________________
Intel Pentium III - Windows XP Professional SP2 - 512MB RAM
COMPLETELY free of malware and Windows fully updated

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Try this to enable Windows zip feature:



start > run
RegSvr32 %windir%\system32\ZIPFldr.DLL
<enter>

 

Check your options in both sofware winzip and winrar only one should
open .zip files i have both program to so i let winzip handle .zip files
and winrar the rest so go and open winrar goto Integration and untick ZIP
reboot computers that should fix your problem....

Hey my 1,000 Post

 

Congrats!

Though, one should be able to right click on said .zip file, and select "open with". Then choose program, then make sure the the box is checked for "always use.....".

 

First of all, congrats on your 1000th post Clark_Kent, very cool indeed! Thanks for all your suggestions, I tried them all, here are the results:

Tried it Kniht, it registered successfully but it still didn't fix the problem...

I have the same settings as you, have WinZIP opening .ZIP files and WinRAR opening the rest... I have tried everything: uninstalling and reinstalling both programs, only have WinRAR to open everything, then had WinZIP opening everything, then back to my original settings and have WinRAR with the rest and WinZIP only with .ZIP files... none of these combinations seemed to work. For some reason, when I click directly on a .ZIP file it highlights like any other file; however, when I try to open it by double clicking nothing happens, and when I try to right click again, nothing happens!!!

Thats exactly the problem theefool, WHEN I RIGHT CLICK THE .ZIP FILE THE SMALL OPTIONS WINDOW (OPEN WITH... ETC) THAT USUALLY APPEARS, DOESNT!!!

Anybody else have an idea? This has stumped me, and I know the solution is going to be so obvious Im just over-looking it....

 

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Try Shift + right click on the file.

 

Algraze,

I have never seen or heard of it happening to .zip files, so I don't know what the exact symptoms might be like. But, you might try a File Association Fix.

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

Steve

 

Tried it theefool, but still nothing happened...

Matacumbie, I used the link you provided, but unfortunately the problem persists...




I dont think its a problem with file associations... how's this for a head scratcher: I used a program called ExplorerXP (similiar to Windows Explorer) and when browsing files through it, I CAN right click or double click .zip files directly; however I cant do so through the normal Windows Explorer, etc---

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I had a similar problem recently: when double clicking on a folder to view it's contents, the 'Search' dialog would open up. When right-clicking, nothing happened. This only applied to folders. Stuff like My Computer and Internet Explorer worked normally with double-click, but still no right click. And double clicking on a drive in My Computer would 'open' the drive, but show the drive as being empty (including C: )... anyway, I fixed it by running Dial-A-Fix. Truly a fine app! In the Registration Center of Dial-A-Fix, I checked the last 3 boxes, clicked GO, and rebooted after it did its thing, and that took care of it.
Try it and see what happens!!!

hopperdave2000

BTW- I used Dial-A-Fix v0.60.... available for download right here from 'The Geeks'....

 

Hopperdave2000, thanks so much for your Dial-A-Fix suggestion! I also checked the last 3 boxes in the "Registration Center" area, clicked GO and rebooted after... I have to admit I was somewhat skeptical at the beginning: I had tried EVERYTHING but the kitchen sink, and NOTHING had fixed the problem... and then Dial-a-fix comes along and FIXED THE PROBLEM!!! Yes, thats right! I can once again double or right click .ZIP files directly...

Matacumbie, theefool, Clark_Kent and Kniht... thank you for help, it was very much appreciated; honestly, all you guys rock!

 

Interesting. I use Dial-a-fix for a lot of issues, but never would have suggested this for a .zip issue. Interesting indeed. Thanks for the tips!

 

Yay for Dial-a-fix! This program fixed my client's right click on .zip file issue. I believe the computer was initially infected with a malware/virus. Dial-a-fix did report many corrupted/deleted .dll files, so I will look into this. For now, my client can open .zip files.