How to Repair and Open Corrupted ZIP File

What is Zip File and How it Gets Corrupted?

Zip File is one of the most popular files among all the other file formats that we use as storage space and also to send large files over the internet through emails. It is created using WinZip utility and can compress the files up to 50 – 90 %, depending on the file type. Zip files are easily transferable through emails over the internet in less time and also possess the benefit of instant downloads.

When you try to extract data from a zip file, the extraction process gets terminated halfway and shows an error message like “The Compressed (zipped) Folder is invalid or corrupted”. Then another question comes how to repair corrupted zip files?

So let’s start by moving the story forward as follows –

How Zip Files Gets Corrupted?

Zip files can get corrupted due to many reasons and one of them is the oversizing of zip files. If the size limit is more than 2GB then often it gets corrupted because WinZip allows creating of zip files of a maximum of 2 GB size.

There are several other reasons for the corruption of zip files such as

• Application Malfunction
• Virus Attacks
• CRC Errors
• Improper Compression

Corruption of zip files occurs because WinZip cannot verify stored data and thus cannot extract it. Corruption generally makes the file header corrupt and thus the archive becomes unreadable. If the ZIP file is damaged, CRC values of the original files of an archive don’t match the extracted ones, the standard tools won’t extract them.

How to Open Corrupt ZIP File?

There are two ways to open a corrupt ZIP file. Either you can try the manual method that needs a lot of technical expertise or directly move on to the automated tool for hassle-free recovery.

Manual Method to Repair Corrupted Zip Files

The WinZip Command Line Support Add-On contains functions that attempt to repair Zip files (.zip or .zipx). The proper versions are listed and can be downloaded from the Alternative Download Links web page. If you are using a version earlier than WinZip 11.2, you can download the proper add-on version from the Legacy Download Links page. Access to a Command Prompt window will also be necessary.

Attempt to Repair Corrupted Zip File:

• On the keyboard, press Windows key + R.
• Opens Run dialog, type: cmd, and then press Enter.
• Change the directories to the folder where the corrupted Zip file is placed.
• Type: “C:\Program Files\WinZip\wzzip” –yf zipfile.zip in the command prompt.
• Press the Enter

Note:- Substitute the actual drive letter and folder where WinZip is installed if different than above and also use the real Zip file name in the place of zipfile.zip. The double quotes in the example above are necessary due to the space between “Program” and “Files”.

For a divided or spanned Zip file, use the following command instead:

“C:\Program Files\WinZip\wzzip” -yfs zipfile.zip

A new Zip file will be created by WZZIP and a FIXED suffix in the file name also. The original Zip file will not be modified. Only the data will be used which are available in the original Zip files.

The FIXED Zip file is structurally sound but the data may still be corrupt. WZZIP does not fix the zipped data itself. If the zipped data has a CRC error or corruption, then the resulting fixed Zip file will still be corrupt.

If you still didn’t get a proper solution and continue to have difficulty please try the Zip Repair tool from Sysinfotools.

Technical Approach to Repair Corrupted Zip Files

It’s a very critical situation as it may contain valuable data. To tide over this type of situations Zip Repair tool from Sysinfotools can handle all types of Zip files errors, that are corrupted because of any particular reason. Cost-effective, powerful, easy to use, handy, and comprehensive tool to recover data from corrupt zip files. This tool uses the high-end scanning algorithm which scans each and every file present in the corrupted zip and extracts them at a user-defined location.

Open Corrupted ZIP File

You can follow the steps given below and use the ZIP Recovery Tool by Sysinfo to fix the ZIP file corruption issue.

1. Download Zip Recovery software in your system and launch the software to start the recovery. Select either single or multiple files and click on ‘Browse‘ to select a single zip file.
   
2. The selected zip files will be listed in the edit box. Click ‘Next’ to continue the process.
   
3. Now select the recovery mode: standard or advanced. Click ‘Next’ to continue the process.
   
4. All the recovered files will be shown in the list. Click ‘Next’ to continue the process.
   
5. Click ‘Browse‘ and define a location for saving the recovered output. You may also save them at the original location.
   
6. Now click ‘Save’ to start the saving process. It may take a few seconds.
   
7. 7. After only a few seconds, the saving process is completed. Click ‘OK’ and close the application.
   

This is the Technical way to recover your corrupted Zip files and even a non-tech user can use this utility to recover data from corrupt zip files. This utility is safe to install and non-destructive means this tool does not modify or delete the existing content of original zip files and recovers the maximum possible data. This software is compatible with Microsoft Windows Vista, 2003, XP, 2000, NT, and ME.

Conclusion

So, now it will be possible for you to repair and open a corrupted ZIP file. All you have to do is to apply simple steps and complete the recovery process. If you are following the manual method then make sure that you enter the commands correctly.