Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

Windows Xp Pro SP2 Integrated Zip option Problem

by joe.blanton Jul 5, 2007 10:26PM PDT

Ok guys I've got a tricky one for you. I've been to alot of other forums with this one so hopefully someone here is alot smarter than me, which isn't very hard in my experience. =)

I am a network admin for a smaller company. One of our sales guys recently started having the infamous "Windows is blocking access to this file for your protection" error when he tries to extract files from a .zip that is sent automatically from one of our sister companies. It says you can go to properties and click "unblock" which of course I did and which of course makes absolutely no difference. When he double clicks the zip it appears empty. When he clicks "extract all files" it gives the old Blocking this file error mentioned previously. I searched around google and read a couple suggested fixs and nothing has worked. I tried a Registry entry that marks certain files as low risk. I made sure he is a local admin of his machine. I logged in as domain admin and tried it myself...same result. I am kind of at a loss here and he really needs to be able to view and extract zip files. Could it be an update he got and installed? As of right now we dont yet have SMS or WSUS so users pretty much get to pick their own updates (I know its dumb but I just started.). It cant really be a group policy because everyone operates under the same policy and it works fine for them. He is running Windows Xp Pro SP2. Any advice someone smarter then me could offer would be greatly appreciated because I am completely out of ideas. I temporarily downloaded winrar for him but the trial period is about to run out and for the amount of zips he opens a day its not really a productive solution. He would really like to be able to use the integrated zip option in xp for quickness and ease of use. Thanks for your time.

Discussion is locked

13 Posts
- Collapse + Expand Details
- Collapse -
Blocking access errors can be caused by
by retired Jul 5, 2007 10:36PM PDT
- Collapse -
Wndows Xp SP2 Integrated Zip option Problem.
by joe.blanton Jul 5, 2007 10:43PM PDT

This isnt an error its a windows message. We know that these zips arent infected because they work on every other pc on the network and worked on his until a week ago. It just states "Windows is blocking access to this file for your protection" or something along those lines. If you click help on the message it says "You can access this file still by right clicking, properties, and unblock file. I have tried this and it does not work. It's a known Xp sp2 issue but any fix that MS has posted does not work for anyone. I have yet to see a solution. I'm a very technical guy so trust me when I say I have tried EVERYTHING in my ability. I need someone much more technical then myself to help out with this weird quirk. Thank you.

P.s. We run Trenmicro officescan corporate on all pc's as well as a corporate antispyware that updates automatically and immediately.

- Collapse -
Minor comment
by eddie11013 Jul 5, 2007 11:59PM PDT

The suggestion to run ?different? anti stuff was just that. Sometimes you need an array of anti programs to find and delete nasties. The following are some additional ones that you can try, and can be run as free online scans: A-Squared On Line Trojan Scan -- http://www.windowsecurity.com/trojanscan/
BitDefender On Line Scan -- http://www.bitdefender.com/scan8/ie.html
Ewido On Line Scan -- http://www.ewido.net/en/onlinescan/
F-Secure On Line Scan -- http://support.f-secure.com/enu/home/ols.shtml
House Call Anti-Virus http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp
Kaspersky http://usa.kaspersky.com/services/free-virus-scanner.php

In addition, you mentioned ?winrar? and trial expiration, this seems to indicate that a different ?zip? program ?is? working for whatever reason, therefore maybe a different ?freebie? zip program may bypass your problem, I use IZArc myself and can be downloaded here: http://www.download.com/IZArc/3000-2250_4-10667135.html?tag=lst-0-1

I know its not the answer you were looking for, but it might be a temporary solution until someone can better assist.
Good luck,
Eddie

- Collapse -
WinRar? What about WinZip?
by MarkFlax Former Forum moderator Jul 6, 2007 12:35AM PDT

You said, "I temporarily downloaded winrar for him but the trial period is about to run out and for the amount of zips he opens a day its not really a productive solution".

Does that mean that WinRar opened these zip files? If so, try WinZip. The evaluation version appears to be of unlimited length, at least on my version 9 it does.

Mark

- Collapse -
Windows Xp Pro SP2 Integrated Zip option Problem
by joe.blanton Jul 6, 2007 1:14AM PDT

Maybe you misunderstood, Yes I can use a third party zip program but we need Windows XP built-in functionality to work and it doesnt for whatever reason. That's our whole problem. This particular person needs to download and look at over 50-100 zips a day and the other third party applications require you to extract the whole file to a folder whereas the built in functionality lets you open them as a folder and pick and choose what you want to pull out. This is very important to the productivity of his job. I am aware of all the third party solutions out there but I am looking for an answer to fixing this problem with the built in windows xp zip functionality. I appreciate the suggestions, but it seems everywhere I go everyone is suggesting that I use a third party program and it's just not a productive solution in this case. I also am very aware that spyware and viruses can cause issues and have gone through all the actions of checking the system health myself but in this case it is a well known SP2 issue not related to spywares or viruses that noone seems to have an answer for. I wasn't exaggerating when I say I have tried almost everything in my power to fix this problem and I need someone with advanced technical expertise to give their 2 cents on this one. Please only reply if you have a technical fix/suggestion for this issue. Thanks

- Collapse -
Re: Windows Xp Pro SP2 Integrated Zip option Problem
by Tufenuf Jul 6, 2007 3:01AM PDT
- Collapse -
Strange. I thought WinZip did this.
by MarkFlax Former Forum moderator Jul 6, 2007 5:29AM PDT

It does on mine.

When I have a zip file I click it and the WinZip interface opens. I click "WinZip Classic", and I see a list of files I can either view or extract individually.

Strange this doesn't work for you because if it did it would at least be a work-around until you get the native XP file listing sorted out.

Mark

- Collapse -
you misunderstand
by joe.blanton Jul 6, 2007 5:32AM PDT

I could very easily download winzip and extract the files. The point of this whole thread is that I need Windows XP "integrated" Zip feature to work. No winzip involved whatsoever.

- Collapse -
...
by joe.blanton Jul 6, 2007 5:34AM PDT

Just so everyone is clear here. I DO NOT need workarounds. I am perfectly capable of coming up with a workaround myself. This thread is for a SOLUTION to the problem and nothing less. Thank you all for your concern.

- Collapse -
Only thing I see then is
by PudgyOne Jul 6, 2007 5:53AM PDT

to scan for viruses and malware, then repair Windows Xp Pro SP2. The repair from the disk will fix your problem and it will work like the others.


Rick

- Collapse -
....
by joe.blanton Jul 6, 2007 6:02AM PDT

Wow why didn't I think of that? Good luck with your A+

- Collapse -
Time to step in
by MarkFlax Former Forum moderator Jul 6, 2007 6:18AM PDT

Joe, your attitude is getting bad.

I appreciate you may be under pressure to get this sorted out, but getting cynical and rude is not going to help.

You have received a lot of advice here, none of it, it seems, to your particular liking. It seems from what you say that you have tried other sources as well, eg, "It's a known Xp sp2 issue but any fix that MS has posted does not work for anyone".

The issue may be known to Microsoft, but I can't recall this particular issue being discussed here before. So infamous it certainly is not, to us.

I don't understand why your user cannot use a work-around. Many people use WinZip or similar without problems or complaint. I don't know why you find it necessary to be rude about the suggestion for virus and other malware scans and, if they find nothing, a repair install. You haven't yet tried the file association suggestion as far as I can see.

It seems the volunteers in these forums cannot help you.

I wish you luck in your search for a cure. I am locking this discussion. If you feel I have acted inappropriately you can email me through my profile or send a report to CNET's Admin through the "Report Offensive Post" link at the bottom of each message

Mark

- Collapse -
(NT) Joe, Have you tried the zip file association fix?
by Tufenuf Jul 6, 2007 6:02AM PDT
Back to Windows Legacy OS forum

CNET Forums

Operating Systems
Software
Electronics & Gadgets
Hardware
Tablets & Mobile Devices
General Help
Brand Forums
Roadshow Autos
Off Topic

Other Forums

Forum Info