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Problem opening a compressed Zip File from dropbox, getting error Compressed (zipped) folders Error

Hey guys im having a problem opening folders I have downloaded from dropbox. I have since deleted it from dropbox (so cant try reloading the files). I have tried opening it 3 on different computers and im getting the same message. I tried using both windows 7 and windows 8.1

This is the message

"COMPRESSED (ZIPPED) FOLDERS ERROR

Windows cannot open the folder.

The Compressed (zipped) Folder "H..... downloaded by ..... .zip is invalid

If anyone knows some potential solutions I could try, I will be so stoked. I will not only say THANK YOU VERY MUCH. but give you a virtual hi five!!

Thanking you very much

chur Andrew

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Felix D.

Hi guys! I have found a solution (after trying everything else like different programs, Windows, etc. etc.). Not sure whether it recovers all the files; but the filesize of the zip is at least equal!

In Mac OS Terminal write:

zip -FF /Users/fd/Musikmixe.zip --out /Users/fd/Musikmixe2.zip

It will create a new zip. Of course replace "/Users/fd/Musikmixe.zip" by your file.

See here: https://computers.tutsplus.com/tutorials/how-to-repair-damaged-zip-files-with-terminal--mac-49294

All comments

Rich

How big is this Zip file? Dropbox is known to have problems creating Zip files larger than 1GB or so. If you're using the built-in Zip support that Windows has, I would try a program like WinRAR, 7Zip or WinZip. Otherwise you may be out of luck.

andrew w.18

Thanks heaps for getting back here man.

YEah the files are over 2GB.

I tried your advice but had no luck. I tried using 7zip and winRAR, and got the same error in 7zip and a similar message on winRAR "The archive is either in unknown format or damaged".

I removed some of the files from dropbox over 6 months ago, do you think dropbox would be able to restore the file somehow so I can try download it again maybe in smaller folders?

But yeah, thanks big time for looking into this Rich R

jane h.

i am having the same problem. did you ever find a solution?

Stefan M.

Same here. Only, my compressed folders are from 1 to 116 MB. Not very large... I can't open any of the files when extracted, all broken. Pictures, txt files, pdf files, html files, mp3 files, nothing opens...

Felix D.

I have the same problem. A zip file full of mp3s, "damaged". Dropbox team! Please offer a solution!

Stefan M.

A strange thing happed to me... I've kept the broken zip archives - and they all work now, four weeks later. I changed my OS in the meantime (Mint to Ubuntu) but I don't know if that made any difference... I tried extracting one file at a time and all at once and it works, no problems whatsoever. Maybe you should try extracting one file at a time from the broken archive or something like that, or change the OS xD

Felix D.

andrew w.18

Thanks so much for this answer. It worked for me and i have recovered hundreds of photos from my travels. If you are ever in nz let me know and i will buy you a beer!

Big shout out to mactorque who sorted it for me since i can hardly even turn a Mac on!

Its crazy that dropbox was not able to help with this issue.

Before you posted this I managed to get in touch with dropbox customer support which took a bit of hunting! However they repeatedly told me the fault was my doing, didn't believe what was happening to me and offered no solution!

Thanks so much!

ToneLa

What a rubbish answer. I don't want to buy a Mac. I don't want Mac OS, presumably you mean OSX.

If you don't have a technical, all-round solution, don't frame it as one!

xmedic9

All my test downloads are under 500 Mb. I'm losing business because my remote clients can't open the files they download. I've tried several unzip utilities, on different operating systems with no luck. DB email tech support is a 24 to 48 hour turn around time, and the solutions offered are below basic. I my have to ditch DB all together. Does anyone have an idea when this started, my best guess is some time around the the New Year?

mrsnak

Don't use Dropbox for much, but also having that issue on any size files that DB compresses.
Useless, so I'm directing my clients to use Hightail to send me batches of files.
Mac OS High Sierra

Rich

I'm closing this thread as it is not related to the issue that you're experiencing. Yes, it's similar, but it was based on a previous limit of 1GB for downloaded folders. The issue you're experiencing happens to folders of any size and it's an issue that Dropbox is aware of. Please use the following thread for any further comments, or start a new thread if you have a different issue.

https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Error-messages/Downloading-a-folder-doesn-t-work/m-p/264064/highlight/true#M14360

dmp3357

I am unable to open many of the folders I download from Dropbox. I get the following error message:

"Compressed (zipped) Folders Error Windows cannot open the folder. The Compressed (zipped) folder 'C\Users\Bob\XYZ.zip' is invalid."

The folders I am attempting to download and open meet both criteria specified in the article "Download entire folders on dropbox.com" (https://help.dropbox.com/desktop-web/download-entire-folders), i.e. -

1) the folder is (much) less than 20GB in total size

2) the folder has fewer than 10,000 total files

Note: I am only having to do this because my Dropbox files have failed to automatically download to my new computer after I installed the app and logged in to the same on account on both my old and new computers (see https://www.dropboxforum.com/t5/Syncing-and-uploads/Dropbox-files-do-not-automatically-download-to-new-computer/m-p/264014#M34622)

MaskedGasser

After years of having the availability to store my photos and videos in dropbox for free, Dropbox has decided to push me toward a very expensive account upgrade. I am far above the allotted 5Gb or storage space of the basic (free) plan. I don't need Dropbox as a means of storage. I actually forgot I have this service. I am now deleting all of the files that I don't need from my Dropbox account. I am downloading all of the photos & videos that I want to keep to my pc, however, when I go to open the zip file that is created by the download on my pc, I receive an error message that "Windows cannot open the folder" "The compressed (zipped) Folder 'C:\User\Downloads\Dropbox.zip' is invalid". What can I do to retrieve MY photos and videos?

Rich

@MaskedGasser

There is currently a known issue related to the downloading of compressed fodlers resulting in corrupt or incomplete Zip files. Dropbox is aware of the issue and is working on it.

I'm merging your post into a larger thread where this is already being discussed.

[This thread is now closed by moderators due to inactivity. If you're experiencing a similar behavior, feel free to start a new discussion in the Ask a Question section here.]

monthlygrapevine

After downloading files to my hard drive I am unable to unpack the zip file due to an error 79: inappropriate file type or format. However I can download each file individually but that is time consuming. This was not a problem until I updated Mac OS to Monterey 12.0.

Megan

Hey @monthlygrapevine, thanks for posting today!

Are you able to preview the file online? Also, what is the size of the content you're downloading?

Have you tried to unzip using the Terminal utility?

Press and hold down the Command and Space keys to launch Spotlight.
Into the text field, input Terminal.
Hit Enter. This will open the Terminal utility.
Next, execute the unzip command to unzip. In the command line, enter this command: unzip filename.zip
Enter your password.
Wait as Terminal decompresses the file.