Can't open cab file

M

Mint

When I try to open a cabinet file, XP uses notepad to open it.

I tried regsvr32 %windir%\system32\cabview.dll with no luck.

Thanks.
 
B

BillW50

In
Mint typed:
When I try to open a cabinet file, XP uses notepad to open it.

I tried regsvr32 %windir%\system32\cabview.dll with no luck.

Thanks.

I have worked on lots of computers that has or had malware on it. And
this is a very good sign that malware has modified what Explorer uses to
open it. First you have to get rid of the malware before trying to fix
this. Otherwise trying to fix this wouldn't do you any good if the
malware just breaks it again.
 
T

Tim Meddick

Investigate the system's file association manually, either by typing :

assoc .CAB
(Expected result: CLSID\{0CD7A5C0-9F37-11CE-AE65-08002B2E1262})

....then :

assoc CLSID\{0CD7A5C0-9F37-11CE-AE65-08002B2E1262}
(Expected result: Cabinet File)

....typed at a Command Prompt (Found on your Start Menu under "Programs" >
"Accessories" > "Command Prompt" or type "cmd.exe" into the "Run" box on
the Start Menu)

Or, alternatively, manually investigate the registry (there's absolutely no
harm in doing this, so long as you don't change/delete anything). Type
"regedit.exe" into the "Run" box on the Start Menu, and navigate to :

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{0CD7A5C0-9F37-11CE-AE65-08002B2E1262}

...and find the sub-key :

Shell\open\command

....the default value (no_name) should express the following command :

"%SystemRoot%\Explorer.exe /idlist,%I,%L"

Alternatively, visit the following webpage and download a registry file
that will fix the file-association for CABINET [*.cab] files :

http://www.4shared.com/file/vUl5Z2oE/CABAssoc.html


...download the [*.reg] file and save it to your hard-drive. Then locate
and double-click on the saved registry file and answer [Yes] when asked if
you want to import the file.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)
 
T

Tim Meddick

On another point that "BillW50" mentioned : it should be that initiating
the command :

regsvr32 cabview.dll

...as you say that you have done, should indeed have fixed the CABINET file
association. So (after trying the reg-file download fix) if the
association is still broken, it invites the suspicion that it may well be
that some sort of malware is affecting your system.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)
 
C

Char Jackson

When I try to open a cabinet file, XP uses notepad to open it.

What would you like to use instead of Notepad? Whatever it is, right
click on a .cab file and select Open With. navigate to the app that
you want to use to open this type of file, make sure the "Always
use..." box is ticked, click OK and you're done.

In my case, I use WinRAR to open .cab files.
 
T

Tim Meddick

I think perhaps the OP may know the method you are proposing...

The thing is that the original way that Windows XP opens [*.cab] files is
through Explorer's "cabview.dll" Shell Extension.

You can't point the "Open With..." dialog at "cabview.dll" !!

And the OP had already tried to use the standard method of restoring the
[*.cab] file association by issuing the command :

regsvr32 cabview.dll

I posted the correct registry file to restore the [*.cab] file association
on an earlier post because I couldn't find the link I had for the Doug Knox
"Window's XP file association fixes" web page :

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

The fix for CAB File Association is the second one on the list, but it
essentially is the same as the regfile I posted earlier.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)
 
C

Char Jackson

I think perhaps the OP may know the method you are proposing...

Cool, you probably know him/her a lot better than I do. I don't know
what he/she knows and the original post didn't give any indication.
:)
 
T

Tim Meddick

The Original Post included this :

"I tried regsvr32 %windir%\system32\cabview.dll with no luck. "

....from which I guessed at his/her level of knowledge...

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)
 
M

Mayayana

In addition to what others have said...

Are you sure it's a Windows CAB and not an
InstallShield CAB? A Windows CAB will start
with the bytes 4D 53 43 46 (hex) which spells
MSCF in ASCII.

You might want to install some kind of ZIP
software, anyway. XP's handling of ZIP files
is minimal. Most ZIP programs will also open
Windows CAB files. 7-Zip is probably the best in
terms of functionality, though the interface is
primitive. I still use the last free version of
Power Archiver. It should be easy to find other
free ZIP utilities online. (Don't go for Winzip. It's
a wildly overpriced program that's no better than
the myriad free alternatives.)

--
--
| When I try to open a cabinet file, XP uses notepad to open it.
|
| I tried regsvr32 %windir%\system32\cabview.dll with no luck.
|
| Thanks.
 
C

Char Jackson

The Original Post included this :

"I tried regsvr32 %windir%\system32\cabview.dll with no luck. "

...from which I guessed at his/her level of knowledge...

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)

That's not the method I proposed, so I agree with your use of the word
"guessed".
 
P

Paul

Mayayana said:
In addition to what others have said...

Are you sure it's a Windows CAB and not an
InstallShield CAB? A Windows CAB will start
with the bytes 4D 53 43 46 (hex) which spells
MSCF in ASCII.

You might want to install some kind of ZIP
software, anyway. XP's handling of ZIP files
is minimal. Most ZIP programs will also open
Windows CAB files. 7-Zip is probably the best in
terms of functionality, though the interface is
primitive. I still use the last free version of
Power Archiver. It should be easy to find other
free ZIP utilities online. (Don't go for Winzip. It's
a wildly overpriced program that's no better than
the myriad free alternatives.)

7-ZIP opens Windows .cab files for a look. 7-ZIP
doesn't open Installshield cabs, at least the ancient
version of 7-ZIP I've been using for a while.

For Installshield, I found a reference to this recently.
I have this loaded in one of my Linux VMs in VPC2007, but
haven't had to use it yet, so I don't know if this kind
of code works with everything.

http://www.synce.org/oldwiki/index.php/Unshield

Paul
 
T

Tim Meddick

It's really very simple what I'm saying for you to either not get it or are
being contentious about it!?!!....

You stated a couple of posts ago that : "Cool, you probably know him/her a
lot better than I do. I don't know what he/she knows and the original post
didn't give any indication"

....to which I then replied that he/she (The O.P. - "Mint", that is) did
indeed give an indication : "I tried regsvr32
%windir%\system32\cabview.dll with no luck"

So I don't understand your last reply at all : "That's not the method I
proposed, so I agree with your use of the word "guessed". "

....which, to my mind, says that I somehow "guessed" wrongly!

How d'ya work that out?

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)
 
C

Char Jackson

It's really very simple what I'm saying for you to either not get it or are
being contentious about it!?!!....

You stated a couple of posts ago that : "Cool, you probably know him/her a
lot better than I do. I don't know what he/she knows and the original post
didn't give any indication"

...to which I then replied that he/she (The O.P. - "Mint", that is) did
indeed give an indication : "I tried regsvr32
%windir%\system32\cabview.dll with no luck"

So I don't understand your last reply at all : "That's not the method I
proposed, so I agree with your use of the word "guessed". "

...which, to my mind, says that I somehow "guessed" wrongly!

How d'ya work that out?

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)

I was agreeing with you when you said that you had guessed at the OP's
knowledge level, but never mind. It's harder to explain it than to
just let it go.
 
M

Mint

I'll be curious to hear if that tool helps the OP. I can't see how it
will, but you never know.

Thanks for all the posted help.

I associated Winzip to open cabinet files.

Andy
 
T

Tim Meddick

Then, in that case, I humbly apologise. I don't deserve your consideration
and not worthy of your attention!! But, seriously, I'm sorry about that,I
know it's no excuse but I was having a really bad day.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)
 
C

Char Jackson

Then, in that case, I humbly apologise. I don't deserve your consideration
and not worthy of your attention!! But, seriously, I'm sorry about that,I
know it's no excuse but I was having a really bad day.

No worries. It's sometimes hard to read a person's face in a text
medium. :)
 
T

Tim Meddick

You are gracious indeed...

....no, really, thanks.

==

Cheers, Tim Meddick, Peckham, London. :)
 

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Top