questions on compressed (zipped) folder

[Daniel C. Bastos]

Whenever I click on the desktop and I choose ``New'' in the context
menu, I don't see an option to ``Create a Compressed (zipped) folder''
as the help system suggests that I should find.

In the help system, we can look up the topic

Create a zipped compressed folder

and see the instructions.

To create a zipped compressed folder

1. Open My Computer.
2. Double-click a drive or folder.
3. On the File menu, point to New, and then click
Compressed (zipped) Folder.
4. Type a name for the new folder, and then press ENTER.

But, looking up the topic

Compressed (zipped) Folders overview

we see a note which says

``Installing a different compression program to Windows will remove
Compressed (zipped) Folders from the right-click menu choices and
replace it with the new compression program's icon.''

I have installed a zip program. But I was hoping to see the context
menu option back once I uninstalled the zip program. I uninstalled,
but the option did not go back. Is there a way to get it back? Can I
change something on my registry to make that happen?

I'm interested in this feature because I'd like to be able to protect
folders with a password --- and still be able to open it and work on
it whenever I type the password.

I managed to create a zip folder; and I managed to add a password to
it using the ``Compressed Folder'' application of Windows, but there
are two things which I wasn't expecting to find.

(1) Windows only asks for a password after you try to open one of the
files inside the zipped folder. This allows someone to see what
files are inside. I wish the password would be asked when someone
double clicks the zipped folder. Is it possible?

(2) Once you type the password to open one of the files of the zipped
folder, Windows extracts it and opens it with the apropriate
program, but the file is read-only then. Suppose it's a text file;
I would like to open it up, change text and save; when I close the
program with the file saved, I would like Windows to update the
file in the zipped folder.

That is, what I am looking for is really just a regular folder with a
password protection on it. Any suggestions?

 

[Daniel C. Bastos]

Whenever I click on the desktop and I choose ``New'' in the context
menu, I don't see an option to ``Create a Compressed (zipped) folder''
as the help system suggests that I should find.

By the way, as you see below in my description of what the help system
says, it mentions ``open My Computer,'' and here I am talking about
clicking on the desktop, so my message is apparently inconsistent, but
the help system on the same topic adds a note after those instructions
which says:

``You can also create a zipped compressed folder by right-clicking the
desktop, pointing to New, and then clicking Compressed (zipped)
Folder.''

 

[Guest]

Try the following:

Open a cmd prompt from start -> run
Change the directory to c:\windows\system32
Type regsvr32 zipfldr.dll

 

[Daniel C. Bastos]

Try the following:

Open a cmd prompt from start -> run
Change the directory to c:\windows\system32
Type regsvr32 zipfldr.dll

It said ``DllRegisterServer in zipfldr.dll succeeded.'' But I still
don't see the option in the menu. Should I reboot?

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

This page might help.

Restore the Windows XP native Zip file integration:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/zipfldr.htm

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com

Try the following:

Open a cmd prompt from start -> run
Change the directory to c:\windows\system32
Type regsvr32 zipfldr.dll

It said ``DllRegisterServer in zipfldr.dll succeeded.'' But I still
don't see the option in the menu. Should I reboot?

 

[Daniel C. Bastos]

This page might help.

Restore the Windows XP native Zip file integration:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/zipfldr.htm

It did. Thank you. The page, however, says that the registry change is
equivalent to the command. That is,

cmd /c assoc .zip=CompressedFolder

is equivalent to

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.ZIP] with default set CompressedFolder,

which doesn't seem to be true. I ran the command and opened the menu.
No changes. I made the registry change myself, which was still set to
my old zip program and then Windows started showing the option.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

which doesn't seem to be true

Well. It's true, as I've done it in a number of occasions, and the ASSOC
command is just for that.

To know if the command ran successfully, use this:

cmd /k assoc .zip=CompressedFolder

"cmd /C" closes the command prompt immediately after executing the command.
Using "/k" Command prompt remains.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com

This page might help.

Restore the Windows XP native Zip file integration:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/zipfldr.htm

It did. Thank you. The page, however, says that the registry change is
equivalent to the command. That is,

cmd /c assoc .zip=CompressedFolder

is equivalent to

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.ZIP] with default set CompressedFolder,

which doesn't seem to be true. I ran the command and opened the menu.
No changes. I made the registry change myself, which was still set to
my old zip program and then Windows started showing the option.

 

[Daniel C. Bastos]

Well. It's true, as I've done it in a number of occasions, and the ASSOC
command is just for that.

To know if the command ran successfully, use this:

cmd /k assoc .zip=CompressedFolder

"cmd /C" closes the command prompt immediately after executing the command.
Using "/k" Command prompt remains.

I open regedit, I change the .zip default value to ``nonsense.'' Close
regedit. Now I try the context menu and the option is gone.

Now I run your command

C:\Documents and Settings\Daniel>cmd /k assoc .zip=CompressedFolder
..zip=CompressedFolder

Does this look correct to you?

I try the menu, there's no change. So I open regedit and I see that old
value is still there. So I change it myself to ``CompressedFolder''.
Then I try the menu and the option is right there. So, at least in my
system, there's a clear difference.

Here's a new test. I change the registry back to ``nonsense.'' Close
regedit. The option is gone. I run your command again. But now I will
reboot. Rebooted. No effect. The nonsense value is still there. Your
command is showing ineffective on my system. Here, not only I don't need
to reboot to see the change on the menu, I only need to close regedit
after making the change manually, but also your command seems to make no
difference. How can I give you an identification of my system?

From ``My Computer -> Properties -> General''

Microsoft Windows XP
Media Center Edition
Version 2002
Service Pack 2

From ``Start -> Acessories -> System Tools -> System Information''

Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Media Center Edition
Version 5.12600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

I'm running XP Professional and the command works fine.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com

Well. It's true, as I've done it in a number of occasions, and the ASSOC
command is just for that.

To know if the command ran successfully, use this:

cmd /k assoc .zip=CompressedFolder

"cmd /C" closes the command prompt immediately after executing the
command.
Using "/k" Command prompt remains.

I open regedit, I change the .zip default value to ``nonsense.'' Close
regedit. Now I try the context menu and the option is gone.

Now I run your command

C:\Documents and Settings\Daniel>cmd /k assoc .zip=CompressedFolder
..zip=CompressedFolder

Does this look correct to you?

I try the menu, there's no change. So I open regedit and I see that old
value is still there. So I change it myself to ``CompressedFolder''.
Then I try the menu and the option is right there. So, at least in my
system, there's a clear difference.

Here's a new test. I change the registry back to ``nonsense.'' Close
regedit. The option is gone. I run your command again. But now I will
reboot. Rebooted. No effect. The nonsense value is still there. Your
command is showing ineffective on my system. Here, not only I don't need
to reboot to see the change on the menu, I only need to close regedit
after making the change manually, but also your command seems to make no
difference. How can I give you an identification of my system?

From ``My Computer -> Properties -> General''

Microsoft Windows XP
Media Center Edition
Version 2002
Service Pack 2

From ``Start -> Acessories -> System Tools -> System Information''

Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Media Center Edition
Version 5.12600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

How are you changing the (default) value?

Make sure you're proceeding this way:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip]

In the right-pane, double-click (default) and set the data to
"nonsensevalue"

Then run the "CMD /K ASSOC...." command again from Start, Run.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


I'm running XP Professional and the command works fine.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com

Well. It's true, as I've done it in a number of occasions, and the ASSOC
command is just for that.

To know if the command ran successfully, use this:

cmd /k assoc .zip=CompressedFolder

"cmd /C" closes the command prompt immediately after executing the
command.
Using "/k" Command prompt remains.

I open regedit, I change the .zip default value to ``nonsense.'' Close
regedit. Now I try the context menu and the option is gone.

Now I run your command

C:\Documents and Settings\Daniel>cmd /k assoc .zip=CompressedFolder
..zip=CompressedFolder

Does this look correct to you?

I try the menu, there's no change. So I open regedit and I see that old
value is still there. So I change it myself to ``CompressedFolder''.
Then I try the menu and the option is right there. So, at least in my
system, there's a clear difference.

Here's a new test. I change the registry back to ``nonsense.'' Close
regedit. The option is gone. I run your command again. But now I will
reboot. Rebooted. No effect. The nonsense value is still there. Your
command is showing ineffective on my system. Here, not only I don't need
to reboot to see the change on the menu, I only need to close regedit
after making the change manually, but also your command seems to make no
difference. How can I give you an identification of my system?

From ``My Computer -> Properties -> General''

Microsoft Windows XP
Media Center Edition
Version 2002
Service Pack 2

From ``Start -> Acessories -> System Tools -> System Information''

Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Media Center Edition
Version 5.12600 Service Pack 2 Build 2600

 

[Daniel C. Bastos]

How are you changing the (default) value?

Make sure you're proceeding this way:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip]

In the right-pane, double-click (default) and set the data to
"nonsensevalue"

To make sure that I can change the value or that I have successfully
changed it, I exported the key, which looks like this:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip]
@="Nonsense"
"Content Type"="application/x-zip-compressed"
"PerceivedType"="compressed"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip\CompressedFolder]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip\CompressedFolder\ShellNew]
"Data"=hex:50,4b,05,06,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip\OpenWithProgids]
"CompressedFolder"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip\PersistentHandler]
@="{098f2470-bae0-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}"

Then run the "CMD /K ASSOC...." command again from Start, Run.

Start, Run.

cmd /k assoc .zip=CompressedFolder

Output is

..zip=CompressedFolder

C:\Documents and Settings\Daniel>

No change in the menu. No change in the registry. Exported the key
again to compare. Same result, as shown.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip]
@="Nonsense"
"Content Type"="application/x-zip-compressed"
"PerceivedType"="compressed"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip\CompressedFolder]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip\CompressedFolder\ShellNew]
"Data"=hex:50,4b,05,06,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip\OpenWithProgids]
"CompressedFolder"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip\PersistentHandler]
@="{098f2470-bae0-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}"

Consider the possibility that our versions are different that the
behavior may have changed. I gave you a specific version number with a
build number; you can compare it and test it by yourself on a system
that is exactly like mine. If you want to test on my machine, get in
touch and I will give you an account on my system.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Daniel,

I noted down your Windows XP version, but I don't have a Media Center
Edition PC here to test with. To more things I can think of:

Try the ASSOC command via Safe Mode once.
or
Post the question in the Windows XP Media Center group to learn if this is a
known issue.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com

How are you changing the (default) value?

Make sure you're proceeding this way:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip]

In the right-pane, double-click (default) and set the data to
"nonsensevalue"

To make sure that I can change the value or that I have successfully
changed it, I exported the key, which looks like this:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip]
@="Nonsense"
"Content Type"="application/x-zip-compressed"
"PerceivedType"="compressed"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip\CompressedFolder]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip\CompressedFolder\ShellNew]
"Data"=hex:50,4b,05,06,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip\OpenWithProgids]
"CompressedFolder"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip\PersistentHandler]
@="{098f2470-bae0-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}"

Then run the "CMD /K ASSOC...." command again from Start, Run.

Start, Run.

cmd /k assoc .zip=CompressedFolder

Output is

..zip=CompressedFolder

C:\Documents and Settings\Daniel>

No change in the menu. No change in the registry. Exported the key
again to compare. Same result, as shown.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip]
@="Nonsense"
"Content Type"="application/x-zip-compressed"
"PerceivedType"="compressed"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip\CompressedFolder]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip\CompressedFolder\ShellNew]
"Data"=hex:50,4b,05,06,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip\OpenWithProgids]
"CompressedFolder"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip\PersistentHandler]
@="{098f2470-bae0-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}"

Consider the possibility that our versions are different that the
behavior may have changed. I gave you a specific version number with a
build number; you can compare it and test it by yourself on a system
that is exactly like mine. If you want to test on my machine, get in
touch and I will give you an account on my system.

 

[Daniel C. Bastos]

Daniel,

I noted down your Windows XP version, but I don't have a Media Center
Edition PC here to test with. To more things I can think of:

Try the ASSOC command via Safe Mode once.

Same behavior on Safe Mode (with command prompt).

[...]

If you're curious, here's more information. When I run

C:\Documents and Settings\Daniel>assoc .zip=Nonsense
..zip=Nonsense

It does update something. Because by running assoc without any
arguments, we get a list of file extension association. Here, .zip
happens to the last and we can see it was changed.

C:\Documents and Settings\Daniel>assoc

[...]

..ZFSendToTarget=CLSID\{888DCA60-FC0A-11CF-8F0F-00C04FD7D062}
..zip=Nonsense

C:\Documents and Settings\Daniel>

No changes in the menu are made, however. Searching the registry, I
easily found the key which was changed by assoc. It was

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.zip]
"Content Type"="application/x-zip-compressed"
"PerceivedType"="compressed"
@="Nonsense"

However, the key that makes the menu change is

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip]
@="CompressedFolder"
"Content Type"="application/x-zip-compressed"
"PerceivedType"="compressed"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip\CompressedFolder]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip\CompressedFolder\ShellNew]
"Data"=hex:50,4b,05,06,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip\OpenWithProgids]
"CompressedFolder"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip\PersistentHandler]
@="{098f2470-bae0-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}"

which so far has shown to be unaffected by assoc. By changing
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip], I see the changes in the menu right away.

It looks like my version of cmd.exe has a different behavior compared to
yours, since ``assoc'' is a built-in command of cmd.exe. Here's my
cmd.exe version: 5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158).

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Daniel,

Do you have the following key as well?

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\.zip]

If so, the above overrides the other.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com

Daniel,

I noted down your Windows XP version, but I don't have a Media Center
Edition PC here to test with. To more things I can think of:

Try the ASSOC command via Safe Mode once.

Same behavior on Safe Mode (with command prompt).

[...]

If you're curious, here's more information. When I run

C:\Documents and Settings\Daniel>assoc .zip=Nonsense
..zip=Nonsense

It does update something. Because by running assoc without any
arguments, we get a list of file extension association. Here, .zip
happens to the last and we can see it was changed.

C:\Documents and Settings\Daniel>assoc

[...]

..ZFSendToTarget=CLSID\{888DCA60-FC0A-11CF-8F0F-00C04FD7D062}
..zip=Nonsense

C:\Documents and Settings\Daniel>

No changes in the menu are made, however. Searching the registry, I
easily found the key which was changed by assoc. It was

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.zip]
"Content Type"="application/x-zip-compressed"
"PerceivedType"="compressed"
@="Nonsense"

However, the key that makes the menu change is

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip]
@="CompressedFolder"
"Content Type"="application/x-zip-compressed"
"PerceivedType"="compressed"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip\CompressedFolder]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip\CompressedFolder\ShellNew]
"Data"=hex:50,4b,05,06,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip\OpenWithProgids]
"CompressedFolder"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip\PersistentHandler]
@="{098f2470-bae0-11cd-b579-08002b30bfeb}"

which so far has shown to be unaffected by assoc. By changing
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip], I see the changes in the menu right away.

It looks like my version of cmd.exe has a different behavior compared to
yours, since ``assoc'' is a built-in command of cmd.exe. Here's my
cmd.exe version: 5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158).

 

[Daniel C. Bastos]

Daniel,

Do you have the following key as well?

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\.zip]

If so, the above overrides the other.

Yes, and I see it overrides, but also it seems to be a mirror of

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip,

since if you change one, you're automatically changing the other.

The point, however, was that the assoc command of cmd.exe seems to
change a key which seems to be innefective to the context menu we've
been talking about.

If this conclusion is true, the interesting thing to find out would be
why it is so. That is, questions to be answered, to satisfy the
curiosity, if it exists, are:

Did Microsoft really change the behavior of the command assoc? If so,
why? If not, then what causes the change in the behavior of the
command assoc?

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Yes, and I see it overrides, but also it seems to be a mirror of

Well. Then that's the problem.

Whatever you see in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\<filetype>

is built from these two locations

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\<filetype>

-and-

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\<filetype>

So where the 1st entry exists (does not exist by default), HKCR takes those
settings.

Also, the ASSOC command modifies HKLM.


I think the above explains this.


--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows XP Shell/User]
Windows® XP Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com

Daniel,

Do you have the following key as well?

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\.zip]

If so, the above overrides the other.

Yes, and I see it overrides, but also it seems to be a mirror of

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.zip,

since if you change one, you're automatically changing the other.

The point, however, was that the assoc command of cmd.exe seems to
change a key which seems to be innefective to the context menu we've
been talking about.

If this conclusion is true, the interesting thing to find out would be
why it is so. That is, questions to be answered, to satisfy the
curiosity, if it exists, are:

Did Microsoft really change the behavior of the command assoc? If so,
why? If not, then what causes the change in the behavior of the
command assoc?