The archive is either in unknown format or damaged

[imported_StickMan]

After downloading several rar and zip archives i am getting this error - The archive is either in unknown format or damaged. I have tried re-naming to every extension on earth and produced zero headway. Has anyone else had this problem and does anyone have the solution. TIA

It may be a corrupt header, if so how do i repair it. Thx

 

[montag451]

Try another decompressor.

I highly recommend WINRAR to try.

 

[imported_StickMan]

Hi, I have tried the latest versions of WinRar and WinZip and 7-Zip. I have re-downloaded also still the same error. Regards

 

[montag451]

Do the same archives show the same errors on another system?

 

[imported_StickMan]

Originally posted by: montag451
Do the same archives show the same errors on another system?

just burning them to disk then i will try it - Doh i should have tried this - LoL

 

[imported_StickMan]

Yes i get the same error message.

 

[Fardringle]

Corrupt files, then. Or the wrong compression program. Where are you getting them from?

 

[imported_StickMan]

Hi, Downloaded from Limewire, never had this problem before. just started recently. Most archives are fine its only 3 archives that is the prob ..... Incidently they are from the same peer. Regards

 

[Fardringle]

They're almost certainly corrupted or bad files, then. Especially if they are all from the same place.

 

[mechBgon]

Originally posted by: Fardringle
They're almost certainly corrupted or bad files, then. Especially if they are all from the same place.

Or all infected with the same viruses. Make sure your antivirus program is set to scan within compressed files and executables if the option is under your control.

edit: StickMan, what are some of the file names?

 

[imported_StickMan]

Hi mechBgon, The file names are as follows.

TMPWinRAR.v3.20.and.key.zip
TMPWinACE, WinRAR, & WinZip 8 (Fully Working Plus Cracks) .zip
TMPNEW Flash.Website.Templates.zip
TMPIntro Builder Flash4D v3.0 Professional By EuropeanExchanger.rar

Thanx for your time and effort

Best Regards

Joby

Run a test on them and reports : No Archive Found

Also tried to unarc intro builder in DOS using unrar.exe with the relev switches and it reports Not a RAR file?

 

[mechBgon]

That stuff and pr0n-oriented stuff are the type of filenames the P2P-aware worms generate to lure you. New trojans and bot-worm variants arrive pretty much every hour of the day, and some use rootkits to make themselves thenceforth undetectable to your antivirus software, even with updated definitions. Example for you to check out

This is a true hybrid worm as it contains many functions, firstly the IRCBot which can spread over the network, next to this it has got AIM and P2P spreading capabilities.
Embedded in the bot is an IM-Worm.Win32.Kelvir variant and a rootkit to stealth the presence on the system.

So the message is kinda clear: you play with cracks/warez/pron, you risk getting 0wned. Save yourself from yourself, eh?

 

[Jeff7]

Other possibility - they are not ZIP files. Get Gspot and see if it can figure out what kind of file they actually are. Many people in those particular "communities" are morons when it comes to filenames, and switch around extensions for some psychotic reason.