Well. Fronting error 0x80004005 is not that unusual. As you are here, you may have encountered the file zipping error message on your computer. The entire message verbatim is like this:
An unexpected error is keeping you from copying the file. If you continue to receive this error, you can use the error code to search for help with this problem.
Error 0x80004005: Unspecified error
If your Windows throws you a message exactly or similar to this, don’t worry. You are in safe hands. As a tech enthusiast, I researched it and accrued some crazy fixes to dissolve the problem.
So, keep reading. Please, read this article thoroughly to vanish all your doubts.
Why does the Unexpected Zip File Error Occur?
When you try to open a compressed or .zip file and extract the contents from a password-protected file, the error 0x80004005 may occur. But,
Do you know what are the aspects actively working behind this error to have happened?
Here is a great example for you.
Suppose you have a zip file compressed with the mechanism of Deflate, whereas your friend has a couple of text files where BZip2, LZMA, PPMd algorithms are used. If other conditions are unchanged, you will unzip your file without any hassle, but the ones of your friend will not be unzipped; instead, the Windows will throw an error message.
On a similar note, Windows 10 does not support the encryption method AES-256. Trying to open an AES-256 compressed file may cause you to get the error 0x80004005 message. However, AES-128 and ZipCrypto are supported by Windows.
Though the aforesaid is the prime reason, there are some other causes behind the zip file unspecified error. Let’s have a look at those.
- Click on the File menu and choose the Exit option from it to close the zip file. In most cases, the users do not do it, which eventually enhances the chance of the file getting corrupted and displaying the unspecified error message.
- Repeatedly ignoring the error message instead of fixing it may cause the unspecified error.
- If the zip file is open in the background and you forcefully power off your computer, the file is most likely to be corrupted and damaged permanently.
- If your system is infected by harmful viruses, they may damage the zip file headers and make them unreadable.
- Zip files often get caught by viruses when you transmit them over the network. At that time, you may witness an unexpected zip error.
Though there are manual ways to repair corrupted ZIP files, you cannot use them if the ZIP files are heavily damaged. Hence, for your comfortability and safety, download and use proficient ZIP repair software to your computer.
You may also like to read: Failed to play test tone Error on Windows 7,8,10.
How to Fix Error 0x80004005?
As you already know, the error 0x80004005 usually occurs when dealing with a password-protected zip file in your Windows 8 system. Neither Windows 8 can unzip the file, nor does it prompt you to insert a password to the file if needed.
Under these circumstances, there is a pretty straightforward solution for you.
Here are the steps to fix the error 0x80004005:
1. Use a third-party archive tool
They often have diverse encryption and decryption methods or algorithms that ensure the information to be extracted safely. The problem basically occurs when you just use your system’s default zip file handler.
What I just mentioned was the simplest way to bypass the error. Apart from that, there are some other possible ways to fix the error. Let’s talk about those in brief.
Read more on how to Fix Windows 11 Install Error 0x800f0922.
2. Change the Permission Settings
If you download the file from the internet, check the reliability of the file source. If you find the site and the file trusted, you can change the permission.
Here are steps on how to change the permission:
- Right-click on the file.
- Click on Properties from the appeared options.
- Navigate to the Security tab.
- Check if the system belongs to the Owner.
- Select User Account.
- Check if the User Account has full permission and set it to Allow.
- Make sure the changes are applied to all folders, sub-folders, and files.
3. Use System File Checker (SFC)
Another way to fix it is using the system file checker. It is a built-in tool to scan all protected files and repair those if required.
Here are the steps to initiate system file checker on your system.
- Open Windows Terminal in the search bar.
- Launch it with admin permission.
- Type sfc/scannow and hit Enter.
Now, wait until it notifies you about the fix.
Still, you cannot solve your problem; check if your file is corrupted. If yes, download the file and try again.
FAQ
Question: Why can I not open a compressed zipped folder?
Answer: Incomplete download or the corrupt file may often occur this problem. If your network is not stable or the source you download the file from is corrupted, your zipped folder will not be opened.
Question: How can I open zip files on android?
Answer: Download any efficient zip file opener application from the Play Store. WinZip, 7-Zipper are the most popular zip file openers at present.
Question: Are zip files safe?
Answer: Normally, zipped files are not harmful themselves. But, often, people having inauspicious intents may harm you by sending something hiding malicious contents inside it.
Question: Can I delete a zip file?
Answer: Of course, you can. Click on the file. Then, press Shift and Delete on your keyboard simultaneously. Alternatively, right-click the zip file. Next, select Move to Trash from the appeared options. This way, you can delete a zip file.
Conclusion
To sum up, error 0x80004005 is not a problem to be alarmed at. By following the fixes, you can solve the problem easily, and I believe you have already fixed your error. Please, let me know if I am thinking right.
In case if you do not know the password of the zipped file, try to contact the person who originally zipped the file and introduced a password for safety. If it is not possible, try password recovery software to deal with it.
Was this article helpful? If yes, share it with your friends who are also facing difficulty in opening a zipped file.
And, for any further queries, comment in the box below. I will get back to you as early as I can.
