The premier Archive manager for Windows from Nico Mak Computing

When un-zipping a file sent from a Macintosh using Zip-IT and the archive extracts without error but the files are not usable, the following excerpt from the Zip-it FAQ page explains the likely problem and solution:

I'm sending a zip archive that I created with ZipIt to someone without a Macintosh, and he or she is able to unzip the files, but they are unusable after being unzipped.:

When you zip a binary file (this includes just about anything, including Microsoft Word, PageMaker, etc.) that is intended to go to a non-Macintosh, you should make sure that the MB and the LF indicators are both OFF (hollow) for each file in the archive. The MB indicator is a circle in the MB column, and the LF indicator is a square. If either of these indicators is filled, then click on it to switch its setting. (The MB setting means convert to MacBinary, and the LF setting means translate linefeeds; neither of these is appropriate for a binary file going from a Mac to an IBM.)

If the same thing happens on your end - i.e., if someone sends you a zip archive and you are unable to use the contents after successfully unzipping it - then you should try switching the setting of the LF indicator before unzipping the file.

See also:

• WinZip.com