subject: What To Do When Zip File Header Gets Corrupted [print this page] A zip file header is the location in the Zip file where all the information about the file is stored. The information can be about the file creation date, size of the file, etc. But, when the header gets corrupted, it can cause the whole Zip file to become corrupt. As a result of corruption, the data stored in the Zip file becomes inaccessible. An ideal way to overcome such situations is to restore the data from a recent and valid backup file. But, in case the backup is not available, or also gets corrupted, then a powerful zip repair software will enable you to retrieve your data from the corrupted Zip file.
For instance Sometimes, while you try to extract the zip archive, the process fails and you encounter the below mentioned error message:
header corrupt
You may also encounter this error message due to corruption in self-extractors along with Zip files, provided the error message occurs frequently. After this error message flashes, you fail to access the data stored in the Zip file. At such a point, you need to find out the cause of the problem and resolution for the same.
Cause:
Possible reasons for the above mentioned error message are:
If the file was downloaded, then the errors due to network problems can make the file corrupt.
Virus like CIH can also make the file corrupt.
Resolution:
To resolve the issue, consider the following measures:
Try to download the file again.
If after frequent attempts of downloading the file, the problem persists, then your computer may be infected by virus, which also damages the Zip file. In such case, use an effective virus scanner or anti-virus to rule out the virus completely.
If this does not help and the file gets corrupted, then it is recommended to perform zip recovery using an effective third-party application known as repair zip file software. These are extremely powerful applications that scan the corrupted Zip files via high-end scanning mechanisms to retrieve your data completely. Additionally, these tools provide intuitive graphical user interface that makes them user-friendly and self-explanatory.
