Windows 11 zipped folders / files immediately crashes File Explorer

Anonymous
2022-01-24T04:24:45+00:00

My Dell laptop was previously Windows 10, now 11. When I right click any zipped folder, it immediately crashes Windows Explorer, but then everything comes back. I can't unzip any zipped file at all - doesn't seem to matter what size it is.

I was trying to use the built-in unzipper utility in Windows, and when that didn't work I tried a couple 3rd party apps, including WinZip. Nothing works; they all crash, and they crash on ANY zipped file I have.

And by the way if I try to ZIP any set of files - even just 3 little word files, it does the same thing. The screen flashes, all my icons go away for a second. Then things come back, but nothing will zip or unzip.

thanks if you have any ideas!

Christine

Windows for home | Windows 11 | Performance and system failures

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments

120 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2022-04-15T18:55:52+00:00

    I don't have Carbonite, but I have the Zip file / folder problem.

    Was this answer helpful?

    40+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2022-01-27T20:06:39+00:00

    I've been having the same problem. Any time I click on a .zip file, attempt to open it, or do anything with a window that contains a .zip file, File Explorer crashes and takes all my open FE windows with it.

    The only way I can do anything with .zip files is to launch 7-Zip separately and navigate to the .zip file through the 7-Zip UI. Once I've unzipped the file, I can work with that folder window without problems.

    Any idea what's causing this? I've used .zip files for years in Windows 10 with zero problems. Seems like a random thing to go wrong with Windows 11.

    I've applied all available Windows updates.

    Was this answer helpful?

    30+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2023-12-27T17:18:29+00:00

    Hi,

    I'm on windows 11. I had the same problem for a long time, trying a lot of solution without any result except this one that fix the problem for me.
    I found that the crash is in relation with Adobe CS4 that is installed on my computer.

    To fix it

    1. I have installed ShellExView : https://www.nirsoft.net/utils/shexview.html
    2. Search for Adobe Drive CS4 / Context Menu in the list
    3. Disable it
    4. relaunch explorer

    Hope it can help.

    Was this answer helpful?

    30+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2022-01-31T15:36:37+00:00

    I'm having the same problem as Alex Hare described.

    Installed Win 11 a few days ago. Yesterday was the first time I tried to do anything with a zip file, i.e. click and drag it into a folder. FE blows up and that's that.

    All I have to do is right-mouse-click on a zip file and it happens.

    This is serious enough for me to revert back to Win 10.

    Was this answer helpful?

    10+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2022-02-15T17:02:11+00:00

    At this point, all I need to say is "same here".

    Was this answer helpful?

    10+ people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments