Opening Zip Attachments in Windows 7

Problem: When using Outlook 2003 on Windows 7, users can’t open zip attachments from a message – double clicking on the zip brings up the open/save dialog but clicking Open does not open it (the zip is saved in the securetemp folder each time you double click though).

To open the zips, users need to save them to the hard drive then open if they want to use Windows Compressed folders feature. (If they install a zip program, there is no problem – zips open as expected.)

This is apparently “by design” and is related to the new Libraries file management feature. There is registry value that controls how the explorer handles certain file types for specific applications and this registry value can be edited as a workaround.

However, because we don’t know if editing this key might cause other problems it’s highly recommended users install a 3rd party zip program instead. (There are a number of free zip programs available.)

Open the registry editor and browse to this key on 32-bit Windows:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREMicrosoftWindowsCurrentVersion ShellCompatibilityApplicationsoutlook.exe

In 64-bit Windows, the key is:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESOFTWAREWow6432NodeMicrosoftWindows CurrentVersionShellCompatibilityApplicationsoutlook.exe

The key will contain these values:

String: STRIPFOLDERBIT
String: VERSION
Original Data value: 11.*,10.*,9.*,8.*,7.*

Either delete (or rename) the STRIPFOLDERBIT value or edit the VERSION string value, removing 11.*;

New VERSION string value: 10.*;9.*;8.*;7.*

Reboot Windows.

I tested both methods and each allowed me to open zip attachments.

Thanks to cainef for bringing this problem and the fix to my attention.

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Tags: attachments, zip

This article is filed under Email, How to..., Outlook 2003.
Last reviewed on Oct 31, 2011