.docx becomes .zip

Tsubasa · External Since: Apr 19, 2007 Posts: 4

Hi guys, need help. Have a user when she installed with Office 2007. When she
open .docx files via Internet, the system prompts her to download a .zip file
instead. I am suspecting there's a registry key involved. User is using Win
XP. Don't wish to adopt reformatting.

The current workaround that i have now is to ask the user to save the
document with a .docx extension, it works and opens with Office 2007, but
that's not what the user wants.

What i have done (all these doesn't work)
1) Changing file type of .docx to Office 2007
2) Reinstalling Office 2007
3) Installing Office 2003 with Compatibility Pack

Terry Farrell · External Since: Dec 08, 2003 Posts: 1582

Word 2007 document files .docx are in reality several xml files zipped
together and given the .docx extension. You can see this on any system by
changing the docname.docx to docname.zip and opening them in WinZip or
similar utility. That will display the individual component files.

But quite why your user is having this problem is weird. Something is
looking at the file format and recognising it is a zip file. When you say
she opens a .docx file by the Internet, what exactly do you mean by that?
What is the user opening it with and from what source?

--
Terry Farrell - MS Word MVP

"Tsubasa" <Tsubasa.TakeThisOut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:061CC345-4318-41B2-8BF4-C3F5CF3DF839@microsoft.com...
> Hi guys, need help. Have a user when she installed with Office 2007. When
> she
> open .docx files via Internet, the system prompts her to download a .zip
> file
> instead. I am suspecting there's a registry key involved. User is using
> Win
> XP. Don't wish to adopt reformatting.
>
> The current workaround that i have now is to ask the user to save the
> document with a .docx extension, it works and opens with Office 2007, but
> that's not what the user wants.
>
> What i have done (all these doesn't work)
> 1) Changing file type of .docx to Office 2007
> 2) Reinstalling Office 2007
> 3) Installing Office 2003 with Compatibility Pack
>
>
>

Tsubasa · External Since: Apr 19, 2007 Posts: 4

Hi Terry,
You know, usually when you click on a link that is attached to a document,
IE opens the program(e.g MS Word/MS Excel) in the same IE window right? She
just click on the link that has the reference to the docx file and IE prompts
her to download a zip file. The source is Blackboard.

Thanks

"Terry Farrell" wrote:

> Word 2007 document files .docx are in reality several xml files zipped
> together and given the .docx extension. You can see this on any system by
> changing the docname.docx to docname.zip and opening them in WinZip or
> similar utility. That will display the individual component files.
>
> But quite why your user is having this problem is weird. Something is
> looking at the file format and recognising it is a zip file. When you say
> she opens a .docx file by the Internet, what exactly do you mean by that?
> What is the user opening it with and from what source?
>
> --
> Terry Farrell - MS Word MVP
>
> "Tsubasa" <Tsubasa.DeleteThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:061CC345-4318-41B2-8BF4-C3F5CF3DF839@microsoft.com...
> > Hi guys, need help. Have a user when she installed with Office 2007. When
> > she
> > open .docx files via Internet, the system prompts her to download a .zip
> > file
> > instead. I am suspecting there's a registry key involved. User is using
> > Win
> > XP. Don't wish to adopt reformatting.
> >
> > The current workaround that i have now is to ask the user to save the
> > document with a .docx extension, it works and opens with Office 2007, but
> > that's not what the user wants.
> >
> > What i have done (all these doesn't work)
> > 1) Changing file type of .docx to Office 2007
> > 2) Reinstalling Office 2007
> > 3) Installing Office 2003 with Compatibility Pack
> >
> >
> >
>
>

Herb Tyson [MVP] · External Since: Oct 02, 2003 Posts: 2144

Try right-clicking and choosing Save Target As. Then save the file to the
HDD, and use Word to open it.

It really does sound like IE has been set to treat .docx files as .zip
files.

What happens when she double-clicks a .docx file in Windows Explorer?
Perhaps the file type got changed from the default. I would try resetting
the default program for .docx files to Word 2007 from within Windows
Explorer.

--
Herb Tyson MS MVP
Author of the Word 2007 Bible
Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
Web: http://www.herbtyson.com
"Tsubasa" <Tsubasa RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:720C9AFB-0971-43C3-8B28-18110B90A063@microsoft.com...
> Hi Terry,
> You know, usually when you click on a link that is attached to a document,
> IE opens the program(e.g MS Word/MS Excel) in the same IE window right?
> She
> just click on the link that has the reference to the docx file and IE
> prompts
> her to download a zip file. The source is Blackboard.
>
> Thanks
>
> "Terry Farrell" wrote:
>
>> Word 2007 document files .docx are in reality several xml files zipped
>> together and given the .docx extension. You can see this on any system by
>> changing the docname.docx to docname.zip and opening them in WinZip or
>> similar utility. That will display the individual component files.
>>
>> But quite why your user is having this problem is weird. Something is
>> looking at the file format and recognising it is a zip file. When you say
>> she opens a .docx file by the Internet, what exactly do you mean by that?
>> What is the user opening it with and from what source?
>>
>> --
>> Terry Farrell - MS Word MVP
>>
>> "Tsubasa" <Tsubasa RemoveThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:061CC345-4318-41B2-8BF4-C3F5CF3DF839@microsoft.com...
>> > Hi guys, need help. Have a user when she installed with Office 2007.
>> > When
>> > she
>> > open .docx files via Internet, the system prompts her to download a
>> > .zip
>> > file
>> > instead. I am suspecting there's a registry key involved. User is using
>> > Win
>> > XP. Don't wish to adopt reformatting.
>> >
>> > The current workaround that i have now is to ask the user to save the
>> > document with a .docx extension, it works and opens with Office 2007,
>> > but
>> > that's not what the user wants.
>> >
>> > What i have done (all these doesn't work)
>> > 1) Changing file type of .docx to Office 2007
>> > 2) Reinstalling Office 2007
>> > 3) Installing Office 2003 with Compatibility Pack
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>>

Tsubasa · External Since: Apr 19, 2007 Posts: 4

Hi,
Tried that... it will work... but that's not what the user want... :'(
Tried to change the file type to run with MS Office 2007. Doesn't work
too... =(

"Herb Tyson [MVP]" wrote:

> Try right-clicking and choosing Save Target As. Then save the file to the
> HDD, and use Word to open it.
>
> It really does sound like IE has been set to treat .docx files as .zip
> files.
>
> What happens when she double-clicks a .docx file in Windows Explorer?
> Perhaps the file type got changed from the default. I would try resetting
> the default program for .docx files to Word 2007 from within Windows
> Explorer.
>
> --
> Herb Tyson MS MVP
> Author of the Word 2007 Bible
> Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
> Web: http://www.herbtyson.com
> "Tsubasa" <Tsubasa.TakeThisOut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:720C9AFB-0971-43C3-8B28-18110B90A063@microsoft.com...
> > Hi Terry,
> > You know, usually when you click on a link that is attached to a document,
> > IE opens the program(e.g MS Word/MS Excel) in the same IE window right?
> > She
> > just click on the link that has the reference to the docx file and IE
> > prompts
> > her to download a zip file. The source is Blackboard.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > "Terry Farrell" wrote:
> >
> >> Word 2007 document files .docx are in reality several xml files zipped
> >> together and given the .docx extension. You can see this on any system by
> >> changing the docname.docx to docname.zip and opening them in WinZip or
> >> similar utility. That will display the individual component files.
> >>
> >> But quite why your user is having this problem is weird. Something is
> >> looking at the file format and recognising it is a zip file. When you say
> >> she opens a .docx file by the Internet, what exactly do you mean by that?
> >> What is the user opening it with and from what source?
> >>
> >> --
> >> Terry Farrell - MS Word MVP
> >>
> >> "Tsubasa" <Tsubasa.TakeThisOut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> >> news:061CC345-4318-41B2-8BF4-C3F5CF3DF839@microsoft.com...
> >> > Hi guys, need help. Have a user when she installed with Office 2007.
> >> > When
> >> > she
> >> > open .docx files via Internet, the system prompts her to download a
> >> > .zip
> >> > file
> >> > instead. I am suspecting there's a registry key involved. User is using
> >> > Win
> >> > XP. Don't wish to adopt reformatting.
> >> >
> >> > The current workaround that i have now is to ask the user to save the
> >> > document with a .docx extension, it works and opens with Office 2007,
> >> > but
> >> > that's not what the user wants.
> >> >
> >> > What i have done (all these doesn't work)
> >> > 1) Changing file type of .docx to Office 2007
> >> > 2) Reinstalling Office 2007
> >> > 3) Installing Office 2003 with Compatibility Pack
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >>
> >>
>
>

Terry Farrell · External Since: Dec 08, 2003 Posts: 1582

Try opening IE7 and go to Tools Options, Internet Options and click on the
Set Programs button. Chose Set associations and make sure that .docm and
docx are both set to associate with Microsoft Office Word. Do the same for
the template options too.

Terry

"Tsubasa" <Tsubasa.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:8EC3BC13-98AF-47A3-B0E2-09679E2C4A76@microsoft.com...
> Hi,
> Tried that... it will work... but that's not what the user want... :'(
> Tried to change the file type to run with MS Office 2007. Doesn't work
> too... =(
>
>
> "Herb Tyson [MVP]" wrote:
>
>> Try right-clicking and choosing Save Target As. Then save the file to the
>> HDD, and use Word to open it.
>>
>> It really does sound like IE has been set to treat .docx files as .zip
>> files.
>>
>> What happens when she double-clicks a .docx file in Windows Explorer?
>> Perhaps the file type got changed from the default. I would try resetting
>> the default program for .docx files to Word 2007 from within Windows
>> Explorer.
>>
>> --
>> Herb Tyson MS MVP
>> Author of the Word 2007 Bible
>> Blog: http://word2007bible.herbtyson.com
>> Web: http://www.herbtyson.com
>> "Tsubasa" <Tsubasa.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:720C9AFB-0971-43C3-8B28-18110B90A063@microsoft.com...
>> > Hi Terry,
>> > You know, usually when you click on a link that is attached to a
>> > document,
>> > IE opens the program(e.g MS Word/MS Excel) in the same IE window right?
>> > She
>> > just click on the link that has the reference to the docx file and IE
>> > prompts
>> > her to download a zip file. The source is Blackboard.
>> >
>> > Thanks
>> >
>> > "Terry Farrell" wrote:
>> >
>> >> Word 2007 document files .docx are in reality several xml files zipped
>> >> together and given the .docx extension. You can see this on any system
>> >> by
>> >> changing the docname.docx to docname.zip and opening them in WinZip or
>> >> similar utility. That will display the individual component files.
>> >>
>> >> But quite why your user is having this problem is weird. Something is
>> >> looking at the file format and recognising it is a zip file. When you
>> >> say
>> >> she opens a .docx file by the Internet, what exactly do you mean by
>> >> that?
>> >> What is the user opening it with and from what source?
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >> Terry Farrell - MS Word MVP
>> >>
>> >> "Tsubasa" <Tsubasa.RemoveThis@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> >> news:061CC345-4318-41B2-8BF4-C3F5CF3DF839@microsoft.com...
>> >> > Hi guys, need help. Have a user when she installed with Office 2007.
>> >> > When
>> >> > she
>> >> > open .docx files via Internet, the system prompts her to download a
>> >> > .zip
>> >> > file
>> >> > instead. I am suspecting there's a registry key involved. User is
>> >> > using
>> >> > Win
>> >> > XP. Don't wish to adopt reformatting.
>> >> >
>> >> > The current workaround that i have now is to ask the user to save
>> >> > the
>> >> > document with a .docx extension, it works and opens with Office
>> >> > 2007,
>> >> > but
>> >> > that's not what the user wants.
>> >> >
>> >> > What i have done (all these doesn't work)
>> >> > 1) Changing file type of .docx to Office 2007
>> >> > 2) Reinstalling Office 2007
>> >> > 3) Installing Office 2003 with Compatibility Pack
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >> >
>> >>
>> >>
>>
>>

Brian17 · External Since: May 25, 2007 Posts: 6

Hi, I just came across this post. I am experiencing the same issue. I posted
2 files, .docx and .xlsx to a test web page. In IE7 (on WinXP SP2 with Office
2007) when I left click the files, I am prompted to open them. When I click
the open button, WinZip launches. If I right click the links, then choose
Save As, Win Zip is picked in the save as type.

However, this works fine in Firefox 1.5.0.7. Left clicking the link in
Firefox prompts me to associate it with Word 2007, and then it opens fine.

I checked the File Types associations and .docx is associated with Word 2007.

Terry: I tried the steps you list below, but in IE7 - Tools - Internet
Options there is no "Set Associations" button. Where are you seeing that?

Any help anyone can provide, would be helpful.
Thanks,
Brian

"Terry Farrell" wrote:

> Try opening IE7 and go to Tools Options, Internet Options and click on the
> Set Programs button. Chose Set associations and make sure that .docm and
> docx are both set to associate with Microsoft Office Word. Do the same for
> the template options too.
>
> Terry

Terry Farrell · External Since: Dec 08, 2003 Posts: 1582

Brian

I believe what I suggested is applicable to IE7 running in Vista.

In IE7 use Tools, Options, select the Program tab. AT the bottom of the
dialog is a Set Programs buttons. That launched Vista's Default Programs
dialog and one of the dialog selections is 'Associate a file type or
protocol with a program'.

For the life of me, I cannot remember the procedure for Windows XP though.

Terry

"Brian17" <Brian17 DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:084B00A4-8F28-4658-94A3-DD2DDFE81F9C@microsoft.com...
> Hi, I just came across this post. I am experiencing the same issue. I
> posted
> 2 files, .docx and .xlsx to a test web page. In IE7 (on WinXP SP2 with
> Office
> 2007) when I left click the files, I am prompted to open them. When I
> click
> the open button, WinZip launches. If I right click the links, then choose
> Save As, Win Zip is picked in the save as type.
>
> However, this works fine in Firefox 1.5.0.7. Left clicking the link in
> Firefox prompts me to associate it with Word 2007, and then it opens fine.
>
> I checked the File Types associations and .docx is associated with Word
> 2007.
>
> Terry: I tried the steps you list below, but in IE7 - Tools - Internet
> Options there is no "Set Associations" button. Where are you seeing that?
>
> Any help anyone can provide, would be helpful.
> Thanks,
> Brian
>
>
>
> "Terry Farrell" wrote:
>
>> Try opening IE7 and go to Tools Options, Internet Options and click on
>> the
>> Set Programs button. Chose Set associations and make sure that .docm and
>> docx are both set to associate with Microsoft Office Word. Do the same
>> for
>> the template options too.
>>
>> Terry
>

Tsubasa · External Since: Apr 19, 2007 Posts: 4

Terry,
Any idea if upgrading the IE would help?

"Terry Farrell" wrote:

> Brian
>
> I believe what I suggested is applicable to IE7 running in Vista.
>
> In IE7 use Tools, Options, select the Program tab. AT the bottom of the
> dialog is a Set Programs buttons. That launched Vista's Default Programs
> dialog and one of the dialog selections is 'Associate a file type or
> protocol with a program'.
>
> For the life of me, I cannot remember the procedure for Windows XP though.
>
> Terry
>
> "Brian17" <Brian17.TakeThisOut@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:084B00A4-8F28-4658-94A3-DD2DDFE81F9C@microsoft.com...
> > Hi, I just came across this post. I am experiencing the same issue. I
> > posted
> > 2 files, .docx and .xlsx to a test web page. In IE7 (on WinXP SP2 with
> > Office
> > 2007) when I left click the files, I am prompted to open them. When I
> > click
> > the open button, WinZip launches. If I right click the links, then choose
> > Save As, Win Zip is picked in the save as type.
> >
> > However, this works fine in Firefox 1.5.0.7. Left clicking the link in
> > Firefox prompts me to associate it with Word 2007, and then it opens fine.
> >
> > I checked the File Types associations and .docx is associated with Word
> > 2007.
> >
> > Terry: I tried the steps you list below, but in IE7 - Tools - Internet
> > Options there is no "Set Associations" button. Where are you seeing that?
> >
> > Any help anyone can provide, would be helpful.
> > Thanks,
> > Brian
> >
> >
> >
> > "Terry Farrell" wrote:
> >
> >> Try opening IE7 and go to Tools Options, Internet Options and click on
> >> the
> >> Set Programs button. Chose Set associations and make sure that .docm and
> >> docx are both set to associate with Microsoft Office Word. Do the same
> >> for
> >> the template options too.
> >>
> >> Terry
> >
>

teacherwalton · Joined: Oct 02, 2008 Posts: 1

I know this is late and you may not be looking for an answer anymore, but I stumbled on this post in my search for a solution to the same issue. I'm teaching in a classroom where this is happening and students were really not happy with the work around. I searched everywhere with no answers so I started playing around. Here's what I isolated as the fix for us....

Our Microsoft updates were set to download and install critical updates. I had to go to Microsoft Update and make sure the optional updates for .NET framework were installed. When you go to Microsoft Update, click on Custom and the optional updates for .NET framework are under Software. Basically, .NET framework wasn't on those machines, so when you clicked on a .docx, .xlsx or .pptx file, it downloaded as a zip file and not the true type.

Hope this works for you or someone else.

teacherwalton Very Happy

bbell2000 · Joined: Oct 23, 2008 Posts: 1

I too stumbled on this post while looking for a solution to the same problem. Unfortunately in my situation, the .pptx that's causing the problem is *not* running on IIS... i.e., updating .NET on the server is not an option because there is no .NET.

To make matters worse, we're only having this issue from specific clients and it seems to be location-based. I.e., at least one person has this issue when connecting from our office or through the VPN, but when he physically takes his laptop to the data center where the affected web server is running, the problem disappears.

danlip · Joined: Feb 19, 2009 Posts: 1

Some solutions: http://www.danlipofsky.com/technical/ie7zip/

Summary: if you have control over the server you can set the mime-types
and avoid this problem.

If you don't then the best solutions is to use Firefox instead of IE (which is a good idea for many reasons, including security). If you have to use IE you can do "save as" or rename the extension after download.

fahlenkp · Joined: Apr 17, 2009 Posts: 1

hi all, I have some customers who had this problem. Saving as a .docx etc didnt work. I came up with a fix with 1 whole screenshot and hand drawn circle around the setting. Put it on my site here- http://windowsnerd.com/2009/04/17/xlsx-and-docx-are-being-saved-as-a-z...file-in

Let me know if this works or doesn't work in the comments on windowsnerd. I'll do more work if needed. I have a bunch of test machines to replicate the problem now that I know how it is happening.

sam111986 · Joined: Aug 27, 2009 Posts: 1

Hi, I have IIS 5.1 installed on my computer with windows xp pro (sp2). I use Coldfusion MX.
I have added the mime types to my IIS.
I've also added these mime types to the metabase.bin.
However, when i access my website (with IE7 )on localhost the problem still remains.
The office 2007 files are stll being downloaded as .zip files.
Any sugestions Question