.docx becomes .zip

[Tsubasa]

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]

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?

 

[Tsubasa]

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

 

[Herb Tyson [MVP]]

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.

 

[Tsubasa]

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... =(

 

[Terry Farrell]

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

 

[Brian17]

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]

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

 

[Tsubasa]

Terry,
Any idea if upgrading the IE would help?

 

[Lance]

I upgraded to IE 7 and it fixed the problem for me. Now the .docx, .pptx, and
..xlsx files open correctly instead of as .zip files.

Lance

 

[lmcghee]

What if you already have IE 7 and are current on updates? I've confirmed it
works with Firefox, and I've download the Office 2007 converter, but the
files still want to open as a .zip in IE. Is there a registry setting? I
couldn't find anything in the MS KB. Thank you.

 

[siv.solheim]

What if you already have IE 7 and are current on updates? I've confirmed it
works with Firefox, and I've download the Office 2007 converter, but the
files still want to open as a .zip in IE. Is there a registry setting? I
couldn't find anything in the MS KB. Thank you.





- Vis sitert tekst -

Hi, I just came across this post as I'm trying to find a solution to
the exact same problem. Any updates on this issue?
I'm running two different pcs, one with WinXP/IE6 and the other with
Vista/IE7, and I'm experiencing this problem on both. Downloading a
docx, pptx or xlsx file, prompts me to open it/save it as .zip.
I checked the File Types associations and .docx is associated with
Word 2007.

Any help appreciated.