Can't run files with double-click

[joakim_46]

Until PowerArchiver 8.80 I could run for example a .htm file inside a ZIP or RAR archive and it would be displayed by the associated application. But with PowerArchiver 9.0 this feature is broken. I double-click on any file and it will do nothing, to open any file I have to use the View button and the associated application.
No error messages are displayed, but I can see the unpacking progress bar working.
I’m using PowerArchiver 9.0 Final under Windows XP SP1.

[joakim_46]

Can anyone help me with this issue?

[ivan]

We need more information:

1. what is your temp folder (you can see it from Options -> Configuration -> Folders)?
2. what your Windows language and default keyboard language?

[joakim_46]

@ivan:

We need more information:

1. what is your temp folder (you can see it from Options -> Configuration -> Folders)?
2. what your Windows language and default keyboard language?

My temp folder is C:\DOCUME~1\David\DEFINI~1\Temp

My Windows language is Portuguese (Standard) and the keyboard language is also Portuguese.

[ivan]

Thanks!

The bug will be fixed in release v9.00.32.

[joakim_46]

Thank you. I was getting crazy with this bug. I hope you release the new version soon.

[spwolf]

@joakim_46:

Thank you. I was getting crazy with this bug. I hope you release the new version soon.

You can download the newest version over our website or through web update.

thanks!

[TBGBe]

@spwolf:

You can download the newest version over our website or through web update.

But that is still 9.00.31 (16/07/2004)?

[spwolf]

@TBGBe:

But that is still 9.00.31 (16/07/2004)?

nope, its the new file, please download it… thanks!

[TBGBe]

:eek: I did check before posting …
Honest…

[joakim_46]

I tested the new build 32 and I can confirm that the bug REMAINS, it has not been fixed. Can you look at the problem again?

Thank you.

[spwolf]

works fine with the issue we found… what is exact/full path to your temp folder?
Try changing your temp folder to “C:\test” and see if that works.

thanks1

[joakim_46]

Doesn’t work either by changing the Temp folder. I’ve tried different temp folders and no luck. It must be something else you’ve done with the 9.0 version, because until the 8.80 version I never had this problem.

[davidsplash]

what is the name of your file your trying to duble click and its size and format.

Could it be that your associations in windows has changed or been messed up by another program. i can not replicate this problem.

[joakim_46]

It occurs with any file no mater the name or type, inside any archive (RAR, ZIP, 7Z…).

[spwolf]

@joakim_46:

It occurs with any file no mater the name or type, inside any archive (RAR, ZIP, 7Z…).

What else do you have running at the same time?

[joakim_46]

I have running: Norton AntiVirus 2004 (I already tried disabling, but no luck, the problem remains) and WinGate proxy software.

[davidsplash]

try powerarchiver in safe mode if this works then it is something in your startup files that is causing this. or something that you load once windows starts.

[davidsplash]

have you thought about also if powerarchier in windows safe mode does not work then that your registary is corrupted? run scanreg and see if that is the case also scandisk

[joakim_46]

I will try in safe mode and will post results. I don’t think the problem is with the registry because if I uninstall version 9.0 and install the 8.80 it works fine. Then I uninstall the 8.80 and install the 9.0 again and the problem is back. It occurs only with the 9.0 version (including betas).

[joakim_46]

I found that when I double-click in the file it really extracts it to the temporary folder (I’ve checked) but then it doesn’t open it with the associated Windows application.

[spwolf]

We have changed way of updating things in 8.8 and then in 9.0. We will have to check why doesnt it work for you now since we cant reproduce it and nobody else reported it yet, so we can not point out the issue.

thank you,

[joakim_46]

Thank you. Please check it out.

[joakim_46]

Finally I found what was causing the bug. If I disable the “Ask to update if the file has been changed” option, PA2004 will not open files with double-click. Is this a normal behavior? I’m asking this because viewing a file won’t do any changes.

[spwolf]

Hmph,

well thats the cause, but I dont see why it doesnt work on your computer while it works everywhere else. From version 8.8 we monitor the temp folder for file change, so if PA detects that you have saved the file it will ask for update. Before 8.8 we did it differently and that caused problems with half of the people using.

We even changed the monitoring code between 8.8 and 9.0.

thanks,

[TBGBe]

@joakim_46:

Finally I found what was causing the bug. If I disable the “Ask to update if the file has been changed” option, PA2004 will not open files with double-click. Is this a normal behavior? I’m asking this because viewing a file won’t do any changes.

Sorry, spwolf - I can confirm this under Win98 (English) PA9.00.33
Opening Tutor.zip and double-clicking file3.txt - nothing happens

I never disable “Ask to update…” so hadn’t tried it before

Good Catch joakim_46

[spwolf]

@TBGBe:

Sorry, spwolf - I can confirm this under Win98 (English) PA9.00.33
Opening Tutor.zip and double-clicking file3.txt - nothing happens

I never disable “Ask to update…” so hadn’t tried it before

Good Catch joakim_46

ah, I have not read the post properly… So it happens when ask for update is disabled? GREAT! No reason to be sorry, important thing about bugs/issues is that we can reproduce them, so it really is much better if we can reproduce it easily (e.g. happens to everyone) than if we cant… Of course, as long as it is nothing too silly :-).

thanks both of you,

[joakim_46]

I never though the problem was caused by this option, but I always disabled it Glad you can reproduce it. Lets hope you fix it in the next release.

[davidsplash]

I have checked this with the sample zip supplied and found that the file does work even with this ask to update on and off.

I’m using windows 98 se and have 64mb ram

if thats any help. it could be that they installed something or something has taken over the txt file that powerarchiver has difficulty opening when you double click a file. we had this problem before witha program called ultra edit notepad replacement

[TBGBe]

Strange, doesn’t work on Win2k either (for me).

I tried both the txt files (Textpad) and the bmp file (Irfanview).
I also tried a pdf file (inside a zip) - the status bar appears to show extracting, but Reader is not launched

[spwolf]

Dont worry, we will check it out and see…. It is not related to any issues from before, since this feature was completly redone in 8.8 and 9.0.

thanks,

[joakim_46]

@TBGBe:

Strange, doesn’t work on Win2k either (for me).

I tried both the txt files (Textpad) and the bmp file (Irfanview).
I also tried a pdf file (inside a zip) - the status bar appears to show extracting, but Reader is not launched

That is what I got, but now with the build 33 and the ask to update option disabled, I managed to get a workaround.

[TBGBe]

@joakim_46:

That is what I got, but now with the build 33 and the ask to update option disabled, I managed to get a workaround.

I think you meant workaround with “Ask to update option enabled” not disabled :p

[joakim_46]

@TBGBe:

I think you meant workaround with “Ask to update option enabled” not disabled :p

Yes, you’re right :p

[davidsplash]

I have no problems and i’m using windows 98 se so it must be a specific problem can you use the ctr alt del key and write down what it sayes and post it here that way we can identify the problem. does it work ok in safe mode? if it does its probably something that is running.

do you have norton products antivirus products firewalls etc.

[TBGBe]

@davidsplash:

I have no problems and i’m using windows 98 se so it must be a specific problem can you use the ctr alt del key and write down what it sayes and post it here that way we can identify the problem. does it work ok in safe mode? if it does its probably something that is running.

do you have norton products antivirus products firewalls etc.

Not sure what you are looking for (happens in both Win98 and Win2k).
Antway attached is screen dump of Win98 about screen and the Task Manager.

Running AVG anti-virus (Avgserv9)
on a laptop (with PS2 mouse - Ocbtray/Point32).

Note : Win2k machine is a desktop and has Trend (instead of AVG); shows same problem.

However, both Win98 and Win2k are English version if that has an influence.
(Although Joakim has WinXP / Portuguese).

Very strange that you cannot reproduce it. Maybe you have a different fault?

Edit: forgot the smiley
“Maybe you have a different fault?” should have been a joke!

[davidsplash]

have you tried this in safe mode?

If it works in safe mde then its a program at start up.

[TBGBe]

:rolleyes: Problem occurs in Safe Mode (Win98) as well !

[davidsplash]

this is very strange as i do not get it and i have windows 98 se

[neilw]

I am also experiencing issues with Power Archiver hanging when double clicking on files in zip archives to view them.

I have found that as files in the archive are opened by double clicking them, Power Archiver creates sub directories in the Windows Temp directory with names ending with numbers in the range 0 to 99.

It appears that the file to be opened is extracted into one of these sub directories prior to launching the associated application. Once 100 sub directories have been created, Power Archiver hangs when double clicking on a file to open it.

Cleaning out the Windows Temp directory seems to allow Power Archiver to create new sub directories and launch files as expected. I have done this several times now and it resolves the issue every time.

I am running PA 9.00.33 on Windows XP.

[spwolf]

oh, thanks - thats a good catch too, who would think that someone would open so many files before closing PA (folders are deleted after you close and open PA again).

thanks,

[spwolf]

p.s. You guys should do any other testing on opening files when “ask for update…” option is disabled, we will check it out so dont spend too much time on it, it should be pretty clear what the issue is.

thanks!

[davidsplash]

Has any of you installed ultimatezip lately there latest beta version has exactly this bug.

[TBGBe]

Ultimate Zip - no, never played with it.

Not sure I understand how PA “Ask to update option” DISabled would be affected by other programs.

Still, when checking compression formats I did play with other utils (for sqx and yz1).
Sqx is almost as good as 7z, but yz1 is not useful (for my needs) so uninstalled that one.

At the moment (on Win98) I have 7-zip, sqx, RAR & Ace utilities - but only PA shows this problem.

[TBGBe]

@spwolf:

p.s. You guys should do any other testing on opening files when “ask for update…” option is disabled, we will check it out so dont spend too much time on it, it should be pretty clear what the issue is.

thanks!

Tutor.Zip

If it helps, PA does create the file in the temp directory.
By double-clicking the file in the temp directory, the program is launched - so the extract part is functioning OK.

PA just does not “launch” the associated application (Txt : Notepad / BMP : IrfanView etc).

[davidsplash]

i do not get this problem sand i’m using the latest pa and windows updates. so i recond it is somethjing to do with your set up what drives do you have what ram what chip set do you have pentium .

it could be some5thing you’ve installed that has affected the registary.

[ivan]

Thanks!

The issue with “Do not ask for update” feature and opening files will be fixed in next release.

Also the limit of opened files has been increased to 1000.

[TBGBe]

Thanks Ivan.

PS Welcome back - hope you had a good vacation

[spwolf]

Hi,

here is the latest TEST version, 9.00.34 with fix for this bug. Please let us know if it fixes the issue and if you notice anything else at all. You can install this version over the last one and restart your computer.

Download TEST version 9.00.34:
http://www.powerarchiver.com/test/powarc90034.exe

thank you!

[TBGBe]

@spwolf:

Hi,

here is the latest TEST version, 9.00.34 with fix for this bug. Please let us know if it fixes the issue

Fixes this problem (for me on Win98).

[joakim_46]

The problem is fixed here too. Good work.