Issue:
ZIP files were incorrectly associated with an alternate application, causing the system to automatically to open files as Word documents. When attempting to open these files, an error message indicated that the content was unreadable.
Cause:
The file association settings on the system were changed, resulting in ZIP files being associated with Microsoft Word instead of the appropriate application for compressed files.
Resolution:
To resolve this issue, reset the file association for ZIP files to the correct application. Follow these steps:
Open the system settings for default apps or file associations.
Locate the file type .zip in the list of file associations.
Change the associated application from Microsoft Word to the correct program for handling ZIP files (such as File Explorer or a compression utility).
Save the changes and verify that ZIP files now open with the correct application.