Remove Compatibility Mode settings from the registry for 32-bit versions of WinZip

A Compatibility Mode setting can cause problems when you try to install WinZip. An internal error, which reports Unexpected Win32 API Failure, may occur. In the error log file produced by this issue, the description File:fileid.c will appear. This is caused when your operating system thinks that it is Windows 98 or Windows 95, due to the compatibility mode setting for WinZip.

If there is a version of WinZip already installed:

1. Right-click a WinZip shortcut (on the desktop, on the Start menu, etc.) or right click winzip32.exe in the WinZip folder in Program Files or in Program Files (x86)
2. Choose Properties and click the Compatibility tab
3. In this tab, remove any and all check marks

Specifically for this issue, you should remove the check from the box next to Run this application in compatibility mode and click OK. Once this is done, WinZip should install and run without an issue.

Even if an older version of WinZip has been uninstalled, a compatibility mode setting may still be involved. It is Windows that writes this setting in the registry. WinZip does not check for this Windows setting or remove it when it uninstalls. If WinZip is not installed and you are seeing this issue occur, please try the following to remove the setting involved:

1. On the keyboard, press (the Windows key)+R to open Run
2. In the Run dialog type: regedit and click OK, which will open the Registry Editor
3. Click Yes in the User Account Control dialog (if necessary)
4. Browse to:
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\AppCompatFlags\Layers
5. Click Layers to select it
   Note: You may want to look in the right pane to see if things besides WinZip are listed and you may need to expand the Name column to see the path (this is usually C:\Program Files\WinZip\winzip32.exe); if multiple items are listed, click just the WinZip one to select it
6. Press Delete on the keyboard
7. Click Yes in the Confirm Key Delete dialog.