Unarchiving/unzipping has stopped working

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Level 1

8 points

Unarchiving/unzipping has stopped working

Hi folks!

Im having trouble unarchiving/unzipping an files on my Mac mini 2020. Im running the most up to date software (Big Sur 11.4) and nothing seems to work. I've used archive utility and The Unarchiver and neither seem to work. I've noticed there is no archive.plist in my preferences and I'm not sure how to trigger the creation of one if that's what I need to do?

For context I'm trying to open a .BIN file, its an update for the BOSS RC-505 Loopstation. I've tried restarting, and redownloading the file but I just get told the contents can't be extracted.

Thanks in advance!

Mac mini 2018 or later

Posted on Aug 26, 2021 5:05 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Old Toad

Level 10

207,493 points

Aug 26, 2021 11:16 AM in response to AesopFox

Boot into Safe Mode according to Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support and see if the problem persists. Reboot normally and check again.

NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to 10 minutes as it's doing the following;

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files

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Answer 2

PRP_53

Level 10

84,757 points

Aug 26, 2021 7:30 AM in response to AesopFox

User wrote " Im running the most up to date software (Big Sur 11.4) ". Sorry but 11.4 is outdated and may or may not be related to your issue.

Perform a Time Machine Backup is very useful and can be used to Revert to Previous Working macOS.

The update to current version 11.5.2 of Big Sur. It brings bug fixes and security fixes.

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Answer 3

Aug 26, 2021 10:27 AM in response to AesopFox

Bin files are usually binary (raw data) files, and not archives.

Bin files can be firmware image files, for instance.

This unless somebody’s doing something semi-weird with file naming. Which happens. But from what I see at the BOSS RC-505 Link Station firmware update link (below), this zip download usage all looks pretty normal for this sort of product.

Here, you might be looking at an already-unpacked zip archive (some tools can helpfully unpack “safe” file types), or maybe there’s some other installed app (some add-on anti-malware app, and some higher-end network security firewall boxes can sometimes mess with downloads, maybe) that blocks or changes the filenames being downloaded.

But given what you’re indicating about the Bin, it seems to be a binary file.

Here is how this BOSS RC-505 Loop Station update is supposed to work:

https://www.boss.info/us/support/by_product/rc-505/updates_drivers/1099facd-f21a-48b9-ad45-20349c91f184/

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Answer 4

AesopFox Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 26, 2021 10:41 AM in response to MrHoffman

I started on that page that you linked to, that's what I've been following. My firewall is actually off, and I don't have any extensions on safari.

Ive downloaded that same file several times now and I get the same thing every time. Im not sure what else to try!

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Answer 5

Aug 26, 2021 11:22 AM in response to AesopFox

Old Toad has a good suggestion with Safe Mode, as that shuts off various add-ons.

Also: Safari > Preferences > General > uncheck/disable the “Open Safe Files After Download” setting, if that setting is enabled.

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Answer 6

AesopFox Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 27, 2021 4:20 AM in response to MrHoffman

Thanks for all your help! the system reboot in safe mode seemed to work. I realised what was happening is safari was automatically unzipping the file without me realising. So I downloaded it this time and it was a zip file, that when I extracted I got the folder with the .BIN file in it. Its actually this whole folder that needs to be put into the RC-505 system. Its been a while since I've used a computer (been on an iPad for a while now) and things have progressed significantly since I last used one regularly, especially with the new m1 chip!

Anyway thanks again to you both!

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Answer 7

PRP_53

Level 10

84,757 points

Aug 27, 2021 4:26 AM in response to AesopFox

If one does Nit what Safari to automatically UnZip or Open downloaded files Safari >> Preferences >> General Tab and at very bottom and Uncheck as per image below.