How to Fix: Cannot open large concatenated zip file with unzip, though it opened fine with Archive Utility, get a central directory error

The error 'start of central directory not found; zipfile corrupt' occurs when attempting to unzip a zip file that has been corrupted or is not in binary format. This issue affects users who have downloaded and concatenated large zip files, such as the 7Gb science_team_meeting_archive.zip file described in the problem.

This error can be frustrating for users who rely on zip files for data transfer and storage. However, by following the steps outlined in this guide, you should be able to resolve the issue and successfully unzip your concatenated zip file.

🛑 Root Causes of the Error

• The primary reason for this error is that the concatenated zip file may not have been created or transferred in binary mode. When a zip file is created, it must be saved in binary format (i.e., without any text encoding) to ensure that all data is preserved correctly. If the file was created or transferred in text mode, the central directory table may become corrupted, leading to this error.
• Another possible cause of this error is that the zip file has been modified or tampered with during transfer, which can also result in a corrupted central directory table.

✅ Best Solutions to Fix It

🎯 Final Words

By following these steps, you should be able to resolve the issue and unzip your concatenated zip file successfully. If you continue to experience problems, it may be worth investigating further with the Red Hat server administration team to ensure that the issue is not related to a problem with the server itself.