Uncompress txt.gz files

Question

Trying to uncompress txt.gz files on Linux. gzip, gunzip, unzip are not recognizing the file format. The archive is guaranteed to be not corrupted.

What is the error? If it is truly not corrupted and is a gzip file, gzip -d will do it.
Either the files are already uncompressed and contain data or text in an encoding file doesn't recognize (try it: rename one to file.txt and open it in an editor), or you should talk with whoever guaranteed you they aren't corrupted.
Add the output of hd file.txt.gz | head - 8 to your question and we will be able to answer.

Olaf Dietsche · Answer 1 · 2012-11-16 13:27:16Z

up vote 2 down vote

unzip is for .zip files not for .gz. Try first

file abc.txt.gz

This will tell you, if it is a .gz, .zip, .bz or any other file. You can then choose the appropriate program.

answered Nov 16 '12 at 13:27

Olaf Dietsche
3862

see my comments ^^^^^ – Shraddha Nov 16 '12 at 13:30

3

Then your file seems to be arbitrary data or at least not any known compressed format. – Olaf Dietsche Nov 16 '12 at 13:32

1 Answer