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.

Solution

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.

Comments

[clerksx]

What is the error? If it is truly not corrupted and is a gzip file, gzip -d will do it.

[angus]

What does file txt.gz say?

[Shraddha]

$ file file.txt.gz file.txt.gz: data

[Shraddha]

$ gzip -d file.txt.gz gzip: file.txt.gz: not in gzip format

[angus]

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.

[cheshirecatalyst]

Add the output of hd file.txt.gz | head - 8 to your question and we will be able to answer.

[Shraddha]

see my comments ^^^^^

[Olaf Dietsche]

Then your file seems to be arbitrary data or at least not any known compressed format.