Remove zip file association with compressed folders in Vista

By default ZIP files are opened using compressed folders in Windows Vista. Even if you install a 3rd party software like 7-Zip or WinRAR and set the zip files association with these applications, Vista continues to open zip files using the inbuilt compressed folders. If you want 7-Zip or WinRAR or your favorite zip program, you can follow instructions in this article. This article is written for WinRAR but same procedure works for any zip program.

1. You need administrator level access for this procedure to work.
2. Open Registry Editor by opening Start Menu • Run, typing regedit.exe and pressing Enter.
3. Delete the following keys :
   1. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{E88DCCE0-B7B3-11d1-A9F0-00AA0060FA31}
   2. HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\CLSID\{0CD7A5C0-9F37-11CE-AE65-08002B2E1262}
4. Restart your computer.
5. After computer restarts, open your favorite zip program and in its settings set zip files to be associated to be opened by it. In WinRAR, go to Settings dialog by selecting Options • Settings. Then choose the Integration tab, select zip files to be associated and click OK

If in future you want the functionality back, download vistazip.zip on your desktop and double-click on it. If asked for permission to write in registry, answer Yes.