Problem Description
Customers successfully complete File Level Recovery (FLR) from air-gapped AWS backups and download the resulting .tar.gz archive files. However, when attempting to extract these files using Windows' built-in extraction tools, they encounter extraction failures, particularly with large files (>4 GB).
Affected Scenarios
FLR operations from air-gapped AWS backups
Large .tar.gz files (typically >4 GB, but can occur with smaller files)
Windows operating systems using built-in extraction tools
Archive files with naming pattern: ami-xxxxxx.tar.gz
Traceback
Error Code: 0x8096002A
Error Message: "The Extraction Operation was not Completed"
Context: Unable to extract large .tar.gz files downloaded from File Level Recovery (FLR) operations on Windows machines
Symptoms
FLR restore job completes successfully without errors
.tar.gz file downloads successfully from S3 bucket
Windows extraction attempt fails with error code 0x8096002A
Error message: "An unexpected error is preventing the archive from being extracted"
File size is typically large (e.g., 28 GB or more)
Causes
The issue stems from Windows' inherent limitations in handling large .tar.gz files:
Windows Explorer Limitations: Built-in Windows extraction tools have size limitations for .tar.gz files, particularly those exceeding 4 GB
Format Compatibility: .tar.gz is a Unix-based compression format that Windows doesn't natively support well
Compression Method: The dual compression (.tar + .gz) can cause compatibility issues with Windows' extraction engine
File System Limitations: Older Windows file systems may have restrictions on large file operations
Technical Details:
.tar.gz files use GNU tar format with gzip compression
Windows built-in tools prioritize .zip format support
Large file extraction requires more sophisticated handling than Windows Explorer provides
Resolution
Primary Solution: Use 7-Zip (Recommended)
Step 1: Download and Install 7-Zip
Navigate to the official 7-Zip website: https://www.7-zip.org
Download the appropriate version for your Windows system (32-bit or 64-bit)
Install 7-Zip using the downloaded installer
Accept default installation settings
Step 2: Extract the .tar.gz File
Right-click on the .tar.gz file (e.g., ami-xxxxxx.tar.gz)
Select "7-Zip" → "Extract Here" or "Extract to [folder name]"
Wait for the first extraction to complete - this creates a .tar file
Right-click on the newly created .tar file
Select "7-Zip" → "Extract Here" or "Extract to [folder name]"
Wait for the second extraction to complete - this reveals the actual file contents
Step 3: Verify Extraction
Navigate to the extraction folder
Verify all expected files and directories are present
Check file sizes and timestamps for consistency