import zlib
import sys

def safe_decompress(data):
d = zlib.decompressobj()
try:
return d.decompress(data) + d.flush()
except zlib.error as e:
if e.args[0] == "Error -11":
print("Corrupted stream: attempting recovery...")
# Try to recover partial data
recovered = b""
for i in range(0, len(data), 1024):
try:
recovered += d.decompress(data[i:i+1024])
except zlib.error:
recovered += d.decompress(data[i:i+1024], max_length=1024)
break
return recovered + d.flush(zlib.Z_SYNC_FLUSH)
raise

To understand Code -11, one must understand the state machine of a typical decompression algorithm (based on the Deflate algorithm used in zlib/gzip).

The decompressor maintains two primary buffer pointers:

The decompressor functions in a loop:

If you’re using a mechanical hard drive, bad sectors become more likely as the drive ages. SSDs have different failure modes (write wear) but are less prone to the random sector corruption that causes error -11.

| Feature Name | Behavior on Error -11 | |--------------|------------------------| | Auto-Repair | Automatically attempts to fix minor corruption | | Partial Extraction | Extracts all readable data before the error point | | Integrity Pre-check | Validates archive before attempting decompression | | Fallback Decompressor | Switches to alternative decompression engine | | Detailed Logging | Logs exact byte offset and suggests recovery steps |

Would you like a ready-to-use shell script wrapper that implements these features for gzip/zlib errors?

The "Decompression failed with error code -11" error commonly occurs during the installation of large, highly compressed software—most frequently repacked PC games. It typically indicates that the installation process was interrupted because the system could not properly unpack the data, often due to memory constraints or file conflicts. Core Causes

RAM/Memory Instability: Highly compressed installers require significant memory to unpack; insufficient RAM or unstable memory clock speeds can trigger this error.

Insufficient Virtual Memory: If your system's "page file" is too small, Windows cannot handle the temporary overflow of data during extraction.

Antivirus Interference: Real-time protection (like Windows Defender) may flag and block the decompression activity as suspicious.

CPU Limitation: High core-count CPUs (16+ cores) sometimes struggle with older or specific extraction algorithms used in repacks.

Corrupted Files: The downloaded installation archive itself may be incomplete or corrupted.

This is a highly technical and deep analysis of the error condition commonly referred to as Error Code -11 within the context of decompression algorithms (specifically zlib, gzip, and lzma).

Faulty memory is insidious. Use a dedicated memory testing tool.

Windows: Use the built-in Windows Memory Diagnostic (search for it in Start menu). Choose “Extended” test mode. Let it run for at least one full pass (1-2 hours).

macOS/Linux: Use MemTest86 (bootable USB version is most reliable).

If errors are found: Replace the faulty RAM module. This is non-negotiable—unstable RAM will corrupt more files over time.