Unable to unzip tar.gz file

Earlier it was OK

[caran1]

My server has Linux installed when I try to unzip a file using tar -zxvf , I get the following error message
gzip: stdin: not in gzip format
tar: Child returned status 1
tar: Error exit delayed from previous errors

Is it a problem with the server or the command is incorrect

[StupidScript]

I usually use

tar -xzvf file.tar.gz

x = extract the gzip file from the tarball
z = ungzip the gzip file
v = be verbose
f = here's the file

-zxvf

says:

z = ungzip the gzip file ... oops ... not gzip, tar!

and that's where it's going wrong.

[caran1]

thanks