.rar file. How do I extract.

[troyvcd1]

I got a .rar file and I want to extract the contents. I assume that .rar is just like .zip but winzip will not extract the .rar file. Any help. Should windows xp do this automatically.

[racer-x]

download winrar, there is a 40 day trial version.

[txpharoah]

WINRAR

[mrbass]

no need for winrar unless your in the 'scene' and pack movie files, etc.
To unrar simply use IZArc it's free so you can't beat it
http://www.mrbass.org/winfreeware
I have a mirror there to download it

[JamesB69]

i wouldnt suggest paying for winrar, get that free program or look for another one theres probly more. I myself find very few rar files. Now WinZip on the other hand is one prog i cannot live without, just installed WZ9 Beta. If Winzipcould do RAR files it would be awesome. Its not fair cuz winRar can do Zip files. Dont even get me started on Ace files

Ill stop complaining now about decompression tools

[sterno]

I used to always use free all-in-one extraction programs, but rar files kept giving me trouble because RAR kept changing the file format to improve compression, and they broke compatibility every time. The free programs usually took a very long time to support new formats. Since rar files really aren't all that common it was never a huge problem, when I found one I'd install the latest shareware WinRar, decompress the file, and then get rid of WinRar again. Same for ace and all these other proprietary formats you only see once every few months. Life would sure be easier if everybody would just use tar.gz or tar.bz2, nice established formats with free tools on every major platform.

[txpharoah]

Life would sure be easier if everybody would just use tar.gz or tar.bz2, nice established formats with free tools on every major platform.

Ever heard of ZIP? The most universal compressor. I'd have to disagree with you though. RAR is far more common than TAR files.

[edsmith77]

Lets not forget, RAR does make for smaller files than does ZIP. But you do pay for that option.....
I personally, like the user interface on WINRAR better than that of WINZIP.

Ed

[housepig]

RAR is far more common than TAR files

until you head over into Linux territory... then the tarballs are inescapable.

I prefer WinACE myself as an extraction tool... handles most everything (except, as noted, when WinRAR changes their format...)