change rar extension

[alintatoc]

is there any way that I can return to the unknown format of a file from .rar?

[greymalkin]

are you saying you have a file that someone renamed to a ".rar" file, and you are now trying to figure out what type of file it was originally?

[minidv2dvd]

rar is a compression format like a zip file. winrar is the program that made it. possibly others can uncompress it also.

[Dv8ted2]

If you rename the file extension, the file might be unstable.

[alintatoc]

are you saying you have a file that someone renamed to a ".rar" file, and you are now trying to figure out what type of file it was originally?

yes, I am trying to change the extension and I don't know how

[Dv8ted2]

Go into tools and folder options - uncheck the box to unhide extensions for known file types. Then right click the file and select rename. Chane the extension after the period, but I repeat...this might make the file unstable.

[Seeker47]

rar is a compression format like a zip file. winrar is the program that made it. possibly others can uncompress it also.

Usually / definitely. 7Zip, Izarc, and ZipGenius, to name just three. Winrar has a really crappy program design, IMO, and I've been able to avoid dealing with it for years.

[Nelson37]

I'm gonna guess that since you don't know how to rename a file, you are doing it for the wrong reasons.

A file ending in an extensions of ".RAR" is indicating that is is a Compressed file in the WinRAR format. Renaming does nothing to make the file usuable, in fact it will make it LESS usable.

The extension generally indicates the family tree of the file; ".DOC" for MSWord files, ".MPG" for mpeg video, ".DLL" for Windows system library files. Change a DOC file to ".BOB" and you can still open it, Word just won't show it in the default view. Change a DLL and your system might not boot anymore.

As a general rule, there is almost never a need to rename a file extension unless someone deliberately screwed up.

You most likely need to DeCompress the file in order to use it. WinRAR or 7-Zip are two free alternatives which will either recreate the original file, or confirm it is not a valid file of this type. Starting from the Google search for the software, you should have your answer in less than 15 minutes.

[alintatoc]

Go into tools and folder options - uncheck the box to unhide extensions for known file types. Then right click the file and select rename. Chane the extension after the period, but I repeat...this might make the file unstable.

Thank for the tip, most likely I will destroy the file

[DereX888]

Go into tools and folder options - uncheck the box to unhide extensions for known file types. Then right click the file and select rename. Chane the extension after the period, but I repeat...this might make the file unstable.

Thank for the tip, most likely I will destroy the file

are you saying you have a file that someone renamed to a ".rar" file, and you are now trying to figure out what type of file it was originally?

yes, I am trying to change the extension and I don't know how

The easiest way without changing any system-wide viewing settings is one of the oldest freewares I am still using - and not because it is so pretty, but because i haven't found any better one since then! Made for NT4, worked on 98, ME, 2000, 2003 and XP as well, but I haven't try it on Vista (and I never will, hehe):

Excellent PropertiesPlus 1.65 (last version)
a shell extension with one purpose: to make files highly unstable

Umm, I couldn't find direct link for downloading (google served me only junk-loaded sites with links to more links or to javascripts) sorry, you have to download it from attachment in this post
(and yes, file is loaded with nasty trojans and viruses, so of course DO use AntiVirus software since you use Windows!)

BTW - you do know that unstable Windows files under certain conditions are selfinflammatory and potentially explosive, right?
Knock yourself out!