It’s already Day 27 of TechPP Mega Christmas Giveaway. With just a few days to go for Christmas, things are getting exciting here as well. Today, we present to you, one of the best and most popular compression software – WinRAR from RarLabs. Over the last decade, we have seen so many free and premium archiving solutions, but not many have managed to stay afloat on top for a long time. And without an iota of doubt, WinRAR is one amongst the few which has evolved over the time to be amongst the best currently.
WinRAR is a powerful archiver and archive manager that cannot only open all popular compression formats but also features it’s own. RAR files can usually compress content 8 to 15 percent more than ZIP or ARJ files. WinRAR’s main features are – strong general and multimedia compression, processing of non-RAR archives (ZIP,ARJ,CAB,TAR etc.), scanning archives for viruses, long filename support, programmable self-extracting archives (SFX), damaged archive repair, NTFS and Unicode support, authenticity verification, embedded file comments, and encryption.
Personally, I have always preferred WinRAR over other similar software like WinZIP, WinArj, 7zip etc. WinRAR is able to browse and unpack contents of ISO files. It also offers an option to integrate tightly into the Windows operating system during installation.This includes a very handy Windows Explorer entry which can be used to unpack or pack files directly in Windows Explorer.
Even the user interface is uncluttered and easy to use. If you don’t like the default looks, you have an option to easily change the theme by choosing your favorite from the available list of themes.
The header contains the menu bar which has the icons for all the important functions you would need. On the left, the sidebar contains the file browser similar to Windows explorer. A right-click on any file in the file browser opens a context menu with several options ranging from viewing, renaming or deleting files to repairing archives or setting passwords.
Someone new to WinRAR will find the Wizard feature (available in the header menu bar) very useful. It helps the users in packing, unpacking, viewing, rearranging, repairing and setting the passwords for the archives.
Users will also be able to test the archive or a specific file inside an archive by clicking on the Test icon. WinRAR tries to discover installed virus scanners automatically which can then be selected from a pulldown menu. It is even possible to add comments to archives and make them self extracting if you desire. Making an archive self extracting is very useful on systems without a compression software installed.
You can even convert the archives from one format to another, like ZIP to RAR or vice versa.
Advanced users would love the options provided during creation of an archive. There are almost 6 tabs providing various functionalities which at times make you feel overwhelming. User can simply click on OK without worrying about all those options as the default options are enough to compress the files added. But for those interested, they will be able to change the compression level, split the files into multiple archives, password protect the archive and many more.
WinRAR Features
- Lets user compress files by making smaller archives, saving disk space and transmission costs
- Supports many files most of popular formats like: RAR, ZIP, CAB, ARJ, LZH, TAR, GZ, ACE, UUE, BZ2, JAR, ISO, 7Z, Z archives.
- Comes with a graphic interactive interface utilizing mouse and menus as well as the command line interface.
- The “Wizard” mode feature allows instant access to the basic archiving functions. This avoids confusion in the early stages of use.
- Offers the industry strength archive encryption using AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) with a key of 128 bits.
- Can support files and archive up to 8,589 billion gigabytes in size.
- The number of archived files is, for all practical purposes, unlimited.
- User can create self-extracting and multivolume archives.
- The recovery record and recovery volume feature allows user to reconstruct even physically damaged archives.
Supported File Formats:
RAR, ZIP, CAB, ARJ, LZH, TAR, GZ and TAR.GZ, BZ2 and TAR.BZ2, ACE, UUE, JAR (Java Archive), ISO (ISO9660 – CD image), 7Z, Z (Unix compress)
Verdict:
Overall, WINRAR provides a straightforward interface that is easy to use even for novice users, yet powerful enough to accommodate advanced users as well. This powerful archiver and archive manager is an ideal solution for creating compressed archives. Interested users can download a trial version at the WinRAR download page.
WinRAR – Free licenses Giveaway
We have ten free licenses of WinRAR 3.90 to be given away today. Please follow the below rules carefully to be eligible for a free license.
Please let us know why you use WinRAR (if you use it) or why you don’t use WinRAR (if you don’t use it). We will select the 10 best and most insightful comments irrespective of whether you use WinRAR or not.
Martin is giving away free licenses of USB Safely Remove. Make sure to check it out.
Update: This giveaway is now closed. Winners will be chosen in a day or 2.
Raju PP is the founder-editor of Technically Personal, which is one of the most widely read technology blogs on the web. He holds an Engineering degree in Electronics & Communication, and has previously worked as a Technical Specialist in Banking Software domain.
Am currently using trail version and I feel WinRaR is bit fater than WinZip. Would like to have 1 permanent license please.
Thanks
Raju
I use winrar because its my favorite compression program, fast, smooth and gets the job done
Please give me …
10x
I don’t use it cause I support either legal software or open source.
If i where to be asked why now, I say its Christmas.. We deserve gifts..
eBRo
I have used izarc,7zip which are good but have for good now shifted to winrar.
I has a very good UI ,very fast archiving,supports virus scan and of course can archive in its proprietary rar format.
They say its lonely at the top but would gladly want winrar to stay that way because its the best.
truly first amongst supposedly equals.
Well, that’s a piece of great software
In comparison with it’s competitors it’s super!
Never failed me
Runs real fast!
And has awesome encryption engine
Ristmas giveaway? why not!
The best archiving software on the world, a must have.
Alos you can use the 64-bit version on the new operating system like Windows 7 x64.
Can i get free licence please.
Hi, I like winrar. But I am currently not using it since it is not free.I once used a trial version. Now I use 7-zip. I like winrar for the following reasons:
1. Winrar is made by a reputed company.
2. Winrar is very stable when handling archives.
3. Winrar integrates with windows explorer seamlessly and it is easy to add files just by dragging them to the archives.
4. Rar archives offer one of the best compression results and they are also used widely.
5. Though many applications can open rar archives only by using winrar we can create rar archives.
6. Winrar helps to create self extracting rar archives.
7. Using winrar we can create secure archives using AES algorithm and password protection.
8. Winrar supports creating multi part rar archives which will be useful when transferring large files.
9. Winrar helps to repair broken archives.
10. Winrar is very fast in creating and extracting archives.
11. Apart from supporting rar archives winrar also supports handling archive types like zip, 7-zip, etc.
12. With winrar there is no need for any other archiving applications.
Would love to have for my new windows 7 64bit which it is compatable with. Please enter me in, and thank you. Merry Christmas
Dear Sir/Madam,
Thanks for this offer. Winrar is one of the most useable software around the world.
Best Regards,
Yaser
It’s very Useful.WinRAR is a powerful compression tool with many integrated additional functions to help me organize my compressed archives.
I hope win a license.
Is this still ongoing? I thought it was for the 22nd?
It is the only program which helps me to edit comments in a EASY way inside archived files.. I would love to have the latest version..
I’ve been using WinRAR for years on my Pocket PC and have always wanted a license for the PC version. The interface is easy to understand and the speed of the application is amazing.
I really like this application.
Hello,
I have been using WinRar since very good days.
I use it, because its the most efficient compressing application, & the usability is also very low, so even an layman will understand how to use it.
Would be glad, if I could able to win one license for me.
Thank You
& Merry Christmas To All INDIANs
Cheers!
I use winrar because its the fastest archiving program ever!!!!
WinRAR is the ultimate archiver and it gets better and better with each version. It meets all my extensive archiving needs. I would love the latest version license. Thank you.
Count me as a last minute entry. i like winrar
I like this software because it extract the data very easily and make the file smaller in size also..we can open .iso formets in this software..one bad thing is if the file is big,it takes a long time to extract the data..thanks brother
I like WinRaR, because WinRAR is a powerful archive manager. It can backup my data and reduce the size of my email attachments, decompress RAR, ZIP and other files downloaded from Internet and create new archives in RAR and ZIP file format.
Happy New Year !
I use winrar on every tasks almost to compress extract or even view files in iso’s or other supported file types. its very useful and has neve rlet me down would love to buy it myself.money is hard would love a free key please and ty.
I love using winrar it seems alot of downloadable files on the internet now and days are compressed so it really helps having winrar especially cause it uncompresses .rar and .zip files.