I don’t know if I’m allowed to even ask this but does anyone know where i can get winrar or winzip for free,many thanks
I suggest 7-Zip
7-zip is free and does everything that the others do. 
It’s available in both 32bit and 64bit.
Why not use peazip - totally free and does all formats ?
I have never seen any promotion offering these for free. but 7-zip is a strong option.
Another vote for freeware 7zip, I have found it very good and have been using it for years without any issues.
Haven’t used peazip so I can’t comment on that. However, winzip a is a paid option and a bloated option by comparison. I never really liked winrar when I tried it several times.
I could suggest the tool I’m using myself - IZArc.
IZArc is the best freeware archive utility supporting many archive formats like: 7-ZIP, A, ACE, ARC, ARJ, B64, BH, BIN, BZ2, BZA, C2D, CAB, CDI, CPIO, DEB, ENC, GCA, GZ, GZA, HA, IMG, ISO, JAR, LHA, LIB, LZH, MDF, MBF, MIM, NRG, PAK, PDI, PK3, RAR, RPM, TAR, TAZ, TBZ, TGZ, TZ, UUE, WAR, XXE, YZ1, Z, ZIP, ZOO. With a modern easy-to-use interface, IZArc provides support for most compressed and encoded files, as well as access to many powerful features and tools. It allows you to drag and drop files from and to Windows Explorer, create and extract archives directly in Windows Explorer, create multiple archives spanning disks, creating self-extracting archives, repair damaged zip archives, converting from one archive type to another, view and write comments and many more. IZArc has also build-in multilanguage support.With IZArc you can open CD image files like ISO, BIN, CDI and NRG. It is also possible to convert such files from one type to another (BIN to ISO, NRG to ISO). If you need to send large files to your colleagues, friends or customers who may not have archiving tool you can easily create self-extracting archive that can be extracted by simple double click. IZArc can be configured to run your preferred Anti-Virus scanner when you open any archives. IZArc supports 256-bit AES encryption to secure your data. IZArc is integrated in Windows so you can perform all archiving operations by using right-click menus in Windows Explorer. If you have broken archives IZArc can help you to repair them with ease. IZArc is 100% virus free and it doesn't contain any spyware or adware. IZArc is the most complete archive utility available today.</blockquote>
Thanks for all you quick replys,the reason I even ask is that I d/l’ed the free winrar but I now gets prompted that its only free for 40 days,which is coming up very soon. Also not being computer literate,if I do use something else such as 7-zip,will I have to do anything to make sure thats the default program to open any files,thanks. Also I’m running windows 7,does anyone know if I can use 7-zip?
You just have to right click a file and choose open with 7zip and yes it work’s on win7
Hello,
Yes, By default 7-zip doesn’t register itself as the default software to open the compressed files.
- Download 7-zip:
32 bit edition.
64 bit edition.
- Install it to the default location as suggested by the installer.
3)In order to make it default on a windows 7 32 bit or 64 bit machine, you have to open the 7-zip file manager with administrator rights. For that,
i) Goto C:\Program Files\7-Zip\ and select “7zFM”.
ii) Right click and select “Run as administrator”, click “yes” - 7-zip file manager should now open.
iv) Goto “Tools” > “Options”.
iv) While in the “System” tab, click “select all”.
v) Click “ok” and close the 7-zip window.
- You are good to use 7-zip as your default software for opening compressed files.
nmb
Again thank you for all your help,as a computer novice,does it really matter if I install the 32 or the 64 bit version,I know my computer supports the 64 bit,but if I did a 32bit install would that matter at all??? One last thing,like I’ve said previously I get a window that opens when I use winrar right now that says its only good for 40 days,what would happen after 40 days has passed,would winrar stop working,I know I can just wait until 40 days passes to find out but i’m just curious.
It isn’t what your computer supports but what your OS is, if you have a 64bit OS then you need to install the 64bit version.
If you don’t know if your OS is 64bit or not then I would suspect that it is a 32bit OS.
So exactly what is your OS ?
New 7-zip was released few days ago, featuring superior multi-core support (it was reaching 12MB/s using Ultra compression on my Intel Core i7 920). It’s also featuring new and improved LZMA2 compression method.
@ fire
As you are a Lieut Phila.F.D.
You now have more than 20 posts which will permit you to update your profile to include signature information.
Go to PROFILE then Modify Profile then Forum Profile Information then Signature: and put information about your system just like my signature and DavidR an avast! Technical advisor so that the helpers can offer pertinent advice.
Putting out fires is a hazardous occupation. :o
OK ,I know my new computer is 64 bit,what I did to test 7-zip was to install it on an older lap top I have. I d/l’ed a file and had no problem un-zipping it, or whatever its called,however one thing I did notice and I don’t know if it matters but,on my desk top,which still has winrar installed,whenever I d/l’ed a file that I had to use winrar,after the d/l was complete my avast would scan for any viruses (btw,I use firefox). I noticed on the laptop it didn’t do it,I also have advast installed on the laptop.
I think that you have different avast file system shield, expert settings, packers (all packers) on both as by default the file system shield doesn’t scan archives as they are inert.
That’s the problem.
IE9 is much better than Firefox on a computer that is 64 bit.
IE9, FF4 Beta In Real-World Benchmark
http://www.lucidchart.com/blog/2010/09/16/ie9-ff4-beta-in-real-world-benchmark
What a load of tosh spreading FUD yet again, using any browser firefox or otherwise has nothing to do with avast scanning the contents of a winrar file.
I vote for 7-Zip too
Thanks DavidR,I checked it and now everythings working fine.
You’re welcome.