How to use winrar

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[FiSH]

Where to get it:

You can get winrar from
http://www.rarlabs.com/rar/wrar351.exe

It's shareware - if you do not regeister within the 30day trial period a nag scrren will appear but it will stay fully functional

Don't ask for a cr@ck or p@tch - maybe ask Google...


How to create a winrar archive

Navigate to the files you wish to include in the archive using "My Computer". Click on a file to select it (to select multiple files hold down ctrl and left-click them or to select a range of files hold down shift and click the first and last files in the range). Right click on the file (or first file) and click "add to archive"



The location of the winrar items in the right click menu will depend on what options you selected on installation if you choose cascade items then they appear as a submenu otherwise they appear on the main menu.

You will now be shown the main archive creation options:



Under "Archive Name" enter a filename for the archive, you may choose zip or rar archive mode - According to the winrar website
QUOTE
http://www.rarlab.com/rar_file.htm - Comparing to ZIP file format, RAR provides a number of advanced features: more convenient multipart (multivolume) archives, tight compression including special solid, multimedia and text modes, strong AES-128 encryption, recovery records helping to repair an archive even in case of physical data damage, Unicode support to process non-English file names and a lot more.
QUOTE
http://www.rarlab.com/zip_file.htm - The main advantage of ZIP format is its popularity. ZIP file format was developed a long time ago and perhaps it is still the most known archive type, so a large part of Internet archives are ZIP files. But many important RAR format features (recovery records, Unicode names, strong AES encryption, etc.) are missing in ZIP. RAR archives usually provide a noticeably higher compression ratio than ZIP file format.

For more information see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAR
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_archive_formats
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_file_archivers

Six compression methods are supported: "Store", "Fastest", "Fast", "Normal", "Good" and "Best". The "Best" method provides highest, but slowest compression, "Fastest" compresses poorly, but is very fast, "Store" merges files into an archive without compression.

For most video files that have already been compressed with a codec winrar is not able to reduce the size much more so I usually select store as it takes less time to upload the few extra megabytes than it does to compress the file - try with different options and choose one which suits you.

If you wish to split the archive into smaller parts then you may enter the desired size of each part in the 'split to volume, bytes' box: By default it is set to bytes. But if you add a lower case letter 'k' at the end of the volume size, the entered value will be considered as kilo bytes (multiplied by 1024). Use an upper case 'K' to denote thousand of bytes (multiply by 1000), 'm' means megabyte and 'M' - million of bytes.

Delete files after compression: The original files will only be deleted after a successful compression.

Create SFX archive: Creates a self-extracting archive (exe file), which can be unpacked without using any other programs. You may select the type of SFX module and set a few other SFX parameters like a destination folder in the Advanced options of this dialog.

Create solid archive: Creates a solid archive. Usually gives higher compression ratios, but applies some restrictions.
QUOTE
A solid archive is a RAR archive packed by a special compression method, which treats all files, within the archive, as one continuous data stream. Solid archives are supported only by the RAR archiving format, ZIP archives are always non-solid. The archiving method for RAR archives is a user selectable option and may be Solid or non-Solid. Solid archiving significantly increases compression, especially when adding a large number of small, similar files. But it also has a few important disadvantages:
- slower updating of existing solid archives;
- to extract a single file from a solid archive all preceding files must be analyzed. This makes extraction from the middle of a solid archive slower than extraction from a normal archive, but, if all files are to be extracted from a solid archive, the extraction speed will not be affected.
- if any file in a solid archive is damaged, it will be impossible to extract all files which follow the damaged area. Thus if a solid archive is stored to media such as diskette, it is recommended to make use of the recovery record.


Put Authenticity verification: Put, in the archive, information concerning the creator, last update time and archive name. In archive management mode it is possible to read the authenticity information using the Show archive information.

Put recovery record: Adds a recovery record, which may help to restore an archive in case of damage. You may specify the size of the recovery record in the Advanced options of this dialog. But the default value is about 1% of the total archive size.

Lock archive: A locked archive cannot be modified by WinRAR. You may lock important archives to prevent accidental modification.

The next tab is the 'Advanced' options box:



Save file security: This option has meaning only for NTFS file system under Windows NT/2000/XP and allows to save file owner, group, access control and audit information. You need to have the necessary privileges in order to use this facility.

Save file streams: This option has meaning only for NTFS file system under Windows NT/2000/XP and allows to save alternative data streams associated with a file. It is especially important under Windows 2000/XP, which uses streams to keep some file dependent information such as file descriptions. If you use WinRAR to backup your NTFS disks, it is recommended to enable this option. This option is supported only for RAR archives.

Background archiving: Minimizes WinRAR to tray when starting the archiving process. NOTE: it slows down a little bit the compression process.

Recovery record: Set a size of the recovery record as a percent of the total archive size. The maximum allowed value is 10%. Larger recovery record allows to recover from more serious damages, but at the same time it increases archive size, so 1 - 3% is optimal. This input field is available only if you enabled "Put recovery record" option in the General options of this dialog.

SFX options: Select a self-extracting module and set a number of optional SFX parameters like a destination folder or window title. Note that SFX parameters are applicable only to Windows GUI module and are not supported by console or non-Windows SFX. The "SFX options" button is available only if you enabled "Create SFX archive" option in the General options dialog. It is possible to store selected SFX options in a compression profile, WinRAR puts commands describing SFX parameters
to the archive comment.

Set password: Set a password to encrypt archived files.



You may enter a password here if you wish, enter the password into both boxes and then just to check it has been entered correctly tick show password and then untick it

Encrypt file names: I recommend that you tick this if you are password'ing your archive - if it is not ticked then people who dont know the password will be able to view which files are stored in the archive - with this option selected people without the password will receive a crc error if they try to view what is in the archive. You may also tell winrar to shut down the pc after archiving or to wait for another copy to finish archiving before beginning the creation of this archive

You may leave the files, backup and time tabs as they are

You may add a comment to the file using the comment tab - this comment will be displayed in the winrar window next to the file list when the archive is opened

Click OK and the file(s) will be archived

-------

Extracting file(s)

Right-click on the file in Windows Explorer and click 'extract files...' this will bring up the extract dialog where you may select a save location



Sometimes if an archive is corrupt you can extract most of the data by ticking the 'keep broken files option' - Note: files may not work or contain erroneous data - though it is possible to play most video files extracted this way using vlc player

Click OK to extract the file(s)

You may be asked to enter a password at either the beginning or end of this process (Depending on whether the filenames are encrypted)

Some parts courtesy of
http://users.pandora.be/soulmaniacs/winrar.html

With huge thanks from Qasim from here, jimmys, and sci-fiepz for all his great work this is his tutorial so any thanks should be directed at him

and again i would like to thank you qasim

i hope this helps more members become more active

[dane]

Nice tut.. here is one I did several years ago, and updated a bit recently.

-> NOTE: the main thing is to create a DEFAULT profile where your normal settings will always be used.

-> do NOT be a WinRar no0b. Be SURE to include FILE RECOVERY in your default profile and make sure everyone you know does the same. IF everyone uses this setting, NO ONE will ever have a corrupt Download that can't be fixed.

========= Dane's_WinRar_v3.5x_TUTORIAL_&_WinRar_Registry_twe ak_key ============


NOTE -> this is a big tut & still there are matters not covered by it. Thus I created a Registry key which U can merge and end up with all my settings. From there U can use this tut 2 tweak any setting in your DEFAULT profile or stay with my settings.

Some of Dane's settings:
- 50 MB Rar file sizes
- Delete filez after they are put into the Rar file
- Test rar b4 deleting the filez
- Add Rar Recovery Record of 1% so corrupt filez can B fixed with WinRar Repair function.
- Comment which U can modify or leave alone as U wish
- When mulitple WinRar are needed, put all after 1st one into a queue for faster completion of all tasks
- Delete Rar file after sucessful extraction of all files, but not on partial extraction.
- Remove some of the standard Context menu items (such as compress & email) to remove clutter on the Context menu.
- Put the most needed icons on the menu bar & skip the useless ones.
- and so on

1) To enable all those -> DL the attached zip file, extract it to yer -=Appz=- folders where U can find it l8r for m8z and when U re-install.
2) Make sure WinRar is not running, to avoid conflicts.
3)Then right click on the "WinRar_Reg_key_with_Dane's_Settings.reg" file and select MERGE | OK
4) Done
5) A copy of this tutorial is in the ZIP file, so U can reference it l8r.

Enjoy

Dane

========= Dane's WinRar v3.5x TUTORIAL ============

FIRST - Set Your options correctly

Open WInRar
OPTIONS | SETTINGS | COMPRESSSION | CREATE DEFAULT
GENERAL | (ok now that we're there, here's what U do next)

-> realize that everything you set on the default profile will occur everytime you rar files. So if you only need a password occasionally, or other special settings, then create another profile for those purposes. U can change which profile you need to use when WinRar is open. The Default profile is used otherwise, such as when using WinRar from the context menus in explorer.


General tab:

Archive format RAR

Compression method BEST

Size (enter in BYTES the size you want as the max single Rar file). I use 51,200,000 (50,000 KB x 1024). But chose yer max size as U wish.

Update method ADD AND REPLACE FILES

Archiving options: check > PUT RECOVERY RECORD

Archiving options: check > TEST ARCHIVED FILES.

Archiving options: check > DELETE FILES AFTER ARCHIVING ( unless U want yer HDD to fill up with the rars & the original files for some reason)

Archiving options: do NOT check > Put authenticy verification, as this can be a source of Error Messages being generated upon extraction.

Archiving options: check > Create SFX ONLY if U don't expect the person getting the filez to have WinRar. Otherwise leave it UNCHECKED.

Archiving options: do NOT check > Create Solid Archive. This can cause problems in certain cases.

Archiving options: do NOT check > Lock Arhive. This has NOTHING to do with a password.

Advanced tab:
Recovery Record -> Leave it at 1%. Only set it higher if you expect the rar files to have a high risk of corruption. (very bad internet connections, or use on floppy disks, etc)


NEW FOR WinRar v3.50
CHECK "Wait if other WinRar copies are active
(this will result in faster Rar mulitple operations, each one will queue, giving better performance and a much quicker finish of all operations)

All else can be left alone. Don't bother with the Compression button.


Files Tab
File Paths -> STORE RELATIVE PATHS.

The rest leave alone


Backup Tab No need to change anything.

Time Tab
Files to Process -> OF ANY TIME

Comment Tab
Whatever comment you enter there will be shown on the right hand pane when WinRar opens your Rar files. Think of something fun, catchy,interesting. I always mention that the files have recovery record set, so if they are corrupted in transfer, the person knows to use REPAIR function.


Click OK, you have now created a default profile.
==============================================

HOW TO CREATE a PASSWORDED PROFILE, which will NOT be the default:
Open WInRar

Click the ADD Icon
ADVANCED | Push the SET PASSWORD Button

Check the SHOW PASSWORD box, so you can see what U typed and also copy/paste it to wherever you need it, such as on yer post. Now only one box will be open to enter the password. COPY/PASTE it to a txt file. I call mine WinRAR_Password.txt. Do this IMMEDIATELY afer entering it, before closing that window, or you may be very sorry later.

Enter the password. It is CASE SENSITIVE. If the password is 8 or more alpha-numeric characters, no one will be able to hack it. Unless they own a super-computer. Avoid using words that are found in dictionaries.

Check the encrypt file names box. That way, even if some nasty person obtains your Rar file, they won't know what is in it, especially if the name you give the rar file is "Grandma_pix.rar" or whatever.

Back to GENERAL tab | PROFILES button | Save Current Settings to a New Profile

Enter the name of this profile. For example if the passwd is ht*p://www.superforum.com, you might name the profile Superforum. Only you will see this profile name. It does not go into the rar files made from it.

Do NOTHING more, do NOT set this as default profile.

Click OK | Click OK again.

Now you have a Password Profile.


================================================

HOW TO USE the PASSWORD PROFILE
Note -> Everything you set on the default profile will occur everytime you rar files. So when you need the password profile, follow these instructions. The Default profile is used otherwise, such as when using WinRar from the contest menus in explorer.


Open WinRar
Browse to the file(s) / folder(s) you want to Rar with Password.

Highlight all file(s) / folder(s) to be included.
Press the ADD button.

GENERAL tab | PROFILES button
Scoll down to the profile whcih has the password set. In my example Superforum
Click OK
The files are Rar'd. You can check if you did all correctly by opening the rar files, and seeing if a password is required. Then test your password if you wish.

Until you change back to DEFAULT profile in this same method, or close WinRar, all Rar's you create after this will have a password.


================================================

HOW TO REPAIR A CORRUPTED RAR FILE:

With Win Explorer create a sub folder REPAIRED

Open WinRar, browse to the folder with the damaged Rar file(z). You can find which one is bad by selecting the 1st RAR file and using TEST button.

Select the damaged file, press REPAIR button.

In dialogue box, enter the path to the REPAIR subfolder, or browse to it.

As long as there is a RECOVERY record in that Rar, it will be repaired.

Copy all the NON-DAMAGED rars to your repair folder and rename the REPAIRED file back to it's original name.

Proceed with extraction in the REPAIR folder as normal.


===============================================

MISC TIPS:

-> to add file(s) and/or folder(s) to a ONE part rar file -> just drag them onto the Rar file & they will be added automatically without opening WinRar.

-> If you select a folder to Rar, later when you extract it inside a folder of the same name, you end up with nested folders of same name. (We've all seen this often when extracting rars. )

So Instead, go inside the folder, select all the files & sub-folders. ADD those to the rar. Now you have a rar inside just one folder.

====>
Also you can select in WinRar which items show on the context menu.
OPTIONS | SETTINGS | INTEGRATION | CONTEXT MENU ITEMS | (Select or deselect as required ) I deselect the email related ones and some others.
-> your right click context menu will change accordingly

=====>
Customize the menu icons
Right click on the menu bar next to the icons & you can select / deselect and re-arrange the icons which show in both possibilties of menu view

=====>

Note to warez Groups & all others who UL filez, how about using WinRar Recovery option finally, and avoiding problems with corrupt DL's ?

Tutorial by Dane © - 30 Dec, 2005

Anyone is free to repost this in any forum or website, as long as you copy the entire tutorial and this notice.


--- Win Rar Themes

DL them here

Code:

http://files4.rarlab.com/rar/?C=M;O=D

The themes are self-installing. Then open WinRar and go to OPTIONS menu. A submenu is THEMES. there you can manage your themes.

====> Here is a link to this tutorial AND my WinRar registry tweak key to give you all the best settngs. You only have to edit the comment to make your own. (NOT a crack file !!)

Code:

http://rapidshare.de/files/10529240/Dane_s_WinRar_v3.5x_TUTORIAL___WinRar_Registry_tweak_key.rar

password: Dane