WinRar isn't free, i suppose.. try
ZipGenius- the free compresssion suite.. it can open rar files and many more... & it's free!!! U can get it in an earlier digit cd/dvd... or dl the
7mb file
FEATURES:
ARCHIVES HANDLING______________________
More than 20 archive types supported
Handles ZIP archives sized over 4 GB.
OpenOffice.org/StarOffice 6.x handling and optimization capabilities
4 modes to view files icons
2 way to browse files: integral (as in WinZip®) or through folder view
5 compression levels (storage + 4 compression levels)
Automatica zip comment reading
Automatic ReadMe.txt files reading (URLs can be detected and used)
Files list can be exported in 4 formats (HTML, CSV, XML, TXT)
Can create self-extracting files (SFX) with advanced features, that can even launch a setup procedure
Smart Extract: extracts and organizes files
History
Can create Multivolume archives (Disk Spanning)
Can repair damaged zip files, plus AutoTest
Drag and drop supported
Find files inside archives
MultiOpen can make you handle more than archive at once
7-ZIP format supported
Favorite folders
Can install applications, themes for Windows XP and WinAmp/WMP skins temi e skin.
File marker upon given criteria
Internet AND mobilitY_______________________
Can interoperate with PocketPC® mobile devices
Can send archives through e-mail
Can publish archives to Web
FTPGenius (ftp client)
Supports UU/XX/MIME/BASE64 encoding techniques
USER INTERFACE _________________________
User cahn choose that layout that fits his/her needings
ZipGenius Starter: wizard-driven pre-configuration tool
First Step Assistant
Full Windows 98/ME/2000/XP shell integration
Customizable context menu
Highly customizable
Explorer styled user interface, now with Common Task sidebar
Menu items are grouped into sections
Can show a grid in the files list
Windows XP visual styles are supported
ADVANCED FEATURES AND MULTIMEDIA______
TWAIN devices supported (scanner and digital cameras) in order to import and compress pictures
Pictures preview
Can install external compression programs
ZG Update: automatic program update through the Internet
Command line driven
Cutter: a ZGTool to split large files in smaller parts
SAFETY AND privacy_____________________
Can encrypt zip files (CZIP files through CryptoZip 2.1) + 3 cypher algorhythms (Rijndael AES, Blowfish, Twofish)
Can create self-locking and self-erasing CZIP files + self-decrypting archives (SDA) in .EXE format
Password Manager
Backup features
Can scan archives through an Antivirus program
Suspicious files can be detected
Various privacy settings
Can create and show zip file SIGNATURE
Supported archives :
ZipGenius (as you may understand) gives full control on zip files and archives similar to zip, plus it can protect your zip files with a better encryption system than the one you normally activate by adding files with password. CZIP file type can be read just by ZipGenius 1.4 or later, or by program compliant with CZIP format.
Here are the other file formats supported:
ZIP / CZIP, JAR, 7z, EAR, WAR, XPI, PK3, SQX: all functions
CAB
RAR, ACE, TAR, TAZ, TGZ, GZ, Z, BZ2: these files can be just read and decompressed by ZipGenius. Compression is not supported because their algorhythm is not available to third parties.
ARJ, ARC, LHA/LZH, ZOO: ZipGenius can read these types but you must install an external compresison program to modify their contents.
PAK
WAL: WinAmp® skin file (treated as ZIP, plus it can be optimized)
WMZ: Windows® Media Player skin file (treated as ZIP, plus it can be optimized)
All OpenOffice.org/StarOffice 6.x documents (they are treated as zip files, plus they can be optimized)
Where to run .rar files???
Linear Mode
