I've been using WinRar for years. No issues. It's say it's a trial, but it works forever.

IIRC the jzip was the one I DL'd and it caused the issues with hijacked homepage and other mischief.... I will try the WinRar... I had it in the past but it did stop working so I'll try again....

Thanks for all the replies.

The WinRar version I use is 3.90, but the newer (free) version must be just as good.

Guitarhacker


IIRC the jzip was the one I DL'd and it caused the issues with hijacked homepage and other mischief.... I will try the WinRar... I had it in the past but it did stop working so I'll try again....

Thanks for all the replies.

bizarre - i have jzip on a vista laptop and win 7 pc with no problems, find it works fine!

7-zip is free, works with 32 and 64 bit, and is great with zip and rar.

Been using it for a few years now, and it's never failed to open a file (that I can remember).

One of the few apps I have absolutely no reservations about  recommending. 

I'd recommend WinRAR.

With all due respect to those recommending WINRAR... OP asked for a free rar installer.

Winrar is not free (unless you happen to get it with some special promotion). 

And since there are many excellent free apps that do the same thing, there's no need to go down the road of using "trials that continue to work past their expiration" or some equivalent. 

@JonD

WinRAR IS free.
Even when your license expries, the only thing that will happen is you get a nag screen that you can easily cancel, still with the full features of WinRAR.

SeveredVesper


@JonD

WinRAR IS free.
Even when your license expries, the only thing that will happen is you get a nag screen that you can easily cancel, still with the full features of WinRAR.

I think you're mistaking "works with a nag screen" for "free".

Here's what it says on the WINRAR site:

"WinRAR is shareware, meaning you have the chance to thoroughly test it. The program can be used absolutely free of charge for 40 days!"

Maybe I'm interpreting this the wrong way, but it really doesn't seem ambiguous to me.  

(Just to give you another example of a dev using the "honor system"... Reaper has a fully functioning demo - never expires - but it's not free.  And guess what?  They have to keep explaining this over and over again, because some folks assume that if the program doesn't lock or expire, that means it's free.  It isn't, and that's just one example).

Back to Winrar -- I think the fact that they charge $29 for it in their shop - and the word "donation" is nowhere to be found, means they expect you to pay that sum after 40 days.

Honestly, it seems simple to me.  And since I don't want this to turn into a "Warez" kind of argument, I'll leave it at that.

I don't mind a nag screen.... I had it before, I got it again. I have only needed to use a RAR unzipper twice now including this time.

As far as jZip.... it may have had the malware in it from the site I DL'd it from.... I just grabbed the first one I saw..... I ran the system restore and malware bytes afterward.... all is good again.

Had to get the free copy of Acme Bar Gig to play with.....