Best Way To Extract RAR Files

Best Way to Extract RAR Files

What is a RAR file and how do you open it?

A RAR file is a data container similar to a ZIP file that stores data in a compressed archive format. The RAR file is often considered to be a more advanced file format than the ZIP file, as it uses tighter compression and stronger encryption. A RAR file that has been downloaded from the internet will need to be unpacked in order to view its contents. Using a simple archiving and compression tool such as Express Zip, you can easily extract RAR files and open them on your computer in a matter of seconds.

Download Express Zip for Windows

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Step 1

Save the .rar file to your desktop or to the folder of your choice. If the file was downloaded from the internet, it may be saved in the Downloads folder on your computer.

Step 2

Launch your copy of Express Zip File Compression Software from the start menu or desktop shortcut. When Express Zip has opened you will be asked if you want to Open an Existing Archive or create a new one. We are opening an existing archive because we are trying to open a .rar file on your computer. Select the .rar file from the folder where it is saved and open it into Express Zip. You will see the titles and file info of the contents of the archive once you have opened it into the program. You can right-click and select open to view the files before extracting them.

Step 3

To extract a RAR file with Express Zip, first select your desired output folder from the Extract Location bar. This is where your unpacked file will end up after extraction. You may only want to extract certain files from the archive. If this is the case, select only the files that you want and then click on Extract Selected.  You can also do this by right-clicking on the file or files you want and then selecting Extract > Extract Selected from the drop-down menu. To extract everything from your RAR file, simply click the button that says Extract All.

The right-click method will prompt you with a window to specify your extract location. Here you can sort out how you would like to handle any file conflicts that may occur during extraction. The default option is Don't overwrite any files, which is usually best. Once you click Extract, you can find your extracted files in the destination folder.

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Pro-Tip If you already have Express Zip installed on your computer, the fastest way to extract a RAR file is to simply locate the RAR file on your computer, right-click on it, select Express Zip and then select the option Extract Here. This will run the extraction protocol on the compressed data archive file and reveal its contents right next to it in the same folder. Easy as that.

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Download Express Zip for Windows

Send and Receive Multiple Files with Ease

Emails have become essential in daily life, both for professional and personal means. There can be several reasons to send emails with multiple files, whether it is work documents, family albums, vacation itineraries, receipts, etc... But most email servers contain a limit on the amount of data that can be sent in a single message. By properly using a program to zip files, organizing and sending attachments can become an easy procedure. Express Zip can increase email efficiency and provide tools to organizes files.

Send a Zip as an Email

Step #1
Download Express Zip, open the program and select "New Archive." At this point, select "Add Files" and choose all the files you wish to compress into an email. Once the files have been added, there are a few more options that can take place.

Step #2 
To email the zip file, find the newly created archive file in the chosen output folder. When writing an email this can simply be attached by either selecting, "Add Attachment," or dragging and dropping the folder into the body of text.

*Second Option*
Express Zip has the ability to send an email directly from the program. Simply click the "Email," button and after filling out the necessary information the email will be sent with the archived attached.

Open a Zip File Through Email

Step #1
Find the email with the zip file and save the file to a chosen folder. For accessibility, it is recommended save to the desktop. Now open Express Zip and select "Open Archive" under the File Menu or click the top left "Open" button.




*Second Option*
Right Click or CTRL Click on the the Zip File and select "Open With." Choose Express Zip and the program should enter, displaying the same materials.


Step #2
All the files that have been extracted will be visible. Now select the proper Output File, and finish the process by "Extract Selected" or "Extract All." All the files are now available to be viewed.

Express Zip is available for Free, Download Here.

Z is for Zip

NCH Software ABCs Series

Whether you are compressing individual files to reduce their size, or compressing groups of files and folders into a single, tightly wrapped package, file compression is useful for both data storage and sharing files. Particularly when transferring large files the reduced file sizes from compression can make emailing and sending large amounts of content much more efficient.

The .zip file format was one of the first, and remains one of the most common, file compression formats. So common that "zip" has become synonymous with file compression. Even when other compression or archive formats are used people will still frequently refer to the process of extracting the contents of those file as "unzipping."

When it comes to Express Zip file compression software, part of what makes it great is allowing users to "unzip" those other archive formats. Express Zip only creates new .zip files, but it will open or "unzip" other compressed archive files, or even convert them into .zip files for greater compatibility with other you might pass the file onto in the future. So be sure to zip up your data in fast and functional way with Express Zip to help make your data storage and file sharing easy and worry free.

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X is for eXpress Software

NCH Software ABCs Series

Express might not be the best 'X' word, but there is no questioning its relevance as a descriptor for NCH Software. NCH has several products with "Express" right in their names. When I think of express, many connotations come to mind including speed and efficiency. So think of these as software programs to streamline the processes that they are designed for, and help you sail through tasks, not unlike being in the express lane.

• Express Accounts bookkeeping software
  
• Express Burn disc burning software
  
• Express Delegate dictation and transcription management
  
• Express Dictate digital dictation software
  
• Express Invoice invoicing software
  
• Express Rip CD ripping software
  
• Express Scribe transcription software
  
• Express Talk computer softphone
  
• Express Zip file compression software
  

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Next: Y is for YouTube >>>

O is for Optimize

NCH Software ABCs Series

We are obsessed with speed. Today, everything is going faster than it used to, from just the general pace of life to Olympians setting new world records to internet speeds. Faster is better and optimizing your computer and tasks is about both speed and efficiency to cut away the dead weight and streamline your processes.

• To optimize your PC when your computing speeds are lagging, use Warp Registry Cleaning Software to clear out some of the unneeded data that can be dragging it down.
• To speed up your typing, download KeyBlaze Typing Tutor for practice, drills and games to help condition your fingers for flying across the keyboard.
• Add some shortcuts for things you commonly type with the aid of FastFox Text Expander to cut out the repetition and make your typing even more efficient.
• To slim down in addition to speeding up, reduce the size of files and save space on your hard drive with Express Zip Compression Software or use our media converters to compress individual audio, video and image files.

That's just a sample, but with so many easy-to-use software applications available at NCH you are sure to find more programs that will make your life and your tasks faster and easier.

<<< Previous: N is for New

Next: P is for PDF >>>

Best File Compression Software: Express Zip

The Olympics haven't started yet, but NCH Software has already won a Gold this summer. TopTenReviews just named Express Zip File Compression Software the best file compression software. We were thrilled to not only win the Gold, but to have the reviewers notice the easy-to-use features we have been working so hard on. Saying Express Zip's "simple, intuitive interface takes much of the guesswork out of compressing files," they go on to conclude:

"At the end of the day, compressing and extracting files isn't something you want occupying large portions of your brainpower. Express Zip by NCH Software does its level best to eliminate this task from your daily routine as much as possible. It accomplishes it by reducing the number of minutes and seconds it takes to perform the job."
– TopTenReviews

You can read the complete review of Express Zip on the TopTenReviews website. Or, just install it on your PC or Mac today so it will be at the ready the next time you need a file compression tool.

Unzip To See What's Inside

Today's Google Doodle is a zipper in honor of Gideon Sundback, the creator of the modern day zipper. Today you can unzip the Google homepage to see search results. Not only is this another fun addition to the long line of Google Doodles but it actually made me pause to think about the zipper. When I’m getting dressed or putting on a coat I don't think about zippers; they are simply part of the garment.

Similarly, we have been discussing improvements to Express Zip, and I’ve never considered how zip files were named. Usually compression is the first thing that comes to mind when I start thinking about the software/file side of zipping. However, it is still a way to bring together two or more parts into one file, similar to bringing together two sides of your jacket with a zipper. When you unzip a file it is just like what Google is doing today - unzipping it to see what is inside. With Express Zip file compression software, we are making zipping and unzipping files as easy as using any other zipper.

UnZIP, UnRAR and More on a Mac or PC

Zip and Rar archive formats might be particularly popular for compressing files on Windows, but that doesn't mean that Mac users shouldn't also be able to open those files. Express Zip is an easy way to open and extract files from many different archive formats, and we recently released it for OS X for the first time. Mac computers are more common than ever, which has helped with file compatibility issues that have been one of the biggest challenges between Macs and PCs. Express Zip joins our range of file converters that all help you open or convert file formats that might otherwise leave you helpless, making sure you never have a file you cannot open whether you're on a Mac or a PC.

Convert and Compress Files

Whether you're on a Mac or a PC, these conversion applications cover nearly every file type you'll run into, making them the most complete and reliable software for converting and compressing files out there.

Switch Audio File Converter

For your music, presentations, or audio projects, Switch Audio Converter lets you put your music anywhere at any time. Convert music for your iPod, PSP or phone. Compress audio to save hard drive space. Create a ringtone on your phone by converting the format, or even extract audio from video files.

Prism Video File Converter

Your computer might only be able to open certain video file types. Use Prism Video Converter to ensure you'll always be able to watch your videos. With Prism you have complete control over video settings such as compression and encoder rates, resolution, frame rate, and size output. You can also batch convert thousands of files at once and preview videos before conversion.

Pixillion Image File Converter

Pixillion isn't just image conversion software, there are many additional settings to make adjustments to your images while converting including adding watermarks, adjust the image quality, size or resolution, or even crop and rotate photos.

Express Zip File Compression Software

Express Zip is currently the only application on this list that is only available for Windows, but it is an extremely valuable compression tool. Use Express Zip archiving software to create, manage, and extract zipped files and folders. Plus extract files from a variety of other archive formats including rar, cab, iso, tar, and 7z or convert those archives into zip files. You can also easily email zipped files from the program or simply compress files to save disk space.

Open, Convert and Manage Archived Files

Compressing and archiving files and folders is very useful thing to do when emailing and sharing information, or simply to save disk space. The zip format is one of the most widely used there are a large number of other archive file formats out there. Instead of getting a program for every archive file format out there Express Zip offers a more complete solution. With Express Zip not only can you create, edit and manage any zip file, you can also open, extract, or convert any of the following archive file types into a zip file, so files and data won't be out of reach, no matter if they are compressed as a rar, cab, tar, tgz, 7z, iso or img archive.

New Express Zip File Compression Software

The .zip file format is one of the most widely used file compression formats when you have large files or groups of files that you want to send to others. Its cross-platform support makes it ideal for not only data compression but file sharing as well. With zipping files being such a common and useful a task, we are pleased to welcome Express Zip File Compression Software to our software library.

Express Zip is an archiving and file compression tool to create, manage, and extract zipped files and folders, for fast and efficient file zipping and unzipping. It's perfect for compressing files for email transmission, archiving data to save disk space on your hard drive, or increasing the amount of data you can burn to disc.

If you are looking for an easy solution for compressing files, be sure to give Express Zip a try. We hope you will find it useful as well as a great complement to some of our other software utilities including FileFort Backup Software, MEO File Encryption Software and Express Burn Disc Burning Software.