How to open .rar, .arj, .gz, .tar and .rpm files in Windows

by Ross McKillop on June 22, 2007

Windows

This brief tutorial will show you how to open compressed files in Windows, using a terrific open source (free) program called 7-zip.

What: 7-Zip is a file archiver/decompresser with a high compression ratio.
Why: 7-Zip is open source software - you don’t need to register or pay for it. In fact, you can use it in a commercial organization. It allows you to extract the contents of many different types of compressed files, including .rar, .arj, .gz, .tar and .rpm. Unlike WinZIP and WinRAR, 7-zip is open source (free) - and works in 63 languages.
Where: 7-Zip works in Windows 98/ME/NT/2000/XP and can be downloaded from http://www.7-zip.org/

  1. After you’ve installed 7-zip (which is as simple as clicking Next a couple of times) launch it by selecting Start -> Programs -> 7-Zip -> 7-Zip File Manager.
  2. 7zip setup
    click to enlarge

  3. Once it opens, select Tools from the top menu, and then Options from the drop-down list.
  4. 7zip setup

  5. On the System tab, select the type of files you wish to use 7-Zip to open by placing checks in the appropriate boxes. Click OK when you’re done.
  6. 7zip setup
    click to enlarge

  7. Locate a compressed file that you’ve now associated with 7-Zip and double-click it.
  8. 7zip setup

  9. 7-Zip will open that file, and display its contents in the main window. Select each (or all) of the files that you wish to extract, and then click the Extract button from the top menu.
  10. 7zip setup
    click to enlarge

  11. You’ll be prompted to save the files to a location on your hard drive. You can use the button to navigate to a folder, or just type the location in the space provided. Click OK when you’ve selected a folder.
  12. 7zip setup
    click to enlarge

  13. The files will be extracted from the compressed file to the location you specified.
  14. 7zip setup

  15. And there they are!
  16. 7zip setup
    click to enlarge

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  • { 1 trackback }

    How to access uTorrent from a remote PC - Simplehelp
    12.03.07 at 5:01 am

    { 2 comments… read them below or add one }

    1 StarofDaytona 06.03.08 at 1:50 pm

    TY very much for posting this…it saved me from disappointment after having tried 2 days to download music in a tar format

    2 pavan 06.24.08 at 4:17 am

    I don’t know how open to .7z file.

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