WinRAR 7.11

❓ Here are some recurring questions and related user issues we know of:

1. Why does WinRAR keep working after the 40-day trial expires?

Answer:
WinRAR continues to function indefinitely after the trial as a deliberate choice by the developers. However, users are expected to purchase a license for continued use, in accordance with the End User License Agreement (EULA). It's legal software, but extended unpaid use is technically non-compliant.

2. How can I fix "Checksum error" or "corrupt archive" messages?

Answer:
These errors usually mean the archive is damaged or incomplete, often due to a bad download or disk issue. Try re-downloading the file or use WinRAR's "Repair Archive" feature via Tools > Repair archive. Not all corrupted files can be repaired.

3. Why can't I open .7z or .tar.gz files with WinRAR?

Answer:
WinRAR supports many formats but has limited support for formats like .7z and .tar.gz. It can usually extract them but may not support all compression options. For full compatibility, consider using tools like 7-Zip.

4. Why does Windows Defender or antivirus flag WinRAR or RAR files as threats?

Answer:
RAR files are commonly used to distribute malware, which can trigger antivirus alerts, especially when the archive is encrypted. Also, unofficial or cracked versions of WinRAR may be flagged. Always download from the official WinRAR site and scan extracted files before opening.

5. How can I split large files into parts with WinRAR?

Answer:
Use the "Split to volumes" option during archive creation. You can choose predefined sizes (e.g., 100MB, 700MB) or enter a custom size. This is useful for sharing large files in manageable parts.

6. Why do some RAR files ask for a password, and how do I recover it?

Answer:
These archives are password-protected by their creator. WinRAR does not offer a password recovery option. You’ll need the correct password from the file's source. Brute-force tools exist, but they're slow and not guaranteed.

7. What's the difference between RAR and RAR5? Why can't I open some RAR files?

Answer:
RAR5 is a newer format with improved performance and compression. If you're using an older version of WinRAR or another tool that doesn't support RAR5, you may be unable to open those files. Update to the latest version of WinRAR to ensure compatibility.

8. Can WinRAR create self-extracting (EXE) archives?

Answer:
Yes. When creating an archive, check the "Create SFX archive" option. This generates a .exe file that can extract itself without requiring WinRAR to be installed on the target system.

9. Why is WinRAR asking to associate itself with file types on every startup?

Answer:
This may happen if WinRAR lacks administrative privileges to save settings, or if the config file is corrupted. Run WinRAR as an administrator once and reconfigure file associations under Options > Settings > Integration.

10. Is WinRAR safe to use? Hasn't it had security issues?

Answer:
Yes, WinRAR is safe when downloaded from UpdateStar. However, in 2019, a serious vulnerability (CVE-2018-20250) in the ACE archive component was discovered. It has since been removed entirely in WinRAR 5.70 and newer. Keeping your version up to date is important.