I wanted to download WinRAR for my game, but then I heard that you have to pay money after 40 days, but I don't want to pay money, because it's not my own computer. Can I download another file to extract rar-files, or is there a way to get WinRAR for free?
Please help me! :sorry: (if there is a thread like that)

Hi there!
You can still use WinRAR after the free 30 days. If nothing has changed since I downloaded it, the only thing that happens is a "popup-window" comes up in the front that says that "the 30 day evaluation period is over and that you can buy it by pressing this button bla bla bla". But you just have to close that window and carry on unpacking... (Sorry if I didn't use the right words!)

Cherryhoney, after a 40 day trial you will be prompted to buy the WinRAR software. Even though it still works, some of us do not feel right using software after the trial has expired. I would go to www.ultimatezip.com and download their free program. It works like a charm on both zip and rar files, and it is totaly free for non-bussiness users. I use it and highly reccomend it.

That's a good tip, because my dad doesn't like programms you have to pay for, after the download.

I've said it before, but I downloaded a freeware program called ZipGenius from download.com and completely love it. It's from Italy (but can be downloaded in any number of languages), so it supports .rar as well as .zip files. Like I said, it's totally free. I've had no problems with the program and highly recommend it.

Although you are supposed to pay for WinRAR after 40 days usage, it will continue to work though IIRC you get a nag screen. Since I closed this thread, billyd1000 has informed me that thesims2.com won't let you open files downloaded from their site, if WinRAR has passed the 40 day trial.


There are plenty of free rar and zip handlers out there, some of which have been mentioned. download.com and nonags.com have a ton more (nonags ones are truly free and don't have spyware etc either)