I can't read a .rar file with either UnArchiver or UnRarx

[annehfan88]

I downloaded a file with a .rar extension. I've tried both of the above programs, which all turn the file into a .exe program. But then, going from there, neither programs could read it.

Whenever I try to open the .exe with UnArchiver, a box pops up and says "The contents of this program cannot be extracted with this program". What is the problem and how could I fix it?

 

[u49aa2]

have you tried stuffit archive ?

 

[spinnerlys]

An .exe file is a Windows application, that can only be used with some kind of Windows OS (2000, XP, Vista,...).
It could also be a self-extracting archive made with WinZip (or some other program), but still you need Windows to extract the file.

Clearly this file you downloaded wasn't mean for Mac OS X.

 

[annehfan88]

An .exe file is a Windows application, that can only be used with some kind of Windows OS (2000, XP, Vista,...).
It could also be a self-extracting archive made with WinZip (or some other program), but still you need Windows to extract the file.

Clearly this file you downloaded wasn't mean for Mac OS X.

does that mean that i probably can't read it on my Mac no matter what? or is there another program that could convert it somehow and read it?

 

[spinnerlys]

I don't know. You could open it via Windows in Boot Camp or in a Virtual Machine or ask someone with a Windows machine, if s/he would be so kind to extract that for you.

Or you could ask the sender (if it's a personal thing), to re-compress the file with something more useful, like just .rar.

Multiple compressed files seem shady to me, I once had a file (don't know what anymore, but may have been something illegal maybe), that I had to decompress and decompress and decompressed and ..... There was a .zip in a .rar in a .zip in a .rar in a .zip in a .... .

Maybe you can tell us the source, if it's something from the legal world white wet, and we could give it a try.

Also beware of entering any passwords of your user account, it could be malware.

 

[annehfan88]

It's something from a website:
http://www.littlethingmagazine.com/index.asp

I'm trying to download a digital version of an online magazine. It's small scale and not very well know, but I do believe that it is legitimate and not something shady.

If it does work, then I'd be quite happy. But if it's something strictly Windows, then I guess it's ok.

 

[Jethryn Freyman]

does that mean that i probably can't read it on my Mac no matter what? or is there another program that could convert it somehow and read it?

You can't read it, it's an application.

 

[spinnerlys]

It's something from a website:
http://www.littlethingmagazine.com/index.asp

I'm trying to download a digital version of an online magazine. It's small scale and not very well know, but I do believe that it is legitimate and not something shady.

If it does work, then I'd be quite happy. But if it's something strictly Windows, then I guess it's ok.

One has to login to download a magazine.

But why would they limit their magazine to Windows users only with giving them an .exe?

Maybe you should contact the publisher or whoever runs that magazine, and ask them, if they would be so polite and offer just the .pdf file, as that is OS independent. Or if they would just use .rar.
I mean, you have bought it, haven't you? (There is a "Buy" button.)

 

[annehfan88]

Maybe I'll email the magazine and ask them for it in .pdf.

I've not bought it, but it's supposed to work without a purchase. Thank you so much, though, for taking the effort of asking my question and clearing any doubts