Updating the RAR capability in PowerArchiver

RAR
We have had increasing issues with PowerArchiver 2000 (v6.00) being unable to manage the newer RAR files. The symptoms are that the contents of the archive can be viewed, but they will not extract.

A quick look at the DLL files used by PowerArchiver for file management;

    CABINET .DLL   DLL required for working with CAB Archives
    PASHLEXT.DLL   PowerArchiver Shell Extensions DLL
    LIBBZ2  .DLL   DLL required for extracting/creating BZIP2
                   compressed files
    UNACE   .DLL   DLL required for extracting ACE Archives
    UNRAR   .DLL   DLL required for extracting RAR Archives
    UNZDLL  .DLL   DLL required for unzipping
    ZIPDLL  .DLL   DLL required for zipping

To update RAR handling we need to grab an updated copy of UnRAR.dll RARLAB [2]. The dll’s ship in an self extracting file (UnRARDLL.exe). This neds to be unpacked into a directory eg. C:\temp\UnrarDLL\

rename “C:\Program Files\PowerArchiver\UNRAR.DLL” UNRAR.old.DLL

rename “C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\UNRAR.DLL” UNRAR.old.DLL”

copy C:\temp\UnrarDLL\UNRAR.DLL “C:\Program Files\PowerArchiver\UNRAR.DLL

copy C:\temp\UnrarDLL\UNRAR.DLL “C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\UNRAR.DLL”

ACE
While we are at it the UnACE.DLL package is freeware and can be grabbed from UNACEDLL v2.6 [3]. The dll’s ship in an self extracting file (unacedll.exe). This neds to be unpacked into a directory eg. C:\temp\UNACEDLL\
The new DLL file is named “UNACEV2.DLL”

ZIP
The UNZDLL.DLL/ZIPDLL.DLL are available as GPL freeware and can be grabbed from DelphiZip Dlls [4].
ZIPDLL.DLL – 15 December 2005 (75k) v1.78.9.5
UNZDLL.DLL – 14 November 2005 (70k) 1.78.4.3
RESDLL.res – 14 November 2005 (155k) 1.78.9.1, 1.78.4.3

CABINET

MS keeps the C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CABINET.DLL up to date via the Microsoft-Update proceess. The copy in C:\Program Files\PowerArchiver\ will need to be refreshed from the SYSTEM32 copy.
This file is currently: 5.1.2600.2180 (xpsp_sp2_rtm.040803-2158) 4-AUG-2004

Want another copy?
Microsoft Cabinet SDK contains the “CABINET.DLL” file. (1.00.601.0 March 20, 1997)

[1.] PowerArchiver 2000 Version 6.00 [PowerArchiver]
[2.] Download RAR Extras [RARLAB]
[3.] ACE compression technology [WINACE]
[4.] DelphiZip Dlls [DelphiZip]

About these ads