Help with .rar vs .7z
 

In true MS fashion I hit a roadblock with simply trying to transfer TMO from a desktop to a laptop. Both are new Vista machines.
Here's the problem;
The TMO file is .RAR on the desktop. I copied it to a CD where, on the desktop and the CD, it shows as a .RAR file. I take the CD put it in the brand spankin' new laptop and the file shows as a .7z file which when double-clicked promptly creates an error message from Vista saying it can't find the associated program. Un-friggin'-believable!!!!:x So I cannot 'extract' it to my laptop harddrive. What am I missing?
Any suggestions, advice are GREATLY appreciated.:oops:

Convert the orginal file to a .7z ?

Seems like not a day goes by I dont hear some kind of issue with Vista.

I tried converting to .rar
 

but no joy. I've since found a website with .7z compression files. I'll download that utility and tranfer it to the laptop.

Try running RAR and finding the path to the file, add it to the archives. In other words open the file through RAR instead of clicking on the file itself. The other program probably got set as the default program for zip files. It really shouldn't matter what program you use as long the files are unzipped to the proper location. You may want to install RAR on the laptop. This is no different than what media player you use for video, it's not a "Vista" problem.

I'll give it a shot...
 

....but I think, believe it or not, that the Vista on the laptop doesn't have the RAR program! (I'm not sure whether to be pissed at MS or HP). The files are showing as .RAR on the CD in the desktop but when the CD is inserted into the laptop they show as .7z (go figure). So, annoyingly, my laptop with Vista is changing the file extenstions of the .RAR files on the CD to .7z when reading the CD but Vista subsequently won't open them as it won't "recognize" the required utility. Kind of a 'chicken and egg' situation LOL.:-?

You are correct, you need to download and install RAR, it does not come with windows. Pop that baby in and you will be good to go ! I had to do the same thing. :up: BTW, are you a Moose? As in Loyal Order of ?

RAR download is a timed trial shareware version to try before you buy. 7zip is freeware that will do the same jobs RAR does. It will open all known compressed files

7z will open all rar files but winrar and winzip wont open 7z files so do what i did and just use 7z for all your computers, its going to work with all zip formats so your life is easier.

WinRAR opens .7z no problems, but I also prefer 7zip due to it's simplicity. WinRar also has a trial period of 40 days, but at least my version(3.61) continued to function normally even after the trial.

I agree. Download the open source, free, 7zip and forget about all the nagware, multiple file compression software programs on your system, or overly complex interfaces. 7zip does it all from a right-click on the file name and does it without fuss, intuitively and quickly. That is better than WinRare, WinZip, blah, blah, blah.

Go for it. You'll forget all about any alternatives. I have.

RAR won't process 7z files
 

Well;
still no joy. I put WinRAR on my laptop and when I look at the files on the CD they have the WinRAR icon but when I try to extract it seems to be doing it then I get a popup showing "cannot open" for all the extracting files. What a pain in the ass.
Anyone got a good link for the .7z program please?
Thanks,
:cry:

UPDATE: Disregard my last, I found .7z software and have successfully transferred the files (now I just have to find 1.5 and do it all over again, LOL).
Thanks for the feedback.

glad you got it

if anyone else is looking for the download here it is: http://www.filehippo.com/download_7-zip/

From what I read you are trying to extract form a file still on your CD. Have you copied the file to the Laptop desktop? Many types of files will not work from a CD as I understand it.