*.rar files won't open and say "unknown format or damaged" when they aren't!

[xxsassxx31]

Hello....beforehand I want to thank you for your help regarding
the problems I can't seem to fix. I am using Windows Vista and I have
run scandisk/disk defrag/computer cleanup with various programs so all
of that is taken care of for a possible "solution". I looked on various
help and resource sites but can't seem to fix my problems!



First off, I don't know what is going on with my rar files but I have
winrar and 7zip and everything was working fine but now every time I
download compressed "Rar" files it seems to not open and give an error
message that the archive is either in an "unknown format or damaged". I
know this is not the case because I try to use it on multiple and
various rar files I have downloaded and this is even happening on files
that I have had on my computer and have worked in the past but that is
not working now so I don't know what to do...I have attached a
screenshot of the error message:
'_http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/98f09e9e3f70980dfe6904cc7f9d03334g.jpg_'
(http://www.mediafire.com/imgbnc.php/...7f9d03334g.jpg)


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xxsassxx31

[Mark Blain]

You didn't say whether that error message is coming from 7-zip or winrar.
Try running the 7-Zip program directly and opening a rar file with the
menus inside the program, then try the same thing with WinRAR. Does
*EITHER* one work?

[xxsassxx31]

No....rar files that worked before don't work now. only simple rar files
now work..(error happens with both programs)


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xxsassxx31

[John Barnes]

Why don't you try downloading the latest version of 7-zip and see if you
have the same problem.

[Mark Blain]

7-Zip uses RarLabs' "unrar.dll" to open rar files. I don't know if WinRAR
itself does. If both program use the file and it's bad, that would
explain the problem. Easiest way to find out is to uninstall and reinstall
one of the two programs, then test that one program before touching the
other.