Can you install PowerArchiver without making it the default for various extensions or bloating your context menu with its entries? I don't like to give these kinds of privileges to a brand new software that I'm trying out.

This will come in handy for extracting all the programs downloaded from GotD. Considering that, chances are that everyone who downloads it will already be using some sort of unzip program.

Registration of program is not obvious

Is there a registeration code for this program? If so I cannot find it.

Thank you to the people from the developer who have posted for participating in the discussion. In the things that you've said about support and updates; I think you may not have been thinking about the fact that people who take advantage of this free software don't get free support, and don't get updates. This is the reason that Joji, in comment 3 recommended that everyone turn off auto update. My understanding is that if I were to leave auto update on the program would revert to being a limited time demo after the first update.

Anyway, this is an great program. Thank you very much for the free license for this software. If I'm incorrect, and the free users can perhaps get updates, but not upgrades I would appreciate a clarifying post here.

Thanks again

I was trying to remember why I didn't already have PowerArchiver, then I installed it and it all came back to me--it was because it changed file associations when I made absolutely certain that no files were to be associated with it.

I REALLY hate it when a program changes file associations when I know I've been certain that it shouldn't, or adds context menu entries without asking--this program does both.

@Drazen
any information on registration problem #22 available yet?

Have followed the registration process, but as #22 does not activate. When I try to run activate.exe there is a bit of cursor action, but nothing else, and the program continues to ask me to register (or buy).

I wanted to try this because I haven't used such programs since we got our server in Chicago and I started using Carbonite. In the old days I have used disk-copy in dos with all the right switches and viables too create bootable exact copies and power toy sync. I added the offer to my FB Wall, installed today's offer and tested it. It was fairly easy to use and worked well. I do not know if it is better than others.

I uninstalled the program with Iobit Uninstaller 5 Pro and then removed all the references to it that Advanced System Care 8 could find. Be aware that many undesirable klingons were found and removed from the Registry!

I really don't see any use for this in my case as storage and the cloud is just too cheap to worry about it.

Thanks GOTD and Power Archiver!

Rick Martin

OK, dumb question. Installed, but not clear on registration. After Activate, software still shows 'Register' under 'Help' and never did see an activation code in software or by email. How do I obtain the registration code?

Is this software Mac compatible. Grateful for your comments.

With WinZip, I can compress several folders to individual files concurrently, rather than compressing each folder separately. Is this possible with Power Archiver? If so, how can I do it?

Thanks for a response.

wodrp

Speed, accuracy, shell extensions, burner, virtual drive, support, and constant improvements.

What part of that don't you understand? This is HANDS DOWN the best archive manager around. As for the free ones, you get what you pay for!

If I leave the update settings alone, how soon will this not be fully functional?

After re-installing Windows on my machine, I decided to carefully pick and choose giveaways so I didn't end up with 20+ video converters, 20+ data recovery tools, etc., which slowed my system to a crawl. I rarely create archives, just extract them, but I did install anyway.

30MB seemed like a lot for an archiving problem, so read below to pare it down and save some space. You'll save over 14MB. Patch Beam runs as a service and runs hidden in the background without your knowledge.

It install numerous files that are not necessary for operation, especially Patch Beam which is used to update Power Archiver. Here's what it states in the registry regarding Patch Beam.................."Check for PowerArchiver updates and download them". That's why it's not necessary as we are not allowed updates due to the GOAD policy. That can be uninstalled through Programs and Features or Revo Uninstaller. The install creates a director called DOCS, which hold the license files for every language available. After you read it the first time on install, the entire folder can be deleted with no consequences. IF you're using the English language version, you can also delete the entire LANGUAGES folder with no consequences as English is built in to the program. The SFXS folder is also language related and if you're strictly using the English version, the SFXS folder can be deleted as well.

Just for fun, do a search for libeay32.dll and ssleay32.dll. HOW MANY DID YOU FIND??. Some of these files in the installation directory can be deleted if they exist in the Windows\System32 and/or Windows\SysWOW64 directory if using the 64-bit edition, but this is only for advanced users. To see these files, you must uncheck Hide protected operating system files in Control Panel > Folder options > View tab.

If anyone is interested, I can post back with details.

This doesn't even deal with the registry, where hundreds of file extensions are assigned to Power Archiver.

One thing I didn't like Power Archiver is that it didn't remember the last used folder when you choose a file. For now I'll keep it and play with it, but I imagine down the road, I will probably uninstall it

Complaint: one of the most powerful ways to set a zip utility apart from others is to offer a command-line interface. Power Archiver is the only company I have seen that sells its command-line functionality as a separate, paid utility, called Power Archive Command Line (PACL). It costs an additional $15. Other utilities, such as WinRAR, 7-Zip, WinZip, PeaZip, and FreeArc all offer command-line functionality at no extra charge. Today's Giveaway of Power Archiver Standard does not include Power Archiver Command Line. So, no thanks. I appreciate the offer to try out the standard program but I just can't support any company that charges extra money to get what I consider to be very basic command-line functionality that should be standard in a zipping utility.

Power Archiver's own uninstaller leaves a lot of garbage behind it. So make sure you use a good uninstaller, e.g. Revo, to get rid of all that stuff.

Regards,

consuella

Power Archiver is my first choice to go for my average needs. I like it because I can also copy stuffs out from cds.iso files without the need to install any virtual cd/dvd drive to mount it first.

I could be totally wrong but after I installed this software I found something called "Patchbeam" whatever that is installed on my computer. I cant see to find much info about it, but regeidt associated it with PowerArchiver.

I have been a PowerArchiver user since before it changed to shareware. When they did though, I didn't hesitate to purchase. And here we are, 14 years later, and I still get free upgrades! I'd highly recommend to anyone considering this to purchase the discounted lifetime subscription. Well worth the money for a great product.

I've used PA for years and found it works well. I've actually paid for it (gasp!). I have a few comments:

1) My favorite and deciding feature is that it has provides an install option, when appropriate. Thus, I can double click on a downloaded gaotd file in my browser and it will open the file and properly install the gaotd with proper activation.

2) one odd quirk: in order to preview a file from within the archive I seem to have to BOTH highlight and click the checkmark. Not sure why that should be, but it's only a small annoyance...

Chuck

I have used Powerarchiver in the past and found it solid in most things. I did however switch to Bandizip for several reasons: 1) Overall Bandizip is faster at compression. 2) It is free so that has to be taken into account. 3) They update almost as often as Powerarchive and it just works well for me.

I guess if you want to pay for a archive software then this is the best choice but if you want a archiver that just works and works well and is free then Bandizip can't be beat.

As for support I will commend Powerarchiver for the support they offer, but realistically I would think less then 1% of users ever have trouble with archives and of that 1% maybe a quarter of them would seek assistance for it. Most, 99% would just ether recompress or have the sender resend a fresh copy. With all that said I think the support comments are just fluff.

With the above in mind I will stay with Bandizip. Because sometimes you just can't beat free.

Thanks for the information conexware.

FrancisBorne, let me give you some more information then based on another test.

Outlook PST files.

I had 711Mb of files which I compressed using 7zip, Haozip, B1 Free Archiver and Peazip with the maximum compression settings.

All compressed to files that were no more than 3Mb in size difference.

Time taken:

Powerarchiver - 8 seconds
Haozip - 30 seconds
B1 Free archiver - 21 seconds
Peazip - 22 seconds
7zip - 19 seconds

I did try the Kodi folder again in 7zip and Haozip, where compressed file sizes were very close in size but with Haozip taking 4 times longer and 7zip 3 times longer, which would indicate that Powerarchiver is not spending it's time trying to compress already compressed folders.

Regardless of the hardware used of course, the time comparisons will give an indication of speed on the hardware used but with so many variations out there it would be impossible to determine anything with complete accuracy.

So that's pretty much at least 100% faster than the others and the other benefit of trying the Kodi folder was because of the number of files, folders and folder depth (which was about 8 levels at it's maximum), to demonstrate that it had no issues with larger volumes or folder depths.

Basically, for me this just does the job in the most efficient manner and completed all the key tasks without issue as well.

I was initially going to pass on this as there are many free alternatives but the comments made me want to at least give it a try.

So I selected a folder with many files and folders, my Kodi folder.

2.25Gb, 38,500 files in 5996 folders.

Time to zip using maximum compression - 3m25s
Time to unzip again - 1m 50s

All data verified.

Astonishingly fast compared to anything else that I have ever used, so this is a definite keeper for me.

Installed on a WINDOWS 8.1 and at the end of the installation my screen is blue with no icons at all.

How can I reset my system now!!!!!!!!!!!!

I believe a serious consideration is whether such programs are robust/reliable
EG Do they "smile a you" and create an archive, then later you find that it cannot open the archive. It tells you "sorry there are file path names that are too long".
I believe reviewers of archiving programs should ensure that the programs pre-check to ensure that this will NOT occur.
I have never read a review that pays attention to this vital matter

Positive: a company with name and addresses in USA and Europe.
http://www.powerarchiver.com/about/

For me it's an important differerence whether a program can compress to a certain format or only open this format.

Above "with support of over 50 different compression formats including ZIP, ZIPX, RAR, 7-zip ((my correction, please see below: 7z)), CAB, TAR, ISO and many more ..." thus is reduced on their site
http://www.powerarchiver.com/powerarchiver/
to "Create ZIP, ZIPX, TAR/GZ/BZ2, CAB, ISO, open 20 other formats."
With my humble mathematical knowledge - I am able to count to more than 3 - I am counting 7 formats Power Archiver 2015 Standard can compress to and further 20 it can open, that's 27 in total PA can read. Or are reading and writing counted as different formats????? That would make 47 and not "over" 50.

7-Zip free program main features (please distinguish: program is called 7-Zip, format is 7z)
http://www.7-zip.org/
Begin citation:
"- High compression ratio in 7z format with LZMA and LZMA2 compression
- Supported formats:
- Packing / unpacking: 7z, XZ, BZIP2, GZIP, TAR, ZIP and WIM
- Unpacking only: ARJ, CAB, CHM, CPIO, CramFS, DEB, DMG, FAT, HFS, ISO, LZH, LZMA, MBR, MSI, NSIS, NTFS, RAR, RPM, SquashFS, UDF, VHD, WIM, XAR and Z.
-For ZIP and GZIP formats, 7-Zip provides a compression ratio that is 2-10 % better than the ratio provided by PKZip and WinZip"
And it's available for LINUX too.
Packing and unpacking 7 formats, unpacking 24.
That's more formats than PowerArchiver.
Strong AES-256 encryption in 7z and ZIP formats
Self-extracting capability for 7z format
Integration with Windows Shell
Powerful File Manager
Powerful command line version
Plugin for FAR Manager
Localizations for 87 languages"
End citation

Comparison of formats these programs can write
PA St: ZIP, ZIPX, TAR, GZIP, BZIP2, CAB, ISO, *), --, ---
7-Zip: ZIP, ----, TAR, GZIP, BZIP2, =*), =*), 7z, XZ, WIM (( *) unpack only))

By the way Linux distributions come with a lot of free programs like ISOmaster to pack/unpack/edit ISO files and others.
What for? By editing ISO files you may easily enrich autoboot CDs for Windows, e.g. with additional portable programs.
Till now I needed only to unpack CAB files (done by Windows itself, not 7-Zip) and never to pack them. Which normal user did ever pack CAB files?

Power Archiver 2015 "Standard". Are they planning a Pro version?

I couldn't find a list of all formats read by it (perhaps because having deactivated JavaScript nearly always). Could anybody please tell. Thanks in advance.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_file_archivers
comes with several lists/tables, e.g. which formats different programs can read, same for writing.
Best advice: Look here if you are encountering any additional format and search for a free program.

Ran setup but did not let it finish, ran activate and then allowed setup to finish, this way it opens as registered.
A nice simple interface is presented making the program easy to use.

Tested on ZIP and on ISO and within these files it had no problems previewing TXT, JPG in the preview window. HTML and VOB files were opened up in associated programs.

A quick test on compressing a range of file types it performed without any problems and did it rapidly.

One of the best programs of its type that I have seen recently and I will be keeping it.

Good Software. Work great on Windows 7 Home Basic 64 bits. But it is very necessary to take one step that go to Options-Configuration-Auto Update-Check for Updates-Select NEVER and then the right side Unchecked both- Check silently during Power Archiver startup-Run Update silently upon exit if available. Also remember to unchecked Allow Power Archiver to send anonymous usage statistics.

Why would anyone pay for this software when there are so many free ones?
See http://www.techsupportalert.com/best-free-file-archiver-zip-utility.htm

Mixed Reviews---- http://download.cnet.com/PowerArchiver-2015/3000-2250_4-10030093.html