Update: My blog received 35,000 hits alone, so it's no surprise that the WinRAR site is overloaded. Nonetheless, many people have been able to get to the site; your best bet is to keep hitting your browser's refresh key.
Those of you who were able to get through to the site were confused with what to do with the download. The download gets you a Registration Key for WinRAR (which is a .rar file that won't open unless you have -- right -- WinRAR installed).
So you'll need to WinRAR 3.51 (as trialware). Get it from PC World's Downloads area.
Once installed, click on the Registration Key you received from the WinRAR site. It will un-rare it (which sounds sillier than un-zipping a file) and you'll have a .REG file. Click on that and you'll get the "registered successfully" message. [Thanks to Jim S. and Mark M. for the help.]
End Update
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Loyal reader John W. passed along this cool offer. Here's what John said:
"I own this WinRAR. It's normally $29 but they're giving it away FREE this Sunday using a special link (see below). In case you're wondering, WinRAR is like WinZIP (only better) and it
decodes (UnZips or unpacks) a multitude of file types (including ZIP
files). Free is a good deal. See the excerpt from the WinRAR newsletter below."
WinRAR Voted Overall Best Utility for Shareware Industry Awards Foundation People's Choice Award. To Say Thanks and to Celebrate: Get the Winner WinRAR 3.51 for FREE on Sunday.
In order to thank everyone who voted for us and made it possible for us to win this prestigious award, we are offering the WinRAR 3.51 single user license non upgradeable version this Sunday the 30th of July 2006 from 00:00 until 24:00 CET for absolutely FREE.
Note: CET is Central European Time. Take a look at the World Clock page to determine when 00:00 until 24:00 CET is in your part of the world.
Please click the following link which will become active on Sunday. Fill out the form on that page in order to receive further information via e-mail about how to get your FREE version of WinRAR.
Please remember that this is a ONE day special offer ONLY. Tell all your friends and family and celebrate with us by taking advantage of this special one time only offer.
wouldn't you know it? A dead link - 404 error
Link above works (although slowly) at 12:51 EDT. I used IE7b3
I spent hours trying to get through, without success. The time I wasted is worth far more than $29. The few who did succeed received a product that is not upgradeable when the soon-to-be-released version comes out. The vast majority, who only wasted their time, will not forget how badly treated they were. This reminds me of the complaints about Microsoft's "free flash drive" nondeliveries.
I continued trying, and after dozens of attempts, captured the golden key only 4 minutes before the deadline. My poor fragile nerves are terribly stressed now!
Here's how to use the key:
1. First install the free trial version of WinRAR v3.5.1. This creates a folder named c:\Program Files\WinRAR.
2. Then unpack the downloaded key named rarkey.rar, by doubleclicking on it.
3. This produces a file named rarreg.key, which you must place in the folder named: C:\Program Files\WinRAR.
4. To confirm that the key works, open WinRAR; click on the Help button; and select "About WinRAR". It should say: "Registered to PCA Special Offer Version 3.5.1".
5. Stress causses brain damage. To recover, grab any German beer and don't wait for OktoberFest. Salute Win-RAR.com and kick back as you wonder if you really even need the program, and why the folder has a .txt file that reminds you of the nightmarish UNIX Man Pages. Don't worry, the Help files explain it all.