WinArchiver can Manage Common Archives and Disk Image Files: Review & Giveaway

If you are a computer savvy user, you must be dealing with archives and image files regularly for variety of purpose. Usually for managing and editing these file types you need to have two different software. But, WinArchiver is a unique software that allows you full control over both of these under the same platform. Few days ago I wrote about WinArchiver Virtual Drive. WinArchiver when couples with WinArchiver Virtual Drive gives you better control over archives and image files.

Features

• Small installer (2.69 Mb), not digitally signed.
• Installation is clean and fast. At the end of installation it asks to integrate WinArchiver into shell.
• It's shell menu asks to download and install WinAchiver Virtual Drive for better management of disk image files. If you already have a similar software, you might not like to install it. But I decided to use both together because both complements each other.
• System Requirements:

1. Windows 98 to Windows 7. Both 32 and 64 bit are supported;
2. Intel Pentium 166MHz or above; 64MB memory,
3. At least 10MB hard disk space.

• Multilingual. Supports 12 languages.
• Adds to shell extension menu.

Context Menu of Files and Folders

Context Menu of Virtual Drives

Context Menu of Archives

• GUI is easy to use.

Graphical User Interface

• WinArchiver supports opening and unarchiving of the following file types: .zip (WinZip Files), .rar (WinRAR Files), .7z (7z Files), .mzp (Mountable Archive), .iso (CD/DVD Image File), .xdi(Extended Disc Image File), .001 (7z Sub Volume), .arj, .bz2, .bzip2, .gz, .gzip, .tar, .taz, .tbz, .tbz2, .tgz, .tpz, .cab, .cpio, .deb, .lha, .lzh, .rpm, .split, .swm, .wim (Windows Imaging File), .z, .daa (PowerISO File), .bin, .cue, .mdf, .mds, .ashdisc, .bwi, .b5i, .lcd, .img, .cdi, .cif, .p01, .pdi, .nrg (Nero Disc Image), .ncd, .pxi, .gi, .fcd, .vcd, .c2d, .dmg (Apple Disc Image), .bif, .ima, .flp, .uif (MagicISO File), .isz (Compressed ISO File).
• Can create 3 types of archives [ZIP, 7Z and MZP] and 2 types of image files [ISO, XDI].
• MZP is the new archive format supported by WinArchiver. It supports data compression, encryption, and file spanning. WinArchiver can be used to create and manipulate MZP archives. The MZP archive can also be mounted as virtual drive instantly with WinArchiver Virtual Drive, thus you can access files in the archive without extraction. Compared with other archive formats, MZP archives can be mounted more efficiently.
• Compression by an archive can be of three types: Normal, Better and Best. More compression means more time required for the process.
• It can keep a tract of the recently opened files, which can be cleared.
• When it opens an archive, by default it uses Windows temporary folder to extract its contents. But you can change the location of the temporary folder.
• You will be able to split archives into multiple archives.
• WinArchiver supports unicode file names.
• You can add comments to archives.
• You can add or remove files to/from archives.
• You can know detailed information about image files and archives. You are also allowed to change that.

Type of file system in Image file

Details of Image file creation, modification etc.

• Disk Images can be burned to CD/DVD in adjustable speeds.(4x, 8x, 16x, 24x, 32x, 40x, 48x, maximum)

Burn Disk Image

• It can convert disk images of one format to ISO, BIN/CUE, XDI format.

Convert Disk Image

• It can compress disk image files to XDI format.

Compress Disk Image

• It can decompress XDI file.

Decompress XDI file

• WinArchiver can make disc image files from CD, DVD, and Blu-ray discs.

Making Image from CD/DVD/Blue-ray Disk

• Existing and new archives and image files can be password protected. WinArchiver uses default encryption technique. So, it does not provide any freedom in the choice of encryption. Also it cannot encrypt file names.

Password Protction

• Since the software in complementary to WinArchiver Virtual Drive, when the later is installed it gives all its functionality as mentioned in a previous post.

Tray Icon and Menu

• The software uses minimal resources. WAService.exe runs for mounting archives and image files; WAHELPER.EXE runs for the tray (optional) and WinArchiver.exe runs for the GUI.

Memory Usage

• The software has a rich offline help file. It also provides useful online tutorials for explaining the usage of various parts of the software.

Download and Register

WinArchiver is not free. An one time payment of $29.95 ensures you Lifetime free software Updates and Support. You can of course download a 30 days trial that nags you to register the software at program startup but offers full functionality.
Download Link of Latest Version (v 2.8)
http://www.winarchiver.com/WinArchiver28.exe

MD5 :4C57A8B20D0430412AB87150C7E01190
SHA1 :7439F666B417B43C27445BB05FB3B75263753F3E
CRC32 :5F326DB2

My Verdict
I like WinArchiver. It frequently updates to fix any issues and to add new features. But at present I won't keep it as my only archive application because

• It needs to support better encryption modules.
• It should support name encryption.

A few more suggestions.

• Combine WinArchiver and WinArchiver Virtual Drive, since both software complements each other. At least offer to install WinArchiver Virtual Drive during the installation of WinArchiver.
• Add digital signature to to the installer and files.

Giveaway

WinArchiver have arranged 10 lifetime licenses of the software for our blog readers.
To ask for a copy

1. Subscribe to Insights in Technology Email Newsletter. if you are not already subscribed. Don't forget to verify the subscription in the email address provided.
2. Post a comment below as Guest using your Name and Email address that you used during Newsletter subscription. Don't place your Email Address in the comment box. You can also use your disqus login.
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Giveaway will run until 30th April 23:59 PM GMT.

Good Luck !!

Giveaway Ended