The VideoLAN Forums

Can someone tell me how to view RAR files? When ever I try to watch these files, they appear to play but I don't get any video.

WinRar?

Unzip the files first.

Or do you mean Real media files ???

No! VLC does not support Real media files.

Rar files are archives something like zip files. They must be unzipped to use them. More often rar file(s) contain 1 program and the utility will unpack the program back to its original form. Try WinRar.

Ok, I'm new to this downloading thing. there is only 1 file and when I right click on it it doesn't give me an option to unzip it. Also how do I access Winrar program?

Search WinRar on the web. While I happen to like WinRar it does cost money. It's a shareware program that will nag you forever.

But there are other programs that also work well, like 7-Zip

http://www.7-zip.org/

thanks guys, I'll try to download WinRar or 7 Zip and get back to all of you on my success or failure.

vlc can play media files from within rar archives, as long as these archives are comressed with 'Store' mode (ie, no compression).

VLC can also play from split rar archives, such as those found on the internet, using a plugin called vlcraar.

http://rarplayer.sourceforge.net/

Thanks once again, I was able to watch the file after downloading 7 Zip.