"WinRAR checksum error? How to fix the WinRAR checksum error (2024)"

Please provide the English content you want to translate, and I will translate it into Chinese for you as soon as possible.

Summary: Checksum errors in WinRAR

Did you encounter a WinRAR checksum error while trying to extract RAR, ZIP, or any other archive format? If yes, it can be frustrating, but don't worry – we have solutions for you. Most users run into this error during the file extraction process, mainly due to a corrupted archive file. There are several other reasons that can cause a checksum error, which we'll discuss in the next section.

What causes a "Checksum Error" in WinRAR?

Before discussing the solutions, it is essential to understand the reasons behind the WinRAR checksum error. Let's discuss them in detail.

Research suggests that such mistakes typically occur for a variety of reasons, such as

• ? Bad sectors on the storage drive
• ❌ Improper download of the source file
• ? Interrupted file transfer process
• ⛓️ Insufficient disk space during extraction
• ? Virus/malware attack during RAR extraction

In the next part, we will discuss six effective methods to fix the WinRAR checksum error, so read on to get the complete idea.

6 Ways to Fix the WinRAR Checksum Error

In this part of the guide, we will provide you with six methods to fix the WinRAR checksum error. Before attempting these methods, make sure to back up your data. Here, we have a video explaining how to fix the checksum error in WinRAR, so feel free to watch it. In this section of the video, you'll learn how to repair bad sectors on your hard drive by running a CHKDSK scan through the Command Prompt.

Video Page:

• 00:10 - Use the "Preserve Damaged Files" option
• 00:45 - Repair the archive
• 01:24 - Fix bad sectors on the hard drive

Now, we present to you a comprehensive guide with the six best and effective solutions to fix the WinRAR checksum error. Follow the precise steps provided in each solution for the best results.

# Using WinRAR's "Keep Broken Files" Feature

You can quickly address checksum errors using the "Keep broken files" option in WinRAR. This option allows you to extract damaged media files. When this option is checked, WinRAR will automatically ignore the errors and proceed with extracting the contents from the ZIP folder. Follow these steps to do it correctly: 1. **Open the ZIP file**: Launch WinRAR and locate the ZIP file containing the corrupted file. Right-click on the file and select "Extract To" or "Extract Here." 2. **Access Extraction Options**: In the extraction window that appears, click on the "Settings" button (gear icon) at the bottom-right corner. 3. **Select "Keep broken files"**: In the "Extract" settings dialog box, check the box next to "Keep broken files." This tells WinRAR to proceed with extracting files even if it encounters errors. 4. **Choose an Extraction Location**: Choose where you want to extract the files to by either selecting an existing folder or creating a new one. 5. **Start the Extraction Process**: Click on "OK" to start the extraction process. WinRAR will now attempt to extract all files, including the damaged ones. 6. **Review Extracted Files**: After the extraction is complete, navigate to the extraction location to inspect the files. The damaged files might still be usable to some extent, depending on the severity of the corruption. Remember that using the "Keep broken files" option doesn't guarantee the full recovery of damaged files. However, it's worth trying as it may still allow you to access some parts of the data. If the file is crucial, consider using specialized recovery tools or consulting a professional for better results.

Step 1. Right-click on the ZIP or RAR compressed file, and select “Extract Files” from the context menu.

Step 2: Go to the Advanced tab and check the box next to Preserve corrupted files.

Step 3: Choose a new extraction location, and then click OK to apply the change. Check now to see if the issue is resolved.

Many Windows 10/11 users have already confirmed the effectiveness of this article. If you're interested in fixing this issue, please share it on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram!

2. Download the RAR File Again

As mentioned earlier, a wrongly downloaded source RAR file could be the reason for the checksum error in WinRAR. To resolve this, it is recommended that you download the RAR file again from a different source and ensure that you have a fast and stable internet connection before downloading the source RAR file.

How to Open RAR Files on Windows

This article focuses on four ways to extract and open RAR files on Windows 10. We'll explore both free and paid options, so read to the end to avoid missing any important info.

3. Uninstall and Reinstall WinRAR

A "Checksum Error" may sometimes appear due to an issue, virus, or malfunction with WinRAR. In this case, we recommend manually uninstalling and reinstalling WinRAR. To do this, follow these steps:

Step 1: Press the Windows and keys to open the “Run” dialog box.

Step 2: Type appwiz.cpl, and then click OK to open the Programs and Features page.

Step 3. Scroll down the Programs and Features window and locate the WinRAR program. Right-click on the “WinRAR” app, then click “Uninstall.”

Before you uninstall WinRAR, make sure to back up your data. Reinstalling WinRAR might accidentally delete your files, so we recommend using the Data Recovery Wizard Pro tool. This powerful and reliable data recovery tool comes with advanced features and claims a 99.7% success rate in data recovery.

• The trial version supports the recovery of over 1000 files, such as deleted videos, images, PDFs, doc files, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations.
• It guides you swiftly through the process of recovering archived files.

To see how this tool works, follow these steps:

Note: To ensure a higher chance of successful data recovery, do not install the data recovery software on the original disk from which you lost your files.

Step 1. Launch the tool – Data Recovery Wizard – on your Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 7 computer. Select the disk partition or storage location where you lost data and click “Scan.”

Step 2: The recovery software will start scanning the disk to find all lost and deleted files. Once done, click on “Filter” > “Type” to specify the type of lost file.

Step 3. Preview and recover the lost Windows files. You can double-click to preview the scanned files. Then, select the target data and hit the “Recover” button to save them to another secure location on your computer or an external storage device.

The software also has a macOS version to help you recover deleted Zip and RAR files on Mac.

4. How to Repair a Compressed File with WinRAR

With the "Repair archive" option available in WinRAR, you can quickly fix checksum errors. This option usually manages to repair damaged archive files. Follow the steps below to learn how to use the "Repair archive" feature.

Step 1: Right-click on the damaged RAR or ZIP file and select “Open with WinRAR.”

Step 2: After opening WinRAR, click on the “Tools” tab at the top, and then select the “Repair archive” option from the context menu.

Step 3 – Click on the “Browse” button to select the location where you want to save the repaired RAR or ZIP file.

Step 4: If the file is a RAR, select “Process as RAR.” If it's a ZIP, select “Process as ZIP.” Click “OK.”

Please provide the English content you would like translated, and I will do my best to translate it into Chinese.

How to fix "Archive is in unknown format or damaged"

This is a common issue when opening a compressed file with WinRAR or File Explorer. Keep reading to learn about possible solutions. Read more >>

5. Increase Disk Space Availability

Insufficient disk space during the extraction of a RAR archive is one of the primary causes of Checksum Errors. We recommend freeing up some space on your computer before attempting to extract the archive. To free up disk space, you can delete temporary or other cached files, or remove unused files from your computer.

6. Run a CHKDSK Scan

"A checksum error" might be due to bad sectors on your hard drive. To address this issue, we recommend running a CHKDSK scan. The CHKDSK scan typically checks for bad sectors and missing files on the hard drive and automatically repairs them if issues are found. Please follow these steps to run the CHKDSK scan:

Step 1: Click the Start menu with the left mouse button, search for Command Prompt, and then select “Run as administrator” from the options on the right.

Step 2: Type the following command at the command prompt, and then press Enter. Replace "D" with the letter of the drive where you saved the backup file:

chkdsk /r D: This is a command-line instruction to run the chkdsk utility on drive D:. chkdsk is a utility in the Windows operating system that checks for and repairs disk errors. The parameter "/r" specifies that it should look for and attempt to recover lost files, fix any repairable errors, and display bad sectors on the disk.

The CHKDSK scan can take a while, so be patient. When it's done, restart your PC and see if the problem is fixed.

Bottom line

This article provides six best solutions to fix Checksum errors. We recommend you try all the solutions above and see which method is more effective and time-saving. If you're trying a solution that might lead to data loss, we advise downloading the Data Recovery Wizard Pro tool, which can quickly recover lost data.

Checksum errors in WinRAR – Frequently Asked Questions

In this section, we will answer some common questions about the topic that might address additional concerns, so don't miss it.

1. How do I resolve checksum errors?

You can quickly fix checksum errors by uninstalling and reinstalling the WinRAR application on your computer. Running a CHKDSK scan also helps to fix checksum errors.

2. Why do checksum errors occur?

A checksum error usually indicates a corrupt archive, but there can be other causes, such as

• Bad sectors on the storage drive
• Incomplete download of the source file
• Lack of disk space during the extraction process
• Interrupted file transfer
• Virus/malware attack during RAR extraction

How to fix a corrupted WinRAR file?

You can quickly fix a corrupted WinRAR using the Repair Archive option available in WinRAR.

4. What errors can occur when extracting RAR files?

When extracting RAR files, you might encounter a Checksum error, which is typically caused by a damaged RAR file.