How to Convert .Rar Files to Real Player

An archive that has the "RAR" extension is either a single file or a group of different files that have all been compressed into a single location. The RAR compression routine makes the files much smaller than they would be normally so that they can be transferred between computers more easily. You can extract the original files inside the RAR archive by using an RAR extraction program. Any type of file can be compressed into an RAR archive, however, so you may still need to convert the extracted file to the RM format so the Real Player program can open it.

Things You'll Need

• RAR extraction utility
• RM conversion software

Instructions

1. Navigate to a website that offers an RAR file extraction utility, such as "RAR Extract Frog," (see Resources). Download and run the installation file for the extraction utility. Minimize your web browser and then open the installation file. Follow the instructions on the screen to install the RAR extraction utility.

2. Return to the desktop and double-click the "My Computer" icon. Search through the folders on your computer's hard drive and locate the RAR file. Right-click on the file name and then choose the "Extract Here" option from the pop-up menu. Wait for the extracted files to appear in the folder.

3. Check to see if the extracted file is already in the RM file format. Right-click on the file and choose "Open With." Select the Real Media Player program from the list of software and see if the file is in a format that the Real Player can open. Close the Real Player program if it cannot open the file and then return to your web browser.

4. Navigate to a website that offers a program capable of converting files to the RM format, such as "RM Converter" (see Resources). Download and install the program. Open the conversion utility and then click on the "Add" button. Click on the file you extracted earlier and then click on "OK."

5. Click on the "Output Format" button and then choose "RM File" from the drop-down menu. Click on the "Output Folder" button and then find the specific folder where you want the converted RM file to be saved. Click on the folder's name and then click on "OK." Click on the "Convert" button to convert the file into the RM format so it can be opened with the Real Player program.

Tips & Warnings

• You may want to create a backup copy of the extracted file before you run the RM conversion program. Should the conversion program have any sort of problem, or if you computer were to shut down unexpectedly during the conversion process, the original file could easily become corrupted.

References

• Real Media File Information
• RAR File Information

Resources

• Download RAR Extract Frog
• Download RM Converter