Checksum Error in WinRAR? How to Fix the Checksum Error (2023)

In this article, you'll learn:

Use the Keep Broken Files Feature in WinRAR
Download the RAR File Again
Remove and Reinstall WinRAR
Repair Your Archive With WinRAR
Run a CHKDSK Scan

Overview: The Checksum Error in WinRAR

If you're experiencing a Checksum error in WinRAR when extracting RAR, ZIP, or other archive formats, don't worry - we have solutions. This error often occurs during file extraction, and the main culprit is usually a corrupted archive file. However, other reasons can also cause Checksum Errors, which we'll explore further.

What Causes Checksum Error WinRAR

Before getting into the solution part, it's necessary to understand the reason behind the checksum error WinRAR. Let's discuss this in detail.

Research suggests that this error often occurs due to several factors, including (list the reasons provided).

😵Bad sectors on the storage drive
❌Improper download of the source file
🛑Interrupted the transfer process of the file
⛓️Insufficient disk space during extraction
🦠Virus/malware attacks in the RAR extraction process

We will discuss six working solutions to fix the checksum error in WinRAR in the next part. To get a complete idea, read the post until the end.

6 Fixes to the Checksum Error in WinRAR

If you're experiencing a checksum error in WinRAR, there are six potential fixes you can try. First, run the CHKDSK scan on the command prompt to fix bad sectors on your hard drive. If that doesn't work, try running the WinRAR repair tool to check if the file is corrupted. You can also run a full system scan to check if the file is infected with a virus. If none of these methods work, try reinstalling WinRAR and trying to extract the file again.

To fix the checksum error in WinRAR, you can try the following solutions. First, check the file integrity by verifying the file's checksum using a reliable tool like HashCheck. If the file is corrupted, you can try to repair it using WinRAR's built-in repair feature.

1. Use the "Keep Broken Files" Feature in WinRAR

To resolve the checksum error in WinRAR, select the "Keep Broken Files" option, which allows you to extract corrupted media. By ticking this option, WinRAR will automatically ignore the corruption and extract content from the Zip folder. This process enables you to quickly resolve the issue and access the content within.

Step 1. To extract the contents of a Zip or RAR file, right-click on it and select "Extract Files" from the context menu.

Step 2. To keep broken files, go to the Miscellaneous section and select the "Keep Broken Files" checkbox.

Keep broken files when extracting

Step 3. To resolve the issue, select an extraction location and click "OK" to execute the changes. This should resolve the problem.

Many Windows 10/11 users have found success with this solution. If you're experiencing the issue, consider sharing this post on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and others. This may help others resolve the problem as well.

2. Download the RAR File Again

To resolve the checksum error in WinRAR, download the source RAR file again from a different location, ensuring a fast and stable internet connection. This may resolve the issue.

How to Open RAR Files on Windows

On Windows 10, you can extract and open RAR files using four different methods. This post will cover both free and paid options, providing you with a comprehensive guide to accessing your RAR files. From free tools like 7-Zip to paid software like WinRAR, we'll explore all the necessary information to get you started.

3. Remove and Reinstall WinRAR

If the Checksum Error occurs due to bugs, viruses, or glitches with Win RAR, you can try manually uninstalling and reinstalling the software. To do this, follow these steps: [insert steps].

Step 1. To open the Run dialog, press the Windows and R keys simultaneously on your keyboard. This will open a small window where you can type the name of an executable file or a command to run.

Step 2. To open the Program and Features page, type appwiz.cpl and click "OK".

Step 3. Scroll down the items in the Programs and Features window to find the WinRAR program. Right-click on the "WinRAR" app and click "Uninstall".

Uninstall WinRAR

Step 4. After uninstalling the software, restart your computer and visit the official website to download and install it again.

Before uninstalling WinRAR, protect your data using Deep Data Recovery, a powerful tool with a 99.7% data recovery success rate.

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To recover an archive file, start by identifying the file type and the software used to create it. Then, use the appropriate software or a compatible alternative to extract the contents of the file.

To understand the working process of the tool, follow the below steps.

Note: To increase the chances of successful data recovery, install Qiling data recovery software on a different disk from the one where you lost your files.

Step 1. Launch Deep Data Recovery on your Windows computer, select the affected disk partition or storage location, and click "Scan" to start the recovery process.

Step 2. This recovery software will scan the disk to find lost and deleted files, and then allow you to filter the results by file type.

Step 3. Preview and restore lost Windows files by scanning them, double-clicking to preview, selecting the target data, and clicking the "Recover" button to save them to a safe spot.

The software has a macOS version that can help recover deleted Zip and RAR files on a Mac.

4. Repair Your Archive with WinRAR

To fix a checksum error in WinRAR, use the "Repair archive" option available in the software. This feature can often repair a corrupt archive file. To do this, open WinRAR, select the archive file, and click on the "Repair archive" option. Follow the prompts to complete the repair process.

Step 1. To extract the corrupted RAR or Zip file, right-click on it and select the "Open" with the WinRAR option. This will allow you to view and potentially recover the contents of the file.

Step 2. After opening WinRAR, click the "Tools" tab at the top and select the "Repair" archive option from the context menu.

Repair Archive

Step 3. 1. Click the "Browse" button to select the destination folder for the repaired RAR or Zip files.

Step 4. Select the "Treat the corrupt archive as RAR" option if your archive is a RAR file, or the "Treat the corrupt archive as ZIP" option if it's a ZIP file, and click "OK" to proceed.

Repair WinRAR

To fix the issue where the archive is either in an unknown format or damaged, you can try extracting the archive using a different software or tool. If that doesn't work, you can try repairing the archive using a repair tool or by using a command line utility like `7z` or `zip`.

Opening a zipped file using WinRAR or File Explorer can sometimes be problematic. If you're experiencing issues, there are a few possible fixes to try. Read more >> is available for further information.

5. Increase Free Disk Space

To fix the Checksum Error caused by insufficient disk space during RAR archive extraction, create some space on your PC by clearing temporary files or deleting unused files. This will allow the extraction process to proceed without errors.

6. Run a CHKDSK Scan

The Checksum Error may occur due to a bad sector on your hard drive, and running a CHKDSK scan can help resolve the issue. CHKDSK scans the hard drive for bad sectors and missing files, and repairs any issues it finds. To run a CHKDSK scan, follow these steps: [insert steps here].

Step 1. To access the Command Prompt, click on the Start Menu, type "Command Prompt" in the search bar, and select the "Run as administrator" option from the right panel.

Step 2. The command to type in the Command Prompt window is: expand -f *.* -d D:\ and press Enter. Replace "D" with the drive letter where the archive file is stored.

chkdsk/r D:

Once the CHKDSK scan is complete, restart your PC and check if the issue is resolved. The scan typically takes a long time to finish, so be patient.

Bottom Line

If you're experiencing a Checksum Error, try the six solutions provided and see which one works best and is less time-consuming. However, be aware that attempting these solutions may result in data loss, so it's recommended to download the Deep Data Recovery software to quickly recover any lost data.

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Checksum Error WinRAR FAQs

In this section, we will answer some of the frequently asked questions related to this topic, which may clear your additional doubt, so don't skip this part.

1. How do I fix a checksum error?

To resolve a checksum error, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling the WinRAR app on your PC, and also run a CHKDSK scan to fix the issue.

2. Why checksum error?

A checksum error typically occurs due to a corrupted archive file, but it can also be caused by other factors such as a faulty download, incorrect extraction method, or an incomplete or interrupted transfer process.

Bad sectors on the storage drive
Improper download of the source file
Insufficient disk space during extraction
Interrupted the transfer process of the file
Virus/malware attacks in the RAR extraction process

3. How do I fix a corrupted WinRAR file?

WinRAR has a built-in repair archive option that allows you to quickly fix corrupted archives. This feature can be accessed by right-clicking on the corrupted archive and selecting the "Repair" option from the context menu.

4. What is the error in extracting RAR files?

You may get the Checksum error while extracting RAR files, which is usually caused by the corruption of the RAR files themselves.