unzip program freeware - any good ones?

I'm trying to find a good unzip program, if there is one, that is freeware.
Any thoughts?

 

7zip works well.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/7-Zip_d4603.html

 

How do I exit ZipGenius ?

I downloaded ZipGenius because there were a few *.RAR files that I wanted to access.
I installed it, defaulted on the start up location (I don'e reallt want it to load on start-up any way but that's another problem), chose 'no' to the other options (desktop short cuts etc), and everything seemed OK.
I had to manually delete the 3 icons (shortcuts ?) that appeared on my desktop (did I do something wrong here ?).

I ran ZG by clicking on the .exe icom in My Programs/ZipGenius and everything appeared to work, I extracted one set of files from a *.rar as a test, that seemed to be ok. No achives open.

BUT I couldn't exit or close the ZipGenius window, and it was using more 80% of my CPU !! I tried File > Exit (from the top menu bar), CTRL-Q, and the red box at top right of the window with the white x in it. These all did nothing. In the meantime, I wonder how stop this program cleanly (without killing the process/application in task manager).

Does anyone how to exit this program normally, or why the exit procedures don't work ? Or why it's eating so much CPU ?

If I 'uncheck' the ZipGenius box on msconfig > StartUp tab, will it remain there unchecked until I take further steps to remove that item, or will the ZG item disappear after I next boot (or at some later time, without my taking further action) ?

Dumb_Question
16.December.2012
Compaq Presario S5160UK DT261A (Celeron 2.7GHz) - 1.5 GB RAM - Nvidia GeForce 6200 - Octigen 300W PSU - Windows Home XP/SP3

 

I'll add my voice to the recommenders of 7Zip

It'll handle most everything you'll encounter, is feature rich if you want to explore it a bit...

 

Greetings, Dumb_Question...

ZipGenius? I have no idea - sounds like something might have been funky on the installation. I've never used the program, but I have used 7-Zip - my suggestion would be to get rid of the problem software and install 7-Zip.

As far as the msconfig entry, if it's still there upon uninstalling the program, either:

1. Run regedit and navigate to [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Shared Tools\MSConfig\startupreg] and delete the entry...

Or

2. Download and run the Clear Disabled Items from Msconfig Startup [Tip 148, on the right-hand side] script from Kelly's Korner.

Also, in the future please start your own thread listing your symptoms, questions, etc. - helps with the MajorGeeks search functions. Thanks! :major

****Sorry, cipher - didn't see you lurking there.

 

Thank you for the rapid responses. Apologies for not starting a new thread, I didn't what it was best to do

I was hoping for a reply from David-GP, I seemed to remember seeing a post by him someplace that implied the he was more familiar with ZipGenius.

It could well be that I need 7-Zip but at present I only need to access/open a few rar files and I can do this with ZG and then uninstall it.

As far as msconfig goes, I fear I have not made made myself clear.
I am referring only to the StartUp tab in msconfig
What I would like to achieve is to prevent certain items from loading and running at boot time by unchecking the box next to their names. I wish to keep these unchecked-box items on the list so that at some unspecified time in the future I can return to msconfig>StartUp, and check a box so that that program will again start&run when I boot. What I am unsure of is whether XP will delete unchecked box items from msconfig> StartUp after a while (which I do not want). XP seems to do things that it wants that I don't want it to do at random times !
Dumb_Question
16.December.2012
Compaq Presario S5160UK DT261A (Celeron 2.7GHz) - 1.5 GB RAM - Nvidia GeForce 6200 - Octigen 300W PSU - Windows Home XP/SP3

 

Ah! Understood - apologies for the confusion...

I would imagine that if the program is still installed then the msconfig startup entry will stay in place.

And, I'm sure David would not mind a private message about the ZipGenius. Go ahead - he won't bite.