How To Use QuickPar

QuickPar can be used to verify to see if all the downloaded files are received correctly or to check to see if any of the downloaded files that are part of the RAR archive are corrupt. Depending on the RAR/unzip program that you use, you can sometimes already tell if the RAR file is corrupt or incomplete by either (A) looking at the title of the File or (B) compare the size of the files to the rest of the archive. See Below. In this example, we have downloaded the FREEWARE software called Ubuntu.

QuickPar example

A – If using WinRAR, notice how the font of the file name looks different. This is one indicator that the RAR file may be corrupt.

B – Another quick indicator that a RAR file is corrupt is by comparing the file size of the RAR to the rest of the sizes of the RAR archive. Notice how the file size (b.1) of the “part19” RAR file is different (usually smaller) than the majority of the rest of the RAR file sizes. Most RAR files will be the exact same size unless it is the last RAR file in the archive series (part25 of the archive – b.2).

The quick way to tell if an archive file is incomplete is by using QuickPar. When you download a particular file archive, you can download just 1 of the Par or Par2 files. This will allow you to check the integrity of the file. Click on the Par2 file. See below:

Quickpar example

A – Click on the Par2 file to check the file with QuickPar.

Once you do, the QuickPar should open a new window and begin checking the file set. When QuickPar is done verifying the downloaded files, it will let you know if it is complete or corrupt. In this case, the file was incomplete as it says need more blocks to complete the file.

Quickpar - verify files

A – QuickPar shows what files are corrupt or incomplete. The RAR files will be designated with a yellow color and also have an “Incomplete” under the status field.

B – QuickPar lets you know how many more blocks are needed to complete the file.

As you can see from the screenshot above, the file is missing 54 blocks. In most cases, extra PAR2 files are posted with the downloaded file. If you do not have enough blocks, you can download more PAR2 files that are part of the file set. Quickpar will let you know whether you have enough or not. If the PAR2 files are not available, you can ask the poster of the articles to repost the particular RAR file or post a few Par2 files which will be easier.

QuickPar - repair required

Now that I have a few more Par2 files, let’s take a closer look at the Par2 file.

Filename.vol(A)+(B).PAR2
A is the total number of blocks of all preceding files.
B is the number of blocks in the PAR2 file.

You will know you have enough blocks to rebuild the RAR files if the number of blocks you have (B) is greater than the number of blocks needed (C).

Depending how you configured QuickPar, it will inform you when you have enough Par 2 blocks if you selected the “Monitor” feature (D). Also, when you do have enough blocks, QuickPar will automatically repair the file archive if you selected the “AutoRepair” feature (E). If you did not select Autorepair, click repair and QuickPar will begin repairing the file.

During the repair process, Quickpar will give you an estimate how long it will take to repair the file (A). It will also show you a status bar of how close it is to completion (B).

Quickpar recovery data

A – Estimate of how long it will take QuickPar to repair the file archive
B – Status bar of repair process

QuickPar - files repaired

When Quickpar completes the repair, it will give you a status update of how long it took to repair the file (A). You will then be able to use WinRAR or 7 Zip to Unrar/unzip the file archive.

For more help refer to other QuickPar guides:
1. How to install QuickPar
2. How to Use QuickPar to Repair RAR’s
3. How to Create PAR2 Files with QuickPar

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