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I wish to extract files using RAR or ZIP but I need to be able to rename the files being replaced so that there is a copy of the previous version in case something goes wrong.

Couldn't see any options in WinRAR to do this.

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WinRAR will allow you to rename a file during extraction. Make sure you have 'Ask Before Overwrite' enabled and you will get a prompt:

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Does this rename the original file or the new file? –  CJ7 Jun 16 '10 at 5:27
It will keep the original and rename the file you are trying to extract. Of all the compression utilities I tried, I believe it was only WinRar and 7-zip, which I use, that even offered to rename files and they both work the same way. The only other option would be a command line script that renames the file then extracts the archive... –  Pulse Jun 16 '10 at 6:22
I need something that renames the original file. –  CJ7 Jun 17 '10 at 6:53

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