This command is accessible both in file management and in archive management modes. It considers selected files or opened archive as corrupt archives and attempts to repair them. To run this command use either Tools menu , "Repair" button on the toolbar or Alt+R keyboard shortcut.
WinRAR is able to repair only RAR and ZIP archives. WinRAR tries to detect the type of the archive automatically using archive data and extension, but user also may set an archive type manually.
The source archive is not changed and result of operation is stored into a new archive, which is named fixed.arcname.rar or rebuilt.arcname.rar, where 'arcname' is the original archive name.
Success of "Repair" operation depends on the archive type and type and size of damaged area. Chance of successful RAR archive repair is significantly higher if it has the recovery record. If archive does not contain the recovery record, chances are lower for solid archives and no repair is possible for archives with encrypted file names.
Technical details of archive repairing are provided in the command "r" description ("r" is the command line equivalent of "Repair archive" command).