Old Archive Extractor
Open ARJ, LHA, ARC, ZOO, StuffIt, ACE, CAB, CHM and ISO archives
Drop an ARJ, LZH, SIT, ACE, CAB, CHM or ISO archive
Single File • Max 500MB
Archives are opened in an isolated workspace, used only for this extraction, and deleted automatically within 3 hours.
Supported formats
14 formats. Extensions in grey are aliases of the same format.
| Extension | Format | Result |
|---|---|---|
| .arj | ARJ Archive | Extract files |
| .lzh.lha | LHA / LZH Archive | Extract files |
| .arc | ARC Archive | Extract files |
| .zoo | ZOO Archive | Extract files |
| .sit.sitx | StuffIt ArchiveStuffIt 1.5-5 and StuffIt X (.sitx) are supported. | Extract files |
| .ace | ACE Archive | Extract files |
| .cab | Microsoft Cabinet Archive | Extract files |
| .z | Unix compress Archive | Extract files |
| .cpt | Compact Pro Archive | Extract files |
| .hqx | BinHex Encoded File | Extract files |
| .dms | Amiga DiskMasher Image | Extract files |
| .rar | RAR Archive (old versions)RAR 1.5-5 supported. | Extract files |
| .chm | Compiled HTML HelpExtracted as the original HTML pages and images. | Extract files |
| .iso.img .bin | Disc ImageFiles are extracted from the image. | Extract files |
What is the Old Archive Extractor?
Before ZIP won, files were packed with ARJ, LHA, ARC, ZOO and PKPAK on PCs, StuffIt and Compact Pro on Macs, and compress (.Z) on Unix. Those archives still sit on old disks and download mirrors, but Windows, macOS and most modern tools cannot open them. This extractor unpacks them on our servers using 7-Zip and The Unarchiver engines and hands back every file individually, plus a single ZIP of everything. It also opens CAB installers, CHM help files and ISO disc images, which often hide the actual documents you are looking for.
Key Features & Benefits
Ten archive families
ARJ, LHA/LZH, ARC, ZOO, StuffIt, Compact Pro, ACE, CAB, CHM, ISO, RAR and Unix compress.
Two engines
7-Zip handles most formats; The Unarchiver takes over for StuffIt, ACE, Compact Pro and other Mac-era archives.
Safe extraction
Path traversal is stripped, expansion is capped at 2GB and 1,000 files to block archive bombs.
Nothing to install
No shareware, no expired licences, no DOS emulator. Works on any device with a browser.
How to Use the the Old Archive Extractor
Upload the archive
Drop an .arj, .lzh, .arc, .zoo, .sit, .ace, .cab, .chm, .iso, .rar or .Z file. One archive at a time, up to 500MB.
Extract
Click 'Extract Files'. Nested folders are flattened into readable file names; the original paths are kept in the ZIP.
Download
Save individual files or grab the whole set as a ZIP with 'Download All'.
Convert what is inside
Found WordPerfect documents or PCX images inside? Send them to the matching legacy converter.
Practical Use Cases
Old download collections
Open shareware and BBS-era ARJ and LZH packs saved from the early internet.
Classic Mac backups
Unpack StuffIt and Compact Pro archives from System 7 and Mac OS 9 machines.
Installer contents
Pull documentation, fonts or drivers out of CAB and ISO images without running the installer.
Help files
Extract the HTML pages and images from a CHM manual so it can be read or searched again.
FAQs
Which legacy archive formats are supported?
ARJ, LHA/LZH, ARC, ZOO, StuffIt (.sit and .sitx), Compact Pro (.cpt), ACE, Microsoft CAB, CHM help files, ISO/IMG disc images, all RAR versions, Unix compress (.Z), BinHex (.hqx) and Amiga DMS.
Are password-protected archives supported?
Not at the moment. Encrypted ARJ, ACE and RAR archives will fail with an explanation.
Why are the extracted file names flattened?
Individual downloads need a flat name, so folder paths are joined with underscores. The 'Download All' ZIP keeps the original folder structure.
Are my archives kept on your servers?
No. Files are used only for the extraction you requested and are deleted automatically within three hours.