.ARC File Recovery

Have files been deleted due to a user’s error or software error? Have you formatted a disk by accident and need to know how to recover the files? Read our .ARC file recovery guide for Windows, MacOS, Android and IOS in 2024.

What is a .ARC file?

An ARC file is a backup file created by Norton software products, such as Norton 360 and Norton Online Backup. It contains a backup of computer files created automatically by the software, which may include personal user files as well as system files.

What Are Common Causes of ".ARC" Files Lost or Failure?

There are several common causes of ".ARC" files lost or failure, including:

  1. Accidental deletion: Users may accidentally delete ".ARC" files while cleaning up their system or organizing files, leading to their loss.
  2. File system corruption: Issues with the file system, such as disk errors or improper shutdowns, can result in corruption of ".ARC" files, making them inaccessible.
  3. Virus or malware infection: If a computer is infected with a virus or malware, it can corrupt or delete ".ARC" files as part of its malicious activities.
  4. Software or hardware issues: Problems with software applications or hardware components, such as a faulty hard drive or incompatible software, can cause ".ARC" files to become lost or fail.
  5. Power outages: Sudden power outages or unexpected system shutdowns can interrupt the saving or processing of ".ARC" files, leading to their loss or corruption.
  6. Human error: Mistakes made by users, such as accidental formatting of storage devices or improper handling of files, can result in the loss or failure of ".ARC" files.
  7. Unsupported file format: If an application or operating system does not support the ".ARC" file format, it may cause issues while opening or accessing the files, leading to their loss or failure.
  8. File transfer or compression errors: Errors during file transfer or compression processes can cause ".ARC" files to become corrupted or incomplete, resulting in their loss or failure.
  9. Storage media issues: Problems with storage media, such as a damaged or malfunctioning hard drive, can lead to the loss or failure of ".ARC" files stored on that media.
  10. Software bugs or glitches: Occasionally, software bugs or glitches can cause ".ARC" files to become lost or fail due to errors in the application's code or functionality.

How to recover lost ".ARC" files?

Sometimes while working with a computer, laptop or other stationary or mobile devices, you may encounter various bugs, freezes, hardware or software failures, even in spite of regular updates and junk cleaning. As a result, an important ".ARC" file may be deleted.

By no means should you think that the only way to recover a ".ARC" file is always to create it once more.

Use programs for recovering ".ARC" files if a file was lost after accidental or deliberate deleting, formatting the memory card or the internal storage, cleaning the storage device, after a virus attack or a system failure.

Programs to recover ".ARC" files

Looking for a way to get files back? In cases when files were deleted and they cannot be restored by using standard operating system tools, use Hetman Partition Recovery.

Follow the directions below:

  1. Download Hetman Partition Recovery, install and start the program.

  2. The program will automatically scan the computer and display all hard disks and removable drives connected to it, as well as physical and local disks.

  3. Double-click on the disk from which you need to recover ".ARC" files, and select analysis type.

  4. When the scanning is over, you will be shown the files for recovery.

  5. To find a file you need, use the program’s interface to open the folder it was deleted from, or go to the folder "Content-Aware Analysis" and select the required file type.

  6. Select the files you have been looking for and click "Recovery".

  7. Choose one of the methods for saving the files and recover them.

How to open file with ".ARC" extension?

Looking for how to open a stereo norton Backup Archive image file file?

Programs that open ".ARC" files

Windows
Symantec Norton 360
Symantec Norton Online Backup
Mac
Symantec Norton Online Backup

Additional Information

  • File type: Norton Backup Archive

  • File extension: .ARC

  • Developer: Symantec

  • Category: Backup Files

  • Format: Binary

  • Mime-type: application/octet-stream

  • HEX: 41 72 43 01, 1A, 52 41 52 43

  • ASCII: ArC, , RARC

  • File types that use the extension .ARC:

    • Norton Backup Archive

    • Compressed File Archive

    • African Safari Data File

    • Nintendo Archive File

    • Symbian OS Backup File

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Author: Vladimir Artiukh, Technical Writer

Vladimir Artiukh is a technical writer for Hetman Software, as well as the voice and face of their English-speaking YouTube channel, Hetman Software: Data Recovery for Windows. He handles tutorials, how-tos, and detailed reviews on how the company’s tools work with all kinds of data storage devices.

Editor: Oleg Afonin, Technical Writer

Oleg Afonin is an expert in mobile forensics, data recovery and computer systems. He often attends large data security conferences, and writes several blogs for such resources as xaker.ru, Elcomsoft and Habr. In addition to his online activities, Oleg’s articles are also published in professional magazines. Also, Oleg Afonin is the co-author of a well-known book, Mobile Forensics - Advanced Investigative Strategies.

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Questions and answers

What is a .ARC file extension and what does it typically contain?

The .ARC file extension is associated with compressed archive files. These files are created using the ARC (Archived by Robert Jung) compression algorithm. The ARC format was popular in the early days of personal computers, particularly on the MS-DOS platform.

Typically, an ARC file contains one or more files that have been compressed to reduce their size. These files can be various types such as documents, images, programs, or any other type of data. The purpose of compressing these files is to save storage space and make it easier to transfer or distribute them.

To access the contents of an ARC file, you need to use a program capable of decompressing ARC archives. Some popular programs for working with ARC files include PKARC, PKWARE, and WinARC.

How can I open a .ARC file and what software or tools are required?

To open a .ARC file, you can use one of the following methods:

  1. WinRAR: WinRAR is a popular file compression and extraction tool that can handle various archive formats, including .ARC files. You can download and install WinRAR from the official website (https://www.rarlab.com/) and then use it to extract the contents of the .ARC file.
  2. 7-Zip: 7-Zip is a free, open-source file archiver that supports multiple formats, including .ARC files. You can download and install 7-Zip from the official website (https://www.7-zip.org/) and then use it to extract the contents of the .ARC file.
  3. ARCtools: ARCtools is a specialized tool for working with .ARC files. You can download ARCtools from various online sources, such as the Internet Archive (https://archive.org/details/arc-archiver), and use it to extract the contents of the .ARC file.

Once you have the required software or tool installed, follow these steps to open a .ARC file:

  1. Locate the .ARC file on your computer.
  2. Right-click on the .ARC file.
  3. From the context menu, choose the option to extract or extract here (depending on the software/tool you are using).
  4. Select the destination folder where you want to extract the contents of the .ARC file.
  5. Click on the "Extract" or "OK" button to start the extraction process.
  6. Wait for the extraction to complete.
  7. Once the extraction is finished, you will have access to the contents of the .ARC file in the destination folder.

Note: The specific steps may vary slightly depending on the software/tool you are using, but the overall process should be similar.

Are there any specific steps or procedures to follow in order to successfully open and extract files from a .ARC archive?

To successfully open and extract files from a .ARC archive, you can follow these general steps:

  1. Choose an ARC archive extraction tool: There are several software options available for extracting ARC archives, such as WinRAR, 7-Zip, and ARC Extractor.
  2. Install the chosen extraction tool: Download and install the extraction tool of your choice from the official website.
  3. Launch the extraction tool: Open the extraction tool that you installed on your computer.
  4. Open the ARC archive: In the extraction tool, navigate to the location where the .ARC archive is saved. Use the "Open" or "Extract" option to locate and select the .ARC file.
  5. Extract the files: Once you have selected the .ARC archive, choose the "Extract" or "Extract Here" option to extract the files from the archive. You may be prompted to choose a destination folder for the extracted files.
  6. Wait for the extraction process: The extraction tool will start extracting the files from the .ARC archive. Depending on the size of the archive and the speed of your computer, this process may take some time.
  7. Access the extracted files: Once the extraction is complete, you can navigate to the destination folder you specified earlier to access the extracted files.

Note: The specific steps may vary slightly depending on the extraction tool you choose. It is always recommended to refer to the documentation or help files provided with the extraction tool for more detailed instructions.