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Windows Installation

Install Location

A default Windows install runs from C:\; if you installed Windows in another location, then replace it accordingly.

  • Browse to C:\ProgramData and create a folder named unpackerr and then inside that create a logs directory.
    • Enable hidden files and folders if you don't see C:\ProgramData.
    • End result: C:\ProgramData\unpackerr and C:\ProgramData\unpackerr\logs
  • Extract a .exe.zip file from the Releases page into C:\ProgramData\unpackerr\.
  • Run the unpackerr.amd64.exe binary. This starts the app in the system tray.
  • Click the systray icon and select Config -> Edit.
  • Uncomment log_file (remove the #) and set it as shown here:
    • log_file = 'C:\ProgramData\unpackerr\logs\unpackerr.log'
  • Edit the rest of the config to suit your system, or generate one and save the file.
  • Click the systray icon again and select Quit. Then open the app again.
  • View the logs by clicking the systray icon and Logs -> View.
  • Make a shortcut to the application in your Startup menu to run it when you login.
Archive Access

Unpackerr requires write access to your download location. Make sure you set the path variables correctly in the configuration. Even if they're set incorrectly Unpackerr makes a best effort attempt to locate your downloads. If it can't find your downloads, then the path or paths variables need to be adjusted.

Running unpackerr as a Windows service​

Community Contribution

The following content was provided by a community member, IamGimli.

If you want unpackerr to run automatically upon Windows boot, without a user needing to be logged-on, follow these instructions:

Download and configure unpackerr according to the instructions on the main page. Make sure unpackerr runs without error messages in the logs before you continue. Once you've confirmed that unpackerr is properly configured, close it by right-clicking its icon in the taskbar and selecting Quit.

Extract the latest release of the Non-Sucking Service Manager into a folder like C:\Program Files\nssm\.

From either the Control Panel or Start menu search bar, open the Advanced System Settings. From the Advanced tab, click Environment Variables.... Click the New... button under the System variables box. In the Variable name: field, enter USEGUI and in the Variable value: field, enter false. Click Ok three times to close all of the Advanced System Settings windows.

On your desktop, create a new text file named unpackerr.reg and put the following in it:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\unpackerr-Service]
"Type"=dword:00000010
"Start"=dword:00000002
"ErrorControl"=dword:00000001
"ImagePath"=hex(2):43,00,3a,00,5c,00,50,00,72,00,6f,00,67,00,72,00,61,00,6d,00,\
  20,00,46,00,69,00,6c,00,65,00,73,00,20,00,28,00,78,00,38,00,36,00,29,00,5c,\
  00,6e,00,73,00,73,00,6d,00,5c,00,6e,00,73,00,73,00,6d,00,2d,00,32,00,2e,00,\
  32,00,34,00,5c,00,77,00,69,00,6e,00,36,00,34,00,5c,00,6e,00,73,00,73,00,6d,\
  00,2e,00,65,00,78,00,65,00,00,00
"ObjectName"="accountname"
"DelayedAutostart"=dword:00000001
"FailureActions"=hex:00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,03,00,00,00,14,00,00,\
  00,01,00,00,00,20,bf,02,00,01,00,00,00,20,bf,02,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,00
"DisplayName"="unpackerr-Service"
"FailureActionsOnNonCrashFailures"=dword:00000001

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\unpackerr-Service\Parameters]
"AppDirectory"="C:\\Program Files\\unpackerr"
"Application"="C:\\Program Files\\unpackerr\\unpackerr.amd64.exe"
"AppParameters"=""

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\unpackerr-Service\Parameters\AppExit]
@="Restart"

Replace accountname with the name of the local user account that you want unpackerr to run under. Make sure that account has all the permissions required to access to all of the paths that unpackerr will use. Also make sure that the "AppDirectory" and "Application" fields point to the location where you installed unpackerr, making sure to double up the backslashes in the path.

Save the file and then double-click it. You'll get a warning that importing registry keys could harm your system, click "Yes".

Press Windows-R and open services.msc. Scroll down to the service named unpackerr-Service. If it isn't in the list, you may need to reboot your computer. Double-click unpackerr-Service. Under Path to executable:, make sure that the path is where you extracted nssm. If it isn't, go to the section Path configuration below and return here after you modify the path. On the Log On tab, make sure the account name is correct and enter the password for that user account. Click Ok to close the service properties window. You can now start the unpackerr service by right-clicking it and selecting Start. To confirm that it's running correctly, look at unpackerr's log file, which you should have configured when you first installed it.

Unpackerr will now start automatically whenever the Windows machine is booted up, without the need for a user to be logged on.

Path configuration:

Press Windows-R and open regedit.exe. Scroll down to the following registry key: Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\unpackerr-Service Under that registry key, double-click the ImagePath value and enter the proper path to the nssm.exe that you extracted previously. Click Ok then close Regedit.