: Beyond standard zip files, the 7-zip software can extract data from highly technical formats like .qcow2 (virtual disk images), UEFI BIOS files, and even installer packages like MSI or NSIS .
One interesting piece about the method is its specialized efficiency with multi-threading. Unlike the original LZMA, LZMA2 can split large files into independent chunks (typically 256 MB or more), allowing it to utilize multiple CPU cores simultaneously for both compression and decompression. Key Technical Curiosities
: A testament to its "no-nonsense" design, the latest versions of 7-Zip still run on Windows 2000 , an OS released over 25 years ago, because it maintains minimal software dependencies.
: Some third-party tools have "abused" the 7z format by hiding Linux file attributes in unused bits of the metadata. While the official 7-Zip UI now tries to acknowledge these, they are not technically part of the official archive codebase. Quick Comparison: LZMA vs. LZMA2 Multi-threading Limited for large files High (splits into chunks) Compressed Data Poor with already-compressed data Better handling Speed Generally slower on modern CPUs Faster for 4+ threads Problem Extracting 7z Archives · Issue #73 - GitHub
