How to use C:\> tar -xf on Windows

TAR is still the most popular tool for archiving data on Linux. The TAR (Tape ARchiver), which is still very popular and widespread today, as a very common command for Linux users to back up data and directories, it compresses on request also with the help of gzip or bzip2. The name was originally formed from tape archiver, as used to back up data to tape drives.

Linux users will be happy about the possibility to use tar now also under Windows, because Microsoft donates TAR for Windows 10, OnBoard from build 17063.

Interesting and unexpected is also that tar of Windows 10 also extracts ZIP files. Which formats for compression will continue to be supported is not yet known at this time. There are also a large number of tools that also support tar, which also have a graphical interface, such as the free 7-Zip.

The tar help is displayed with call the option help.

C:\> tar -help
Usage:
  List:    tar -tf <archive-filename>
  Extract: tar -xf <archive-filename>
  Create:  tar -cf <archive-filename> [filenames...]
  Help:    tar --help