For those of you who don't like 7-zip's Win9x look...a nice free archiver from China, HaoZip:
As a bonus, it has a batch rename/replace tool, can do MD5 checksums, convert images, convert archives, merge MP3s (although I don't see when you'd want to do that), it has an image viewer, and skins. And an x64 version .
The English translation has some mistakes, however (but who cares?)
I don't want to talk about piracy here at the risk of breaking rules but here is how it goes. I have paid for my OS, all my softwares are freewares/open-source except for WinRAR where there doesn't exist a decent alternative. I am 17 right now, as soon as I start earning I will pay them for sure.
I don't want to think about how much music I have s.... *shakes head*
Why don't you try HaoZip (or 7-zip if you want an English-compliant archiver)? 7z is better than RAR anyway.
GUI matters, and I'm just used to RAR. I'll get a job in say, 4 years. I shall definitely pay for everything I have ever 'stolen' then. I don't exactly feel too proud using dad's money for software.
I'm personally fine with the gui of 7-Zip itself, I just hate the file extension icons it has. They look horrible with Windows 7, absolutely repulsive.