I would appreciate anyone's help right now. I have downloaded files that are compressed RAR files but i cannot open them. I have followed the instructions on this website. Downloaded both WinRAR and Powerarchiver and neither will work for me. It is upsetting since I am only able to download due to my donation. Please let me know if I am doing something wrong or if there is a better way to open my downloads. Thanks!

Beware of RAR files, they often contain malware.  If Winrar won't open them, then they are probably fake files.
Perhaps the only good thing Microsoft has ever done is come out with excellent antimalware that blocks just about everything.

What torrent are you downloading that has RAR files?

ALSO:  there is ONE video format that can contain malware.. WMV.    Avoid that format.

I would appreciate anyone's help right now. I have downloaded files that are compressed RAR files but i cannot open them. I have followed the instructions on this website. Downloaded both WinRAR and Powerarchiver and neither will work for me. It is upsetting since I am only able to download due to my donation. Please let me know if I am doing something wrong or if there is a better way to open my downloads. Thanks!

Exactly what files are they?

It's against the site rules to upload torrents of any form of compressed video including RAR.  If they are video files, PLEASE report the torrent for violating the rules.

Verify the torrent data to make sure you have 100%.  RAR files won't usually open unless they are 100% complete.

Usually a folder with multiple RAR files that make up a single video will open in VLC, which is a free, open-source media player.  I've used it as my primary video software for years without any issues.

https://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html