I cannot get WinRAR to extract the files I download into the correct location. I am running Windows 7. It tells me that access is denied to C:\Program Files (x86)\Electronic Arts\The Sims 3\Mods\Packages. However, I can and have been extracting to the desktop and moving them into the packages folder. I seem to remember this happening when vista first came out. In the mean time is there a different extractor i could try???

Try restarting your computer, and make sure the game isn't running while you are trying to extract. Windows 7 and Vista UAC can be a pain in the ass.