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A beginners guide to downloading
As any marketer will tell you, we all love free stuff. And the Net is the best source
of free stuff there is--you can spend the rest of your life downloading free software,
games, graphics, fonts, sounds, videos, and almost anything else you can think of. But you
got to know how to download first.
Luckily, downloading is easy to understand. There are some variations to the
process--depending on the type of computer you use, which operating system it runs, and
what software you use to access the World Wide Web--but overall, it's pretty
straightforward stuff. In fact, it's just a five-step process:
Even after you've mastered the art of downloading, it can be a hassle to handle and
work with your newly acquired files. That's why we've put together a collection of great
utilities for managing your downloads. These tools will help you get the most fun and
productivity out of your computer.
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Make a special download directory
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Downloading can get messy. Unless you neatly file
away new software, you'll be bogged down in no time. To keep track of software you
download, you should save it in a special location. Methods for creating a new download
folder or directory vary depending on whether you're running Windows 95/98/NT, Windows 3.x,
or the Macintosh OS, but the good news is that you can make the folder or directory once,
then reuse it time and time again. And if you call your in-box something intuitive like Downloads,
you'll always know where to find it.
To make a special folder for storing your downloaded programs (you can also point your
Web browser's Save dialog box to this spot), follow these simple steps in Windows 95/98/NT/2000:
- Right-click anywhere on the Windows desktop.
- Select New/Folder from the pop-up menus.
- A folder will appear on your desktop with its default name, New Folder, highlighted.
- Type the word Downloads over the old name and press Enter.
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Find and download the software
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Downloadable software is available everywhere on
the Internet--from FTP sites, Web sites, and special collections like that of our website.
If you're looking for a particular piece of
software and you aren't sure which FTP site to visit, searching this site is your
best bet.
The process is easy enough: just head straight for the Search engine, enter one or more
search words, and click the Go button. You'll get a list of software that matches the word
(or words) you searched on. You can choose the category where you think the software will
be located. The one with the most entries will stand at the top of the list. To start
searching Click here
Once you've chosen a program you want to
download, click the tittle of the program or the download icon on the left side of the
program. To download it, just click the tittle or the Download icon link on the left side
of the program. This will automatically initiate the download.
What happens next depends on your Web browser. In most cases, you'll get a dialog box
that confirms where your download is saved. Before you click OK, make sure that the file
is saved in the Downloads folder you created in step 1.
If your browser isn't configured to view compressed files, you'll get a message like
this: "No viewer available for this file type. Do you want to save to disk?" You
should uncheck the box that says "Always ask this question with this file type"
(so that in the future you'll be able to begin downloading automatically) and click OK.
Then, select your Downloads folder as the saving destination.
Practically every file you'll ever download from
the Internet is compressed. A compressed file not only reduces download times, but also
makes it possible to download all of a program's files (like help files and drivers) in a
single file. Overall, dealing with compressed files makes the whole download process go
more smoothly--until the file is on your hard disk. At that point, the file may have one
of these unfriendly looking extensions: ARJ, ARC, BIN, EXE, GZ, HQX, SEA, SIT, UU, UUE,
ZIP, or Z. Most PC users rely on
WinZip
to handle compressed files.
If the file you've downloaded has the extension EXE, it's likely to be a self-extracting
file that will decompress when you double-click it. Before you do this, though, drag the
file into your Downloads folder or directory to keep your hard drive tidy. After you
double-click the file, your installation should be complete and you can skip to step 5.
If you've downloaded a file that ends in ARJ, ARC, GZ, ZIP, OR Z, you will need the
apropriate decompresser. You'll need to decompress it with a program such as WinZip.
Here's how to decompress a file using WinZip:
1. Double-click the file you want to decompress.
WinZip will automatically start up and show you all the compressed files contained in the
zipped file.
2. Click the Extract button.
3. Select a destination folder or directory for the
files (to create a new directory, just type in a name for the new folder and press Enter)
and click the Extract button.
Merely removing programs from their compressed archives doesn't always mean you can run
them right away. Many programs need to be installed.
WinZip can make it easy for PC users: if a ZIP file contains a program called either
Install or Setup, WinZip detects it and creates a button labeled Install at the right end
of the WinZip button bar. Before you click this button, check the archive's read-me file
for any special instructions. Once you know what you're getting into, click the Install
button, and let WinZip take it away. Since installation routines vary widely, you'll have
to follow any instructions as they come up.
If an Install button doesn't appear in WinZip, you'll have to install the program
yourself. This process varies among programs, so check the app's read-me file to know for
sure.
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Delete the compressed file
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Before you start enjoying your newly downloaded
and installed software, remember that the compressed file (which you'll no longer need) is
taking up valuable disk space. If you want to pass the software on to friends, or if you
think you may need to reinstall it, hold onto the file; we suggest you move it to a floppy
or Zip disk. If you're just finished with the compressed file, delete it.
That's it. You're now ready to enjoy your new program. |
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