FAQs

How do I download files off the Internet?

The number one rule of downloading is: be sure to scan your downloads for Viruses! No matter how reliable your source, it is extremely important to scan downloaded files for viruses before you use them. McAfee Virus Scan (www.mcafee.com) and Norton Anti-Virus (www.symantec.com) both make reliable virus detection and cleaning software.

Make a download directory.

In Windows 95

  1. In Explorer, click on the root directory (usually C:).
  2. Right-click on the right pane of the Explorer window and select New/Folder.
  3. Right-click on the folder labeled New Folder and select Rename.
  4. Type the word Download over the folder's current label and press Enter.


In Windows 3.x

  1. In File Manager, click on the root directory (usually C:).
  2. Select File/Create Directory.
  3. Enter the word Download to name the directory.
  4. Click OK.

Most files that you will download will be compressed. Compressing a file will cut the download time drastically. You can download many files at the same time if they're in a single, compressed archive.

If the file you've downloaded has the file extension .exe, it is probably self-extracting. You can decompress it simply by clicking its name in File Manager or Explorer. Be sure to move the file into your download folder or directory. If you've downloaded a file that ends in .arc, .arj, .gz, .z, or .zip, you'll need to decompress it with a program such as WinZip.


Decompressing a file using WinZip:

  1. Launch WinZip.
  2. Click the Open button in WinZip's button bar.
  3. In the Open dialog box, navigate to your download folder or directory.
  4. Click the file you've downloaded.
  5. Once the file is open, click the Extract button or the Install button.
  6. Select a destination folder or directory for the files.

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, be sure to review any read-me files in the archive.

Click the Install button, and follow any instructions.

   
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