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Table of Contents
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Glazed Eyes
A Helping Hand
Favorite Freeware
Featured Download

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Glazed Eyes

I have been sitting here at my computer allowing my eyes to glaze over while pondering the contents of this publication. Then it hit me. Here I am, featuring downloadable software once a week, but yet I fail to fill you in on how you should download and what to do with that file after you have downloaded it to your computer. I see many e-mails each day, and many questions I receive have to do with downloading and installing. For instance, some wonder what to do with a zip file. Or, I hear other people ask where the file is on their computer after they downloaded it. There are even some people who think that downloading a file is the same as installing it which unfortunately is usually not true. Well, hopefully, you will be more informed on downloading after I am done typing my drivel. Before I jump down to some useful tips, I do want to mention that there are basically two main types of downloadable files (if you are a PC user), EXE and ZIP files. ZIP files probably cause more confusion than EXE's since an extra step is required with ZIP files. Just a hint, if you do any downloading at all, you must download some sort of program that will open zip files. My recommendation would be to use either WinZip or WinRar. Some computers also come pre-installed with a small unzipping utility.

John Saddler
info@setsystems.com

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A Helping Hand

• When you first click on a link to download a file, a small window will pop up with 2 options: Opening the file from the current location or saving the file to disk. What are the differences? Basically, if you choose to open or run the file from the current location, your system will store the file to a temporary folder on your computer and will install the file "automatically" after you have finished opening it from its current location. You should only use this option if you trust the site from which you are downloading. If you choose to save the file, you are then prompted to choose where you want to save the file on your computer. Make sure you remember where you have saved it as you will have to find it after you download. It is helpful to create a folder for your downloaded files since it makes it easy to remember where you have saved the file.
• Let's say you have downloaded a zip file. After your zip program has opened the zipped file, you should see all the files that are contained in it. If an install program is included in those files, your zip program will probably have the option of installing straight from there. If it does not have that option, you will need to extract those files to a folder that you choose. You should pick a folder name that is easy to remember.
• The next step in the process is the actual installation. Most programs are bundled with an install wizard which makes it fairly simple to install. When installing, it's probably best to choose the default options that it gives you for the installation, though you should definitely read what the install program is doing before you hit the "Next" button. After you have finished installing, you should be ready to run the program you downloaded. You may have to reboot the computer before it works properly.
• Well, sometimes you decide that you no longer want the software you downloaded. All you need to do is uninstall the software. Some software comes with uninstallers. If it does come with an uninstaller, you will want to use that option. However, if it does not come with an uninstaller, it will then use your system's default uninstaller. If you run a version of Windows, you can choose the Add/Remove Programs option from your Control Panel to uninstall the software. Manually deleting the program and its related files is your last option. However, unless you really know what you are doing, deleting files manually from your computer can cause other programs not to function correctly, so use the uninstall option whenever possible.

Do you have any other handy tips for downloading, installing, and uninstalling programs? Let me know what you have learned in your experience with downloading software.

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Favorite Freeware - InstallShield DigitalWizard, 760 kb - by InstallShield Software

http://www.digitalwizard.com
Download Program
Specs - Win 95/98/ME/NT/2000

I found this program, and I was a little skeptical at first, but even after playing with it for just a few minutes, I believe this is one of the best free downloading tools I have seen. It is much more than just a tool for downloading. It eases the process for finding digital content and downloading it. It speeds up your downloads and helps you to manage where you are storing your downloaded files. It even comes with an automatic install feature which is pretty handy. The setup is very simple, and it comes with a quick little tour of the software's features after you install it.

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Featured Download - WebTimeSync, 633 Kb - Victechsoftware

http://www.victechsoftware.com
Download Program
Specs - Win 95/98/ME/2000 - Shareware - $10.00

This product might not help you out with downloading, but it certainly will help you in making sure you have the correct time at all times. This program allows you to connect to different atomic clocks and configures your computer's clock accoring to your specific timezone.

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