 The magazine of the Melbourne PC User Group Downloading Files/Programs from the Internet Stan Johnstone stanj@melbpc.org.au |
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There are literally millions of files available for download from the
Internet - new programs, essential upgrades and patches for programs, virus upgrades, games, music and sound
files, etc. Luckily the means of downloading all these type of files is basically the same, and almost all
can be done through your browser program. Most modern browsers support File Transfer Protocol (FTP) and so
permit direct file loads from external sites without the need for a specialised program.
Unfortunately when talking about downloading, several other aspects of computer usage become involved, and
without the knowledge of their meaning the whole exercise can be lost. Please be patient as it is necessary
to digress from the main subject.
The first need is for a short explanation of the types of files you would normally download, and just as it
is always important to add the correct suffix to a files you create, it is important to always look at the
suffix of files you download.
Before you start - don't download everything you see just for the sake of downloading. Too often some of our
members find their PCs have started to slow down as a result of installing all the material they find on
those "free" CD-ROMs that come with most commercial magazines - "just to see what they would do" - be aware
that many of them are only demo copies and may be of limited value.
Another warning is that some of the "faster download" software currently available can monitor and record
what files you download and pass on this information without your knowledge.
EXE and ZIP Files
Although most current CD-ROMs have an auto-start file that is detected by Windows and runs
automatically when you load the CD-ROM, often when installing new software from a diskette or CD-ROM the
instructions will tell you to: Start | Run D:\Setup.exe. The program SETUPEXE is an executable
program (identified by the .EXE suffix) and in this particular instance it is written specifically to
correctly install the software onto your PC. The software itself (not the install program) may consist
of any number of files of different types contained on the source disk, and during installation these files
will be developed and installed in the required folders.
As an example, the executable file (program) that runs Internet Explorer is named IEXPLORE.EXE, and is
generally found in the C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer folder.
Taking the analogy further of a diskette or CD-ROM containing several different files, a similar approach is
used for files available for download. All the files that comprise a new piece of software can be collected
together, and then compressed (or "zipped up") into one file, frequently with the suffix .ZIP. This has the
combined advantage that all component files are collected together, and using compression techniques,
reducing the size of the file to less than the sum of the individual file sizes. Naturally the smaller the
file, the faster it will download. We will cover ZIP files and how to deal with them later.
Self-extracting Executable Files
Another technique used to transfer "zipped files" is to convert the ZIP into a self-extracting executable
file. These files also have the .EXE suffix and are opened using the Start I Run command, or alternatively by
double-clicking on the file using Windows Explorer. This executable program file will open itself and copy
all the component files into the same folder without the need for a separate extraction program.
An example of this type of file is the MPCInter.EXE (the Melb PC Internet configuration kit) which can be
downloaded using your browser program and entering the address
http://www.melbpc.org.au/help/mpcinter.exe.
This self-extracting program contains the configuration program MPCISM3.EXE together with an explanatory
README.TXT file and two other text files. A "README.TXT" or similarly named file is almost always included to
explain the steps necessary for completing an installation.
Prior to Download
Before suggesting sites from which to download, perhaps a simple exercise would be to download the MPCINTER
mentioned above, as the same principles will apply.
My preference is to create a folder C:\TEMP (others prefer C:\DOWNLOAD) and always use that folder when
downloading - it's easy to remember and it will save later searching. Normally you will find a folder
C:\WINDOWS\TEMP on your PC, quite often with some sub-folders. These sub-folders are used by the system
during the installation of software and although the contents are intended to be deleted afterwards, or
should be, remnants can sometimes be found.
It is usually quite safe to delete these files. However to minimise confusion and avoid potential disaster
resulting from the deletion of files that may still be required, I recommend the use of a unique folder such
as C:\TEMP or C:\DOWNLOAD.
For those not familiar with creating a new folder, simply right-click the Start button, click on Explore,
click and highlight the (C:) main folder, then click on File | New | Folder and enter a name for the new
folder which is temporarily named "New Folder". Other experienced users will know how to create a new folder
from the Browse situation.
The Actual Download
The next steps are very straightforward. Using the file mentioned above for practice, simply enter the
following address in your browser:
http://www.melbpc.org.au/help/mpcinter.exe.
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After pressing Enter, the File Download window opens (Figure
1) and with the radio button select Save This Program To Disk, then click OK. Immediately the Save As
window opens (Figure 2). After selecting the folder you wish to download to, click Open and the
download will commence with its progress indicated as shown in Figure 3. On completion it is best to
click Close rather than Open which is another option. The reason for this is that most installation programs
suggest you close all other Windows programs before commencing.
The next step in this particular exercise would be to go to Start | Run and browse to
C:\TEMP\MPCINTER.EXE
which would open up all the component files - the folder listing (Figure 4) shows the original
downloaded file and the four extracted files. If we were to continue with the configuration as these files
are intended to do, the next step would be to run the (executable) application
MPCINTER.EXE in a similar
manner. If you did download this file I would suggest you might keep it anyway, and use it should the need
arise to configure your Internet software for Melb PC in the future.
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Winzip and Shareware
There are many decompression programs available to open compressed files, however the most popular is Winzip
which is readily available for downloading from the Internet, it also can be purchased from the Melb PC
Shareware library on diskette [MELB 9303], or obtained from one of those innocuous CD-ROMs mentioned above.
Winzip is a Shareware program that may be used immediately. However, once you have used it and are satisfied
with it you are obliged (and encouraged) to do the right thing and complete the purchase. Winzip can
be registered for the nominal amount of US$29.00. As with all Shareware material, read the licence agreement
when installing. Sorry, another necessary digression.
The best site for Melb PC subscribers to download Winzip v8 is
http://tucows.netspace.net.au/. Do a search for "Winzip" and once located, simply click the Download
button. This site is part of Melb PC's peering network and will provide the fastest download. However, you
could go to Winzip's home site at http://www.winzip.com. This would
entail a slower transfer from the overseas site; a search and download from a local site is always
preferable. The current version is WINZIP80.EXE.
Having downloaded this file, the next step is to install it in the same manner as described earlier,
responding to prompts when asked. From now on, life becomes even easier.
Now when using Explorer, any files that Winzip is able to open will have a "G-Clamp" icon shown just to the
left of the file (Figure 5). A simple double-click causes the component files to be displayed just as
they are in Explorer (Figure 6), and a double-click on any of these files will enable them to be
opened. For example clicking on README.TXT will enable you to read the contents of that file without having
to first extract it, and simply clicking on the SETUPEXE file will initiate the installation of the program.
What could be simpler?
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If the contents of the ZIP file contained a number of document,
image, sound or other types of files that you wanted to store in a particular folder, these could be
uncompressed and moved using the Extract button.
By the way - Winzip can also be used in reverse - to compress files into a ZIP that can be attached to
e-mail, etc. This is of particular advantage if you are sending large image (eg. BMP) files. ZIP compression
often greatly reduces the file size and bitmaps can be reduced to as little as 5% of the original size.
From Where To Download?
For the latest patches and upgrades for your Microsoft products
http://www.microsoft.com would be the obvious starting point, and then following the various links you
would be redirected to an address that provided the material you seek. Likewise for any software or hardware
product, the manufacturer's home site is often the best place to start.
Melb PC Online also has several thousand files that are updated arid due to some space limitations are
regularly turned over. There is a direct access to these files from the Useful Links panel on the Melb PC
Home Page, or by pointing your browser to
http://online.melbpc.org.au/
Shareware programs are generally available from many sites and many of the commercial computer magazines will
list a range of software available for download; you will find that you gradually build up a list of
favourite sites to search for what you need. The largest shareware site is at http://www.shareware.com where you can use their search facilities to
identify a filename. When clicking on a file to commence a download from the site, a fresh window is opened
with a list of sites that have the program available (Figure 7). In this case it can be seen there are
three sites in Australia that have the file you are interested in, together with a guide to their
reliability. Again a click on the preferred site and the file commences to download from that site -
obviously downloading from a site in Australia should prove much faster than retrieving it from an original
site located overseas.
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While at the Shareware.com site you can leave your e-mail
address for regular newsletters to be sent listing new and upgraded software available for download. Many
other sites offer a similar service.
The documentation for your anti-virus program will advise you of the site to download signature upgrades, and
if this address cannot be accessed through the program, the site should be book-marked to enable frequent
upgrades.
Enthusiasts of games, music and other popular themes will know or find the addresses where to obtain the
material they enjoy, and downloading can be simple and easy.
Some Final Suggestions
Don't just sit there waiting for a file to download. Thanks to multi-tasking you can keep browsing away,
sending and receiving e-mail while the download continues in the background, although do remember your
connection is being shared - some activities may not be as responsive as usual.
Some overseas sites will have wide variations in download speed at different times of the day. Just as we
have peak periods between 4.00 pm and midnight, the remote site is possibly under the same heavy loading to
meet demands from users connecting at their local peak times. You need to think globally.
Summing Up
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obtain a copy of Winzip, it will be one of the handiest programs on your system
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be able to recognise file types so you will know what can be done with them
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always seek out the nearest (and probably) fastest source
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starting a download is as simple as clicking on a link, or that button labelled "Download Now"
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think about time differences at busy sites
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and finally - don't clutter your PC with software you don't need!
Reprinted from the September 2000 issue of PC Update, the magazine of Melbourne PC User Group, Australia
