A Beginner's Guide to Downloading

You can tell by the number of low self-esteem books like DOS for Dummies or The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Internet sold every day that people don't like the idea that they know nothing about a subject. Well, we all start out knowing nothing about new subjects--and if you're new to downloading software, it can seem as mystifying as quantum physics.

Luckily, downloading is a lot easier to understand. There are some variations to the process--based on the type of computer you're using, which operating system it runs, and what software you use to access the World Wide Web--but overall it's pretty straightforward stuff.

We'll take you step-by-step through the process of downloading software. Even if you download programs every day and know what you're doing, take a quick look at this process anyway. You may learn something--or maybe you can teach us something.

Six Steps to downloading:

1. Use a special download directory
2. Find the software
3. Download the software
4. Decompress the archive
5. Install the software
6. Delete the compressed file

Instructions for downloading and Installing Netscape 2.0 are available here.

Still confused? Check out ZDNet's Downloading Made Simple

CompuTREK Graphics are designed by Susan Robinson of Griffin Graphics. Thanks Susan! Read our Disclaimer if you're really bored. Downloading is cool.