A Beginner's Guide to Downloading

Decompressing Mac Downloads
If the program you've just downloaded to your hard drive has the file extension .sea, it's a self-extracting file that you can decompress by clicking it. Before you do that, drag it to your download folder to keep your hard drive tidy.

If you've downloaded a file that ends in .cpt, .hqx, or .sit, you'll need to drag it onto a decompression program like StuffIt Expander (unless Stuffit is already one of your browser's helper apps). If you don't have StuffIt Expander on your hard drive, you can download it. StuffIt Expander will expand the archive onto your desktop. Tidy up your desktop by dragging the file into your download folder. (Tip: to divert files from your desktop as they're unstuffed, check Options/Destination; then under Use, select the download folder.)

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Decompressing PC Downloads
If the file you've downloaded has the file extension .exe, it's likely to be a self-extracting file that you can decompress by clicking its name in File Manager or Explorer. Before you do this, drag the file into your download folder or directory to keep your hard drive tidy.

If you've downloaded a file that ends in .arj, .arc, .gz, .zip, or .z, you'll need to decompress it with a program such as WinZip. (If you don't have WinZip on your hard drive, you can download it.) Here's how to decompress a file using WinZip:

1. Start 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, the Checkout button, or the Install button. (Checkout creates a temporary folder and program group that you can delete when you quit WinZip.)

6. Select a destination folder or directory for the files. (WinZip will make one for you if you select one that doesn't exist.)

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Installing Directly from WinZip
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 yourself 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.

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