CompuTREK Tech Help

Downloading Help


Beginner's Guide to Downloading
Problems Downloading?
How Do I Use Downloaded Files?
What Tools Do I Need?

Problems Downloading?
Sometimes, you may have trouble downloading software from an FTP site. Here are some of the common problems and their solutions:

Problem: You could not gain access to the FTP site.
Solution: Even if you selected a well-rated site that allows many connections, the site may be busy. Select another site or wait a few seconds and try again.

Problem: The site does not store that file.
Solution: Some sites do not store complete archives. Try another site. (A common problem with some Mac-related mirror sites is that they rename files from .hqx to .sit.)

Problem: Your connection breaks during the download.
Solution: This may be a problem with your Internet connection. Try again. If it happens all the time, check whether your network provider allows FTP transfers.

Problem: You get prompted for a username and password when you are trying to download a file.
Solution: Normally, your Web browser should transparently pass a username and password to the ftp site so you do not have to enter it manually. But some browsers (most notably the AOL browser) does not always do this. It is important to remember that this prompt is NOT asking for your citynet username and password. Instead, it is the ftp site asking for a standard username and password for people wanting to download its files. Enter the word "anonymous" for username and enter your email address for the password.

Entering in the username and password every time will get annoying, so you should try to configure your browser software so it knows your email address. If you have no luck configuring it yourself, ask your browser company's support people about how to configure your browser so it can do anonymous ftp sessions.

How Do I Use Downloaded Files?
To cut down the time you spend downloading software, practically all the files you download have been compressed. To use a program you have downloaded, you must follow three steps:

  1. copy it into an empty directory
  2. decompress it
  3. install it

What Tools Do I Need?
For downloading tips and a list of the essential tools for scanning, decompressing, and using downloaded files check out Help for Windows or Help for Macintosh.

CompuTREK Graphics are designed by Susan Robinson of Griffin Graphics. Thanks Susan! Read our Disclaimer if you're really bored. Still not sure how this works? Ask the Captain!