What does "downloading" mean?
Downloading simply means transferring files from another computer on the Internet to your own computer. Downloading is a very common way for computer users to obtain software.

Do I need any special software before I download?
You will need a Web browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Communicator. It's also wise to have a compression program (see the next question).

How do I "unzip" a file once I have downloaded it?
Much of the software on the Internet is stored in a compressed (or "zipped") format, which makes the software smaller and therefore faster to download. To use a compressed file after you've downloaded it, you need a compression program to expand it to its normal size. Popular Windows compression programs include WinZip and PKZIP. The most popular Mac compression program is StuffIt Expander. If you don't have one of these programs, follow the above links to download one.

I downloaded something, but now I can't find it.
Try using your computer's find function. In Windows 95 or 98, go to Start, Find, and Files or Folders; In Windows 2000 or XP go to Start, and then Search. On the Mac, go to your Apple menu and select Find File. Then enter the name of the file you downloaded.

My browser crashed when I was almost done downloading something. Do I have to start over?
Most likely. Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0 or higher versions and Netscape Navigator 4.0 or higher versions can occasionally resume interrupted downloads. The best way to find out is simply to try it: Click on the same link you were downloading from and see if the download picks up where it stopped.