| Before you can use any of the programs available online, you first have to find them and then download them from their current locations to your PC. There are some variations to the procedure, but overall, it's pretty straightforward. In a nutshell, all you have to do is the following: caution | If you download files from less-recognized websites, you might be at risk of downloading a file infected with a com-puter virus. To learn more about viruses, see Chapter 29, "Protecting Your PC from Viruses, Spam, and Other Nuisances." |
Create a special download folder on your computer's hard drivetypically in the My Documents folder. Find and download the file you want. If the file was compressed (with a ZIP extension), decompress the file using Windows XP Extraction Wizard, as discussed in Chapter 6, "Working with Files and Folders." If the file you downloaded was a software program, you'll need to install the software. Installation instructions are usually included somewhere on the download information page or in a readme file included with the file download. In most cases, installation involves running a file named setup.exe or install.exe; after the setup program launches, follow the onscreen instructions to complete the installation. Delete the compressed file you originally downloaded.
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