Software on the web comes primarily in two formats, Zip File and Self Extracting Archive. Both forms are compressed to save download time. The major difference in the two is Zip files need a decompression program to extract the files, whereas a Self Extracting Archive has that program built into it.
The normal steps for downloading software from the web are as follows. First, you click on a link to download the zip file or self extracting archive. Netscape will ask you where you want to save the file. Once you have selected the location for the file, Netscape downloads it. If it is a Zip file, Netscape will run the file decompression program to decompress it. At this point, you have on your disk an installable copy of the program.
The next step is to run the installation program. In the case of a Zip file, once it is unzipped, you need to find the installation, normally setup.exe or install.exe will start the installation process. Self extracting archives normally launch the installation program automatically. If not, look in the location where you ran the self extracting archive for a program named setup.exe or install.exe.
If you have downloaded a file and never noticed where it is being stored it can be found. The easiest way to find a file that you have downloaded is by running the file find. To do this click on start, then find. Type in the file name and then click OK. You can also search for the date, this will bring up files that have the current date associated with them.
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