Home Office: Download Files the Easy Way

"You haven't done a newsletter about downloading files from the Internet, right?" It was my editor on the phone, coyly asking for advice, hoping I wouldn't catch on to his lame, Dilbertian scam. "Sure," I said, "no problemo," wondering if he also asked the IT guy to empty his Recycle bin.

Strangely enough, there are a bunch of neat tricks and files you might play around with to make downloading files easier. I rounded up some of our best ones to help you download files with minimal aggravation.

First, the Download Tricks

You probably don't know Max Green from a hole in the wall. No surprise because he's our behind-the-scenes download maven and rarely leaves his office. (We suspect he's getting frequent flier miles for every minute he's online.) Max put together a neato FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) about finding, downloading, or opening files from PCWorld's Downloads library.

Listen, Max's FAQ isn't a fluff piece. It has answers to questions I've had to answer regularly, and I encourage you to read and bookmark it. For instance, Max explains how to download files, where the file goes after you download it (and where it should go), and how to handle zip files.

Quick tip: Sometimes when you download a video, it will start playing immediately, which isn't always convenient (especially if you're in the office). To save the video to play later, right-click the link (or picture) and choose Save As. (This works for both Internet Explorer and Netscape.) Easy, no?

The day will arrive when you'll download a Zip file, one that's been compressed to reduce its size. Unzipping a Zip file can be tricky. If your home office doesn't have an IT department, you could waste hours trying to figure this one out. I'm usually around the house, so you could try calling me for help (Ha!) or use a utility that's specially designed for the task. Your best bet is to read "Freeware Solutions: Handling Zip Files." You'll get a solid intro to Zip files, plus the skinny on PowerArchiver 2000, a freebie for handling the files.

Dig this: While your PC is busy downloading files, open another browser window and take a look at this absolutely mesmerizing Flash site. (Warning: turn down your speakers.)

Does this sound familiar? You're downloading a file using Internet Explorer and out of the blue, you're unceremoniously disconnected. It could be IE's settings, and it's something we explain in "Stop the Drops."

And Now Some Downloading Tools

Downloading files from the Internet should be easy. We have a bunch of files to make it that way...

If you have a dial-up account, and your obnoxious, good-for-nothing teenager picks up the phone extension while you're online, you may lose the connection. And if it's while you're downloading a file, it's usually when the download gauge is at 97 percent. There are a few ways around the problem. One solution is to send the kid to the movies while you're downloading files. The alternatives? Utility programs.

If you're a Netscape fan, you'll like Netscape's SmartDownload. The program automatically pauses the download and picks up where you left off when you reconnect.

A more sophisticated program--and the one I like--is GetRight. Besides resuming downloads, the tool automatically dials and reconnects, or you can schedule a time for downloads.

Have a laugh: Those sacrosanct Mac folks got nailed with the very nasty Mac/Simpsons worm (you reading this, cousin Judy?). Send the article to a smug Mac friend.

Pass this column to a friend and watch your download speeds increase by 70 percent. [He's lying. -Ed.] BTW, if you enjoyed this article, imagine how great it'd be to spend the day reading my earlier columns.

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