Gaining the Upper Hand on Downloading Online Programs

Often, when trying to accomplish some task on the Internet or an online service, users find themselves stymied by mysteries that ultimately boil down to something very, very simple. So this week, in response to popular demand, we’ll concentrate on tips and trouble-shooting for those who get tripped up by the sometimes tricky business of downloading.

First, let’s solve the common problem of being unable to find the things you download. Do yourself a favor and set up a directory or folder called “download.” If you want, you can even create subdirectories or nested folders for each of the major online services you use--America Online, a local BBS, the Internet, etc.

Then open any programs you use to go online--including software from America Online, CompuServe and so forth--and find something like “setup” or “preferences” or “options.” Look under File or Edit or maybe Tools, or search Help for “transfer” or “directories.” Invariably, you will be offered the opportunity to tell the program where to put newly downloaded files.

Click your way up the directory tree to find the new “download” folder that you just created. If you want, use the appropriate subfolders as well. If you use Windows 95, you can create a desktop shortcut to the download folder so your download folder is always at hand.

When you download a new piece of software, it will likely be in the form of a file compressed using pkzip; you can tell because it will have the .zip file extension (Macs are another story). This means it has been compressed using the popular pkzip compression program, which is done to minimize download time and storage.

No PC user should be downloading much of anything before downloading a copy of pkunzip, which is widely available on all major online services, most bulletin boards and the Internet. Pkware has a World Wide Web home page, at https://www.pkware.com, where you can download the whole pkzip package (containing pkunzip). Do not download pkzip 3.0; it contains a nasty virus that will nuke your hard drive. There is no legitimate version 3.0 of pkzip.

Before you unpack that zip file, you might want to peek in and see what it contains. Software such as Outside In or Quick View Plus, which will view almost anything, lets you look inside zip files for a “readme” file, which contains instructions on how to proceed, incompatibilities and other issues. Some of these programs and other Windows utilities let you selectively extract this file, to see whether it’s worth proceeding at all.

Even without a viewer that can peer into zip files, you can easily manage your new download by placing it all by itself in a temporary subdirectory or folder created for this purpose. There you can unzip it so that it unpacks without getting mixed in with your other files. This is also important if you’ve downloaded a self-extracting zip file--a file that will unpack when you run it. (These will have the extension .exe, and you can’t peer into them even with Quick View.)

Note that just because you’ve unzipped the file you downloaded doesn’t mean you’ve installed the program. “Installing” usually entails running the package’s install.exe or setup.exe or some such, included among the many files in the software you’ve unpacked. Just follow the instructions in the “readme” file.

Once you’ve installed the software, you can delete the entire temporary directory that contains the preinstallation files, but you might want to hang onto the original zipped file, in case you screw up and need to delete the first installation and do it all over again. I used to back these up onto floppies, but I find now that with fast modems it’s easier to download all over again if necessary, assuming I can remember where the thing came from in the first place.

Speaking of fast modems, if you’re wondering just how long it will take you to download that great new 1-megabyte Windows Whatzis program, Mike Marcum with the Supra unit of Diamond Multimedia offers this simple rule of thumb: Divide connection speed by 10 to get characters per second. Divide the file size by this CPS figure. Divide the answer by 60. I know it sounds complicated, but just watch.

The fastest connection you can generally hope for is 26,400 bits per second, even with a 28,800 bps modem. Given that there are eight bits in a byte, plus a start and stop bit for each character, you divide by 10 to get 2,640 characters per second. Now divide 1 megabyte (1 million bytes) by 2,640, which yields 379 seconds. Divide by 60 to get something over six minutes.

Remember, though, that this is under optimal conditions. Allow for line noise, sluggish networks and so forth, and in my view you’re doing great to get a megabyte down in under 10 minutes. Note also that things almost always go better late at night. I have a friend with ISDN who says that during the day, when the Internet is busiest, he sees little improvement over his old 28.8 modem.

Downloading text files is usually quickest, and these can be viewed easily in Notepad or any word processor, but image files, such as .jpg or .gif files, will require a viewing program to look at and an even more elaborate program to edit.

Also, don’t be a cheapskate about virus protection software, of which there are several good brands. I keep Norton Anti-Virus active at all times, and it monitors my downloads. On several occasions it has flagged infected incoming binary files, saving me heaven knows what trouble. Be sure to update your antivirus software regularly; by visiting the manufacturer’s Web pages and areas on the major online services, you can download updates that can deal with the latest known viruses. Remember that viruses can even lurk in seemingly innocuous Word for Windows files.

BTW: Some time ago I solicited ideas on time-wasting--as if I need any more of them--from readers. The best reader suggestion for wasting time on the Internet: the Virtual Bubble Wrap Online Palace at https://www.mackerel.com/bubble.html, where you can burst virtual bubble-wrap on screen (they even keep score). What will they think of next?

(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX / INFOGRAPHIC)

The Ease of Downloading

“Downloading” a file simply means transferring a copy from a remote computer to your own, usually via a modem and phone lines. Downloading is easy. From CompuServe, America Online and so forth, you just click and boom! A file is coming at you, although it may ask you first what you want to call the newfangled thing (you might want to pick something clearer than the name it already has, which may be cryptic). Internet browsers work the same way.

If you’re connecting to another computer with telecommunications software such as Procomm or Wincomm, the thing to remember is to use Zmodem, which automates the process. Once you’ve made the download selection on screen, your telecommunications software will take it from there, storing the incoming file on your hard drive.

* Daniel Akst welcomes messages at dan.akst@latimes.com. His World Wibe Web page is at https://www.well.com/~akst/