READY, SET, DOWNLOAD FROM THE WORLD WIDE WEB

It's easy to download new programs. For many newcomers to the World Wide Web, downloading remains a mystery and a worry.

What is downloading? Where can I find stuff to download? And what are the chances that downloading will bring a terrible virus into my computer? Downloading means that you are transferring information -- a program, a photograph, a music clip -- to your computer.

In the "old" days, you had to download everything -- every sound or picture.

Today, that's not always necessary with "streaming" technology. Streaming means you can hear sounds or see images as they're being transmitted. You can experience these images and sounds without having to transfer them to your desktop.

But there's plenty of free stuff to download on the Internet. You can play a game on the Internet, but it runs faster if you download to your computer.

Downloading also guarantees that the sound, image or game you want will be around when you need it.

I just love playing my Solitaire game that I downloaded on the Internet.

Ready to download? Follow these easy steps and you'll soon become a pro.

1. Make a folder

First I would suggest that you make a file on your computer to put the downloaded file. These files don't always use names you will later recognize. (That would be too easy.) I would suggest you create a new folder on your hard drive (your C drive) called Downloads.

2. Find a file to download

There are plenty of places to find free files to download. Here's just a few: www.hotfiles.com. This site is brought to you by the folks at ZDNet. www.downloads.com. This offers thousands of free files from CNET.

www.palmgear.com

You can download timekeepers, program launchers, electronic sticky notes and much more for your Palm Pilot organizer.

If you're not sure what to download, try perusing the top downloads, and see if any strikes your fancy.

Once you find a file, pick a PC or MAC version. If you're a PC user, choose your version of Windows. You might also have to pick your connection speed and closest country.

If you're interested in a particular program, go straight to the horse's mouth. If you want Shockwave, download it from www.shockwave.com. You get the picture.

Once you've found the program you want, click on "Download Now," and a dialog box will pop up and ask if you want to "run the program from its current location" or "save this program to disk." Pick "save this program to disk" and then a "Save As" window should pop up. This is the place you need to change to make sure the file is saved in your new Downloads folder.

You can also save it to a disk if it's small enough.

If you are not given this option, make note of the specific file name so you can search for it later. For example, I checked out a free version of McAfee Virus Scan and the file name was: vs0515ad.exe. Now that would be hard name to find later if you didn't put it in a spot you could easily find it.

3. Be prepared to wait

Downloads take some time, especially for large files and slow-speed connections. One thing that might speed things up is to download when Internet traffic is slower. The Internet is typically busiest in the afternoon between 2 and 4 and between 6 and 10 in the evening.

4. Scan for viruses

Once a file is downloaded, you should probably make sure it is free from viruses. A virus is often hidden in a program, and won't take effect until you install the program.

No matter how reliable your download source, it's a good idea to scan your download for possible viruses before you unzip or install them. While so many things are free on the Internet, it's probably a good idea to invest in some virus-scanning software that you can count on. If you pay for it, you can update it to protect yourself from the latest bugs.

www.mcafee.com www.norton.com

Did you know that more than 500 new viruses are discovered each month? At these sites, you can learn more about virus problems on the Internet, and why a scanning program is so essential if you're going to download programs.

5. Unzip your file

Most files are compressed or "zipped" so they can be transferred more quickly over the Internet.

You'll notice that most PC files have a ".zip" extension and Macintosh files have a ".sit" or ".hqx" extension, which indicate compressed files.

Once your file has been downloaded, you will probably have to unzip it.

You might already have an unzip program on your computer. If not, PC users might try Winzip.

www.winzip.com

Mac users might want to try Aladdin Stuffit Expander.

www.aladdinsys.com

These programs offer free versions, although they typically ask for payment for long-term use or for enhanced packages.

6. Install the program

Next, you must install the program. This is a step that many newcomers ignore, and then they wonder why a new program never works. If you don't install a program, it is as if you never bothered to download it at all.

If you're lucky, the downloaded program will begin an auto install process.

If not, you must find the program -- hopefully in your Downloads folder -- and then double click on it to begin the installation process.

If the program has an .exe extension, it's likely the file is "self-extracting" which means it will automatically unzip once you double click the file.

In most cases, simply pick the standard install. Only those with the know-how should pick the custom installation.

7. Tidy up

At this point, you probably should throw away the uncompressed file you downloaded or move it to a disk. It's taking up valuable space on your hard drive.

And don't forget to empty the Recycle Bin or Trash after you've thrown stuff away. Right click on the Recycle Bin and chose the empty option. Putting it in the Bin is like throwing your trash into the can in your garage. You still have to take it to the street for the trash to be removed from your house. If you don't empty your Recycle Bin, you're wasting valuable space.

In many cases, you'll have to reboot your computer for the new program to run. In fact, most programs will automatically restart your computer at the end of the process. Because of that, it's a good idea to get off the Internet before you install a new program.

Just remember that there are millions of free programs, photos, fonts, songs, and games on the Internet. But not all the free programs are as good as the ones you pay for. If you have problems with a program, uninstall it and try again. If it still doesn't work right, try another.

It may not have a virus, but it may have bugs.

If you have any questions, just e-mail me at jonia@sehosp.org. Happy downloading! See you in Cyberspace.

Joni Adams is the Webmaster at Southeast Missouri Hospital in Cape Girardeau, www.southeastmissourihospital.com.