Downloading and Installing Winzip - Part 1

Downloading Winzip

What makes the Internet so popular is the fact that information is accessible instantaneously. We want it and we want it NOW! It is getting to the point now where almost everything can be purchased through the Web. Of course not all of it can be delivered through the web (YET!) as it is extremely difficult to push that Fridge through the cable!

When it comes to getting it NOW, we refer to digital products like ebooks, reports, ecourses, etutorials and the list goes on. Some people are behind the 'eight ball' because it means you have to know HOW to get that information from the Internet onto your computer.

A lot of the information that is accessible is in a 'compresssed' format so that the size of the file to download is smaller and therefore takes less space on the Web Server AND it downloads faster. Both designed to save money on storage costs and download charges by your ISP.

This tutorial will take you through the function of 'downloading' a file or bringing a file down off a Web Server onto your computer. In this case we will be downloading a program called 'Winzip' which is one of the most popular 'compression' programs in use today. Of course there are other 'compression' programs available - Check out www.download.com and you will find heaps of them.

The tutorial will then take you through installing 'Winzip' so that in future, when you download a compressed file, you will be able to easily access it. Let's begin shall we ......

Part 1 - Downloading the Winzip file

This might sound obvious, but you have to find the file that you want to download. If you have purchased a digital product (i.e. a 'downloadable' product), you will receive instructions that should include a 'download link'. This link is a URL (Universal Resource Locator) which is the Internet equivalent of an address. Every page, picture, ebook, report etc has its own unique URL so that means there are literally millions of URL's to cover every resource on the Internet.

'Winzip' can be downloaded from any number of places and we will go straight to the 'horses mouth' and download it from the home of Winzip at ==> http://www.winzip.com. If you click on that link or type it into the 'Address bar' in your browser you will get the same screen as Figure 1.

 

Figure 1

If you click on the 'Download Evaluation Version' option you will get a screen like Figure 2 where you choose which site to download the file from. Most downloadable software is available on 'mirror' sites throughout the world so you can choose to download from a site closer to your home town and save download time because it should be faster.

Figure 2

When you click on either one of the download links you will eventually end up with a download popup box similar to Figure 3. This is your browser asking you what to do with the file. I am using Internet Explorer 6 in these examples but whatever you are using you will get similar popup boxes. Just save the file to your computer AND write down WHERE you saved the winzip file.

Figure 3

When you click on the 'Save' button, you will be prompted for a place to save the file to (See Figure 4). I suggest your desktop so it will be easier to find or you can create a folder on your computer called 'Downloads' and put all your download files in there.

Figure 4

Once you click on the 'Save' button in Figure 4 you will get a download progress Window like Figure 5. Depending how fast your internet connection is and where you are downloading from will determine how fast it takes. When the download has completed, you can close the Download progress window.

Figure 5

So ends Part 1 - Downloading the Winzip File. Click on the Part 2 link below to find out how to Install Winzip

Click here for Part 2 - Installing Winzip

For more tips, hints and tutorials like this one please visit the Tell Me How Resource Center at http://www.tell-me-how.com