Top Downloading Tips
These 7 simple tricks will make an easy process even easier. Try Them Now!
Here's one of the best kept secrets in the software business: Downloading software that was once sold only in a box has become so easy anyone can do it. Big retailers would prefer that you think otherwise and schlep to a store, wait online, and battle a condescending teenaged salesperson just to buy a copy of Quicken. Online stores would rather you pay shipping costs and then wait for your boxed copy of Norton Antivirus to arrive. Let's not even talk about trying to return a program you don't want.
Buying software and downloading it from a site like Software.com addresses these problems. You get your programs almost immediately, you don't pay shipping, and you get a 30-day money back guarantee. Need help deciding what to buy? Many of our programs have been reviewed by grizzled veterans who have been writing about software for years. In the future, we'll also feature user reviews. For more on trends in downloadable software,
The Basics This all makes sense, but what if you're not used to downloading software or have never done it before? Here are 7 simple tips to get you going.
1) Preparations Be sure to save the e-mail confirmation of your purchase, which may include important information, such as the license or serial number that activates the program. If you see the name of the file that you will be downloading, write it down.
Before you download a program, decide where you want it to go. Ideally, you want to direct the file into a folder, rather than onto your Windows desktop. So, you may want to create a folder called "Download" or one with the name of the program, for example: "Quicken."
2) Tweak Your Web browser For this article, we'll assume you're using Internet Explorer. Check the version number by clicking on Help and then About Internet Explorer. If you are using Internet Explorer version 7, you're all set. If you still have version 6.0, click on Tools, Internet Options, and then Advanced. Scroll down to the middle of the window where it says HTTP 1.1 settings and check "Use HTTP 1.1."
3) The Download Once you have clicked the download button in your confirmation e-mail, select the option to "Save" the file and you will see the "Save As" window, which lets you choose where you want the file to be saved. Select the folder you created for it. Before you start the download you will also see the name of the file -- if you haven't had a chance to write it down, now is a good time to do it.
If you are downloading a large program, say over 20MBs, start the download and let your computer handle the rest. You may even want to let the program download over night. If for some reason the download gets interrupted, go back to the original purchase e-mail and reclick the download link. The download should resume from where ever it stopped -- thanks to HTTP 1.1.
4) Lost Your File? If you download the file and for some reason can't locate it, fear not. Go into the Windows Explorer and use the Search tool (the little magnifying glass at the top of the page) to search for the file name.
5) Fire-up Your New Program After downloading and locating the file, be sure to read the installation instructions. Some programs may require that you uninstall the previous versions before installing the new one.
Also, some applications will require a license or serial number. This information is typically included as a separate file with your download. (It may also be included with the e-mail verifying your purchase, as noted above. You did save that e-mail, right?)
6) Buying Software as a Gift for Someone Else What if you want to buy a program and send it to someone else for a special occasion? Many free e-mail services limit the size of files you can send. If that is the case, you may want to try a special service, such as SendThisFile (http://www.sendthisfile.com/). This type of service doesn't rely on e-mail for transferring the file, so it bypasses file restrictions. Just be sure to e-mail the confirmation e-mail with the license or serial number to the recipient of your gift. (Remember: Due to copyright laws, you can't both use the same copy of the software.)
7) Problems or Suggestions? If you have trouble be sure to contact us at customer_service@software.com and be sure to let me know if you have any issues you'd like me to address in this column in the future. Drop me a note at editor@software.com
--Randy Ross
Randy Ross is Director of Content for Software.com. In his previous life as an executive editor for PC World he oversaw the company's software downloads library.