Downloading tips
Once you have found the program you seek, you can click its name, read more about it on its description page, and then choose a download option to save a copy of the program to your computer. When you click the "Download now" link on the program's description page, your browser will load a new page and the file will begin downloading automatically. If your download does not begin, or you encounter errors, you will find alternate links on the right-hand side of the page. If you'd rather choose among all available download links, you can bypass the "Download now" link and click "Show me all download sites" on a program's description page.
When given a choice of download locations, generally you'll want the location closest to you for the fastest, most reliable download, but you can choose any link regardless of your or its location. The Web servers and FTP servers, which host the files and process the transfers, will return error messages when they are unable to handle your request. In that case, you should try other sites that are listed as download options, or try again in a few moments.
Most downloadable programs are compressed to save you online time when you download them. Usually, PC files that have been compressed have a ".zip" extension; Macintosh files have a ".sit" or an ".hqx" extension. If you download a compressed program, you must follow three steps in order to use it:
- Copy it into an empty directory
- Decompress it
- Install it
If you need a utility to help you with "zipped" PC files or Macintosh SIT- or HQX-compressed files, please search our Utilities/File Compression category.
The following is a brief listing of common problems and solutions.
FTP access denied
Problem: You cannot gain access to the FTP site.
Solution: Even if you selected a well-rated site that allows many connections, the site may be busy. Select another site, or wait a few seconds and try again. You can also try searching for the program (by its filename) on Shareware.com for more download options.
Specific error messages
Problem: You receive the message "The handle is invalid" or "The server returned extended information..." from your copy of Microsoft Internet Explorer. These are known bugs with Internet Explorer.
Solution: Microsoft recommends that you right-click on the download link and choose "Save Target As." You'll get a dialog box prompting you to choose a folder on your hard drive where you would like the file saved. After you choose this directory, press OK, and the file will be transferred to your hard drive.
"Directory not found" error
Problem: The site might have relocated the directory in which the file was stored.
Solution: Try another site. If you're positive the site has relocated the directory, please let us know at our support page.
"File not found" error
Problem: The site does not store that file.
Solution: Some sites do not store complete archives. Try another site. (A common problem with some Mac-related mirror sites is that they change the ".hqx" at the end of a filename to ".sit".)
Connection problems
Problem: Your connection breaks during the download.
Solution: This may be a problem with your Internet connection. Try again. If it happens all the time, find out whether your network provider allows FTP transfers. You can also enlist the aid of a download manager to help restart interrupted downloads. Search the Tools & Utilities subcategory of the Internet category to find one that best suits your needs.
Password required
Problem: You get prompted for a username and password when you try to download a file.
Solution: Normally, your Web browser should pass a username and password to the FTP site transparently so that you do not have to enter it manually, but some browsers (most notably the AOL browser) do not always do this. Remember that this prompt is not asking for your CNET username and password, nor your access provider username and password. Instead, it is the FTP site asking for a standard username and password for people wanting to download its files. Enter the word anonymous for username and enter your email address for the password.
Entering a username and password each time can get annoying, so try to configure your browser software so that it knows your email address. If you have no luck configuring it yourself, ask your browser company's support team how to configure your browser so that it can handle anonymous FTP sessions.
Missing DLL files
Problem: After downloading and installing a new program, you receive an error message saying that you are missing a DLL file.
Solution: In many cases this problem will be solved by downloading DirectX Drivers or the Visual Basic Runtime Module, which may contain the DLL file your program needs. You should check the "Minimum requirements" section on the program's description page to see exactly what drivers you'll need.
Corrupt files
Problem: After downloading, you double-click the file to install it and you receive a message saying that the file is corrupt.
Solution: The file may have been corrupted during the download process. Unfortunately, you will have to try downloading and installing again.
