MOUSECLIX

By: Hobie Lunin

Which way is up?

Upload and download, what do these mean? Good Question!

We refer to the process of putting something (a file or photo) on the Internet from our computer as uploading. A file can be sent (uploaded) to a server somewhere and it is stored there in a hard drive and is identified by a unique address (URL, universal resource locator). We refer to these as web pages.

And a photo may be uploaded. You may be in the file manager of your new website and want to put a picture on the site. The designation will be "upload" and a window with the files that are in your computer will come up. You must then find the photo you want to upload and click on it, then on Open and the file will be designated. Usually there will be another upload button to click and then you will wait for confirmation that the photo has been received at the remote (Internet) site (if you are on dial-up connection, this may take a while).

In the same way, a file or program may be copied from a site on the Internet directly to your hard drive or memory. This is a download. If you found a site on the Internet that was offering free software, you could download it to your computer and use it like any other program. When you find the software there will be a button that says, "download now ". Click it. Usually the next screen asks whether you want to "open it" in your memory or "save to disk" (hard drive). I recommend putting a program directly on your disk, although if it is a photo or something you may just want to look at once, pick "open it." The installation usually begins with the question as to where in your hard drive to put the file. A suggested place often comes up on the screen and you can click "yes" or change it. At this point, the name of the file will be on your screen. This is important: write the name down! I will explain that in a bit. After you OK the selection of where the file is going to go, click OK to download and the process will begin.

When it is done, the program may just stop or it may tell you to restart your computer. Disconnect from the Internet before you do. Some programs are self-opening and when your computer comes back on, you may see a new icon on your desktop. Click on it to start your new program. Other programs you may have to open yourself. This is the part where you needed the file name written down. You have to find the program in your files via Windows Explorer or Find. The file name will probably end in ".exe"). Click on it to get it open. After that, the program will be installed and you will have successfully downloaded from the Internet.

Since we are on the subject of loading, I am often asked how to load a program that is on a CD-ROM. In Win 98 or ME, if you put a CD-ROM in your drive it will start by itself. Just follow the directions. It too, will ask where you want to put it in your Hard Drive. It will also suggest a place, like C:\Program Files. Once you OK it, it will just go about the business of installing itself. Usually the program will open automatically, but if it doesn't, you can follow the procedure above to find the file and open it. If it does not leave an icon on your desktop and you want one, please see my column, "The icon that came to dinner," at the address (URL) at the end of the column.

If the program is on a series of floppies, the difference will be that you will be using the smaller drive and you may have to get the process started yourself. The best way to do this is to follow the instructions printed on the disk. After one disk is done, the installation program will ask you to add the next disk, etc. This process is referred to as "loading."

What about loading more of the features that are on your Win 95, 98 or ME disk? There are probably features that you may have available to you on your (e.g.,) Win 98 disk that are not on your hard drive. Here is how to check as to what they are and how to install or load them.

First, click on Start, Settings, and then Add/Remove programs. Then click on Windows Set Up tab. The window will show you what is loaded (checked) and what is not and the check in a gray box means there are still some items you can select from your disk. You can see what they are by clicking on Details. The unchecked boxes are items that you do not have. If, for instance, you see that accessories is grayed out and click on details, the program will tell you how many of the total accessories there are and how many you have, e.g., 2/18. To get more, put the Windows 95/98/ME disk (not the recovery disk) in your CD-ROM and check (in the boxes) which ones you want and then click on OK. You may have to reboot to get the changes. You will be pleased to find that you now have a better selection of screen savers, games or wallpaper and any number of other items that were not installed originally in your computer.

Now that you know your load and upload from your download start getting some practice because next time in Mouse Clix will be: Starting your own web-site.

Hobie Lunin is a Computer Instructor and Consultant, and will answer questions at hlunin@email.com. To see previous columns and other information, point your browser to http://mouseclix.tripod.com