Beginner Tips for your PC
By Rochelle Jourdan ©

File Manager

     Since you upgraded to Windows 95/98, what happened to your file manager that you were so used to, using Windows 3.1? You can create a file manager icon on your desktop by right clicking anywhere on an empty (green unless you changed the "wallpaper") space on your desktop. A small box will come up, choose (left click), "New." Another box will appear, choose "shortcut" then a bigger box will come up. Type in "winfile" and push the "finish" button. You will then see a file cabinet icon in your desktop!

     From your file manager you will be able to view, create, copy and move files with greater ease than through your control panel offered by Windows 95. To create a directory in your file manager go to "File", then "Create Directory", type the name of the directory you want (8 or less letters or numbers) in the box that comes up & push the enter key or push "okay". In order to create a new file manager window, (for easier file transferring) in your file manager; choose "Window" and then "New Window". A new window will appear, larger than you'd like but you can easily resize this by pushing "Window" and selecting "Tile vertically" or "Tile horizontally". To copy a file into another directory, highlight the file you want to copy & push the "ctrl" button as you drag it into the desired file. To move a file, highlight the file and push the "alt" button as you drag it into the desired file. You will be prompted to confirm your action, whether it be copy or move.  So how were you rearranging your files prior to this? You don't have to answer that ;-).

Downloading

     I've learned that the best times to download things from the Internet are in the wee hours of the morning. If you are using AOL and you want to download a large file, like Netscape, start your download first thing in the morning when you are more apt to NOT getting kicked off line. To show you an example, I've written the instructions of downloading Netscape's Stand Alone browser from AOL. Most people don't need the extras that Netscape & Explorer offer, they just waste space.

     If you are a true beginner, you may want to print up this page of instructions, if you can. Before you download Netscape from  http://home.netscape.com/download/index.html, create a directory in your File manager. From the above mentioned link, choose your operating system, language and product. Scroll down to near the bottom of the page & click the "download for free" button. This will bring up your destination window, (where you want the file to go). At the bottom right of this window, will be your drive button, click the arrow & choose the drive where you want to put it, (usually defaults to C but if you have other drives, you could put it there). Once you've done this; in the window above the drive window will be a box with a list of the files you have in the selected drive. Highlight Netscape (you should have already created it by now). The name of the file to be transferred to your computer is N32E406.EXE for the stand alone, so do NOTchange that. Click OK. This could take upwards of an hour or longer to download, depending on your modem speed & server.

     One word of caution.  For some reason AOL does not allow people to download files larger than a 12.4MB amount of bytes. To get around this, download it through the Smart Download available at Netscape. SmartDownload lets you pause, resume and surf the Web while you download. Save smartdownload.exe to the Desktop at http://home.netscape.com/download/smartdownload.html. While connected to the Internet, double click on the smartdownload.exe in your file manager to begin installation process. I have helped one friend download this way & it's a great way around AOL's restrictions that are there so people don't leave AOL.

Here's some good reasons to download Netscape with the Smart Download:

• 1. Ever get disconnected?
  With SmartDownload, you can pick up right where you left off!
• 2. Need to use the phone?
  With SmartDownload, you can pause to make a call and resume your download later.
• 3. It's Free!

     Once you've completed the download, go to the file in your file manager, where you put the download. Double click the N32E406.EXE file, (or whatever browser version you decide to download) and the program will tell you what to do next. Of course, there is a lot of help on the Netscape site for installing the program. Have fun!

Read some of Rochelle's other articles and poetry: