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So, you're ready to download some of the hundreds of game demos and guides, software
patches and drivers, sound clips, and other cool stuff available on the internet, but
you're not sure how to get started? No problem. You've come to the right place. Reading
these instructions will simplify the download and installation process, and help you to
get the most out of the internet!
Seeing It All
In the next section we’ll discuss specific file types and extensions, such as
".EXE" and ".ZIP". But before we get to the nitty gritty of file types
and extensions, it’s important to make sure you are seeing the files on your computer
- including these two types - the same way we’re seeing them on ours. There is a
chance, however, that your Windows 95 preferences are set up to hide file extensions.
Microsoft’s reasoning for hiding file extensions by default is that Windows 95’s
point-and-click interface makes worrying about these DOS carryovers a thing of the past.
Unfortunately, this isn’t true when it comes to downloading files and putting them to
use. So for our purposes, you’ll need to see all of the file types and extensions on
your computer. To do so, follow these steps:
1. Double-click My Computer on the Desktop to open the My Computer window.
2. Click the View menu, then choose Options.
3. Click the View Tab to display Windows 95’s file extensions view options.
4. Check or uncheck the appropriate buttons so that your View options look like ours,
below (choose "Show all files" if it isn’t already chosen, and uncheck
"Hide MS-DOS file extensions for file types that are registered").
5. Click OK, and close any open Windows. That’s it. Now any files that were
previously hidden from your view will appear in folders when you open them with My
Computer or Explorer.
A File for Every Occasion
In a perfect online universe, we’d all be able to download multiple-megabyte files in
a matter of seconds. On today’s Net, however, file downloads, particularly for modem
users, take an ungodly long time, which is why most Net sites try to shorten transfer
times by compressing downloadable files.
How can you tell if a file is compressed? Check its three-digit extension. If a
file’s name ends with .ZIP, that means it’s been squeezed by PKZIP, the
world’s most popular compression utility. (There are other compression programs, but
most use PKZIP and WinZip almost exclusively.)
You’ll find other file extensions too. File names that end with .EXE are either
executables (program files) or self-extracting archives (more on these later). You’ll
also find .AU and .WAV files, which typically are short sound clips, and .AVI and
.MOV
files, which are movie clips, usually identified as "trailers" or
"non-interactive demos."
A Name to Remember
When you find a file you’d like to download, simply click its name. Your Web browser
will present a dialog box with the file name, giving you the opportunity to rename the
file if you like. If you choose to do so, be sure to use an easily identifiable word or
phrase that will help you find the file at a later date.
If you’re using Windows 95, for instance, and you’re downloading the Absolute
Zero demo, it’s better to name the file "Absolute Zero demo.zip" rather
than "absodem.zip".
(Unless, of course, you’re some kind of DOS-loving weirdo.) Whatever you name the
file, be sure to always leave the original file’s extension intact, be it .zip, .exe,
or .wav.
If you’re still using Windows 3.x, you’re stuck with that platform’s
cryptic eight-dot-three file naming scheme. Bottom line: You’re stuck with the
file’s confusing name like "absodem.zip" or whatever. It’s a good idea
to write down the file’s name - and what it stands for - so that you’ll never
lose track of a download stuck with a name like "09ext&.zip".
Saving Your Downloads
Most (if not all) Web browsers will suggest a folder or directory where you should store
the downloaded file. Windows 95 users, listen up: The best place to save a file is right
on the Windows Desktop - the main interface where you’ll see familiar icons such as
"My Computer," and "Recycle Bin." When you save a file to the Desktop,
Windows 95 automatically creates an icon for the file.
It's a good idea to then put each downloaded file into its own folder on your desktop, so
that when you expand them, all of their associated files will be grouped together (as
described in the next section).
Expanding Files with StuffIt Expander
Once you’ve downloaded a file to your hard disk, you’re ready to do something
with it. If the file has a .ZIP extension, you’ll need to extract its contents. (A
.ZIP file might contain a single file or a group of files.) While a variety of freeware
and shareware programs perform this feat, the easiest for new users to work with is
Aladdin Systems’ StuffIt Expander, a Windows utility that you can download for free.
Why StuffIt Expander? Because it’s so darn simple to use. Once you’ve downloaded
StuffIt’s set-up file, double-click it to launch the installation program. More good
news: Stuff It installs in about two seconds, and automatically configures itself to work
with your system.
Now you’re ready to decompress .ZIP files. Simply double-click the .ZIP file’s
icon on the Windows 95 Desktop. Or, if you prefer, you can double-click the file’s
name in Windows Explorer or File Manager. Either way, StuffIt launches automatically and
"unzips" the file, placing the expanded file or files in a new folder on the
Desktop.
Advanced Zipping and Unzipping
WinZip is popular among Windows users, and it is very easy to use.
When you double-click a .ZIP file on the Desktop, WinZip automatically unzips it. And like
StuffIt, WinZip works with a variety of other compressed and encoded formats, including
.TAR, .gzip, and .UUE. WinZip is available for Windows 95 and Windows 3.1.
So what’s not to like? Well, WinZip costs $29, whereas StuffIt Expander is free.
Frankly, we’ll take the bargain route every time.
For DOS users, GameSpot recommends PKZIP. This program is a bit more complex, but contains
extensive documentation to help you get started.
Self-Extracting Files
Not all compressed files require StuffIt Expander or a similar utility to extract the
file’s contents. For instance, many game demos have an .EXE extension instead of
.ZIP. However, before you go and double-click a freshly downloaded .EXE file, we’d
like to offer a bit of advice that will ensure that the file you are about to work with
expands correctly.
Note: In some cases, an .EXE file is actually a self-contained installation program rather
than a collection of files. If the previous step causes your .EXE file to run an
installation program, such as the one shown here, then simply follow the prompts to
install the demo or files and skip the next step.
Working with Expanded Files
At this point you should have downloaded and extracted the file, which means, in most
cases, you’re almost in the clear. The next step is to double-click the folder that
your extraction utility has just created. Inside are several files - and if you are brand
new to this you probably don’t have a clue which does what.
A good place to start is by reading the README file, if one exists. README files often
explain how to set up or use whatever it is you downloaded, be it run a playable game
demo, install a software patch or driver that updates a current version of a game you
already have, or view sneak preview screen shots of an upcoming game.
Occasionally, some unzipped files create only a single .EXE file, which is likely the
installation program for the game demo you’ve just downloaded. In this case,
double-click the file to start the set-up procedure.
Troubleshooting
If you are having a problem with a downloaded file, it is possible that the file was not
downloaded completely (your modem disconnected before the file finished downloading, for
instance), or that the file’s contents - such as a demo - are conflicting with your
system. In the latter case, please contact the game’s publisher for assistance.
Unfortunately, many companies will not provide technical support for demos, but it never
hurts to ask. To help you in this regard, we provide technical support contact information
for every game, as well as a link to the company’s site for every demo we post.
DirectX Drivers and .DLL Errors
Many demos require particular drivers or extensions to work properly. The most common
example is Microsoft's DirectX drivers, which are required by nearly every Windows 95
native demo. Basically, the DirectX drivers are a series of components that help games run
more effectively under Windows 95.
If a demo requires any extensions or drivers, we will make that clear in the description
of the file. In some cases the drivers will be included, but in the interest of file size,
the drivers will usually have to be downloaded separately. To do this, go to our Utilities
page. From there, find the file you need. The drivers and extensions available are all
self-extracting files and are easily installed, so all you have to do is download the file
then double-click on the icon to set it up. Once the DirectX drivers are installed, you'll
be able to run any demo requiring them.
Missing DirectX drivers are the cause of errors such as "Can't find
DDRAW.DLL."
If you receive this or a similar .DLL error (.DLL is the file extension for drivers),
chances are you need to install DirectX.
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