How to Set Up Your System for Downloading
Before you start to download any programs or files, it is important that you're aware of the specifications of your computer, so that you download material that is compatible. Make you know the following things:
- Do you use a IBM PC compatible computer (commonly known as PCs) or a Mac (Macintosh)?
- What operating system (OS) are you running? Microsoft Windows? If so, which version? Windows ME? XP? Vista? Do you use Mac OS X? If so, which version?
- What speed is your processor?
- How much memory does your machine have?
The type of computer, the operating system and specifications of your computer will determine the type of programs you can run. Some software may not be suitable for your operating system, or your computer may not have the capacity to run it. Knowing the specifications of your computer system could save you a great deal of time and money in the long run.
Organising Your Files
It's a good idea to set up a separate directory to store your downloads. This will ensure that you'll always know where to find your newly downloaded files and can avoid them getting mixed up with any other files. Consider creating sub-folders for different types of download, for example:
- Downloads
- HTML
- Images
- Music
- Progams
- Text
- Video
If possible, create your new download folder on a separate drive to your operating files (these files will usually be in the C:\ drive in PCs running Windows).
