If you have been exploring the Internet for a while, you have might have come across files that you can download to your hard drive. Most of these files are shareware or freeware. They can be games, plug-ins for your browser, fonts, small utilities, or any number of other kinds of software. Usually, they are stored in a compressed format to save disk space and downloading time. In order to read or use compressed files on your computer, you need a decompression program to decompress the files. Macintosh users have Stuffit Expander, which will handle this. Windows Sympatico members can download WinZip.

Not all files you download will be compressed. Files with the extension .zip will have to be decompressed. Files with the extension .exe are not compressed and you do not need a decompression program for them.

• How do I download files with Windows?
• How do I download files with Macintosh?

Once you are familiar with downloading and decompressing files, you can learn how to configure your browser to automatically open files once they are downloaded.

The Sympatico service offers software upgrades for its access members (Dialup and High Speed Edition). Otherwise the Sympatico service does not offer any Sympatico-specific downloads.

Find help in the Downloading and uploading Internet files discussion forum

Note: Sympatico Member Services does not provide phone help with downloading (other than Sympatico software upgrades), or for any kind of shareware, freeware, or postcardware.

What is WinZip?
What is Stuffit Expander?
What is shareware?
How do I configure my Sympatico Software to automatically open files once they are downloaded?

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