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1. What Happens To Downloads, And How To Unzip and Install.
2. Virus Warnings From Simtel.Net Downloads.
3. Problems With Programs.
4. Simtel.Net File Categories

1. What Happens To Downloads, And How To Unzip and Install.

"I clicked on a filename on your web page, and I guess it downloaded. Now what do I do to run that program?"

Typically you browse or search our web page (or one of the mirror sites) using a web browser like Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape or Opera. When you find a file you want to download, you click on the filename and (through one process or another) the file is downloaded to your system.

a. Error During Download:

(1) If you received ANY error messages during this download, it's likely that you have an "incomplete download." The file is useless as it is.

(2) Don't delete the partial download! Instead, go right back to that same filename in the Simtel.Net catalog or web page and try to download it again! If your browser has the ability to "resume interrupted download", your browser may pick up right where it left off and finish the download (saving you a lot of time).

(3) If your browser did NOT have that feature, it will probably ask you if it's okay to overwrite the existing file. Yes, approve the overwrite. The file is incomplete, useless, so try the download again.

b. Where Did The File go?

(1) Your browser is set up to download files to a certain default drive and directory (folder) on your system. Read the instructions, look in its Help, or snoop around to find out where that is. Sometimes it simply "remembers" where it put the _last_ downloaded file.

(2) When the download process begins, a window usually pops up in your browser that shows you that default location (a drive and folder). Make a note of it, or change it at this time to someplace you can remember. Some people elect to put downloads on their Windows Desktop. Others keep a special "Downloads" directory somewhere to put all their downloads.

(3) If all else fails, go back to Simtel.Net and find out the filename again. Then use your Windows Explorer menu "Tools | Find | Files or Folders" to search for that filename.

c. You've Found The File. Now What?

(1) The downloaded file will usually either be a .zip archive or an .exe executable.

(2) .exe executables are usually "runnable" programs. However most of the .exe files at Simtel.Net are "self-extracting archives" ("SFX files"). When you run them, they usually extract their contents (multiple files usually) to a temporary directory (usually C:\WINDOWS\TEMP), and then begin an installation process.

(3) .zip archives are compressed archives.

(a) You need an unzip utility to handle these archives. There are many unzip untilities including WinZip, PKUNZIP (an MS-DOS program), Info-ZIP's unzip.exe (an MS-DOS program). There are many shareware and freeware unzip utilities at Simtel.Net you can use to deal with .zip archives. Get one, install it; you'll use it again and again (not only with Simtel.Net downloads but with .zip files all over the Internet). Read your unzip utility's instructions! Understand how it works, the concept of zip archives, etc., or you'll be confused, make a mess, do the wrong thing, etc.

(b) .zip archives usually contain several files (compressed to save space). Use your unzip utility to extract all the files in the .zip archive to a temporary working directory.

(c) If your unzip utility gives you a warning ("archive may be damaged", "CRC-32 error", etc.), this usually means your download was incomplete or the file failed to write correctly to your hard drive. Go back to Simtel.Net and repeat the download. We do NOT keep damaged .zip archives; ALL of our .zip archives are tested again and again. The problem almost invariably is a faulty download. Do it again, get a fresh copy of the file.

(d) Simtel.Net .zip archives usually have a README.TXT, FILE_ID.DIZ, VENDINFO.DIZ, PAD_FILE.XML, or some such plain-text file that will tell you what the program is, how to contact the author, how to install the file, etc. You should be able to read this text file with any text browser or editor (Notepad or whatever). We STRONGLY urge you to read the instructions before you begin the install.

(e) There'll usually be a SETUP.EXE or some other .exe file (perhaps with the program name). Run that .exe program to install the program.

d. The Program Installation:

(1) You're either running an SFX, or the install program's .exe from a .zip archive.

(2) You can usually abort the installation at any point. However an abort or cancel may leave a bunch of temporary files in the C:\WINDOWS\TEMP directory (or elsewhere). You may have to manually delete these temporary files if the install fails.

(3) If you let the install process complete, you usually end up with a Windows program installed somewhere, and maybe a new program icon on your Desktop. Sometimes the install process tells you what it's going to do (or has done), gives you an option as to where to install, etc. Use your Start Bar's "Programs" listing to find it if all else fails.

e. Cleaning Up:

(1) The program has successfully installed. Installs usually delete all the temporary files they created. However, you will still have the SFX .exe file or .zip archive you downloaded.

(2) You can elect to save or archive that downloaded file. That gives you an immediate backup in the event something happens to the installed program. However this may take a lot of storage space on your hard drive or backup media; you have to organize things; etc.

(3) You can simply delete the downloaded file, and get it again (or an updated version) from Simtel.Net if you need to install it again.

2. Virus Warnings From Simtel.Net Downloads.

"I ran a program I downloaded from Simtel.Net, and my computer said it discovered a virus!"

a. Every single program in the Simtel.Net collection was scanned with a suite of current virus scanners before it was ever posted or distributed to our mirror sites (where downloads actually occur).

b. We appreciate you informing us when your system report a virus. You, the user, are our final line of defense against these infections, and we value your reports. Just be sure to tell us (1) the name of the file you downloaded from us; (2) the virus scanner you used; and (3) what your virus scanner reported.

c. We immediately recheck the program file you downloaded, just in case a virus infection somehow slipped by us. If there's any question of a possible infection, we immediately contact several of the major virus scanner publishers and ask them to recheck the package for a possible infection.

d. We have NEVER found a virus in one of our packages. Invariably it has been a false alarm on the part of the user's virus scanner. But we still check and recheck, every single time, just to be sure. And we WILL respond to your warning, giving you a full report as to what we found. If there's ANY question of possible infection, we pull the file offline while we continue our investigation. Simtel.Net treats all possible virus infections VERY seriously indeed.

e. Virus scanner publishers also value reports of false alarms (so they can update their scanners). We urge you to email your virus scanner company, giving it details of the entire event. Forward our email to the scanner company if you like.

3. Problems With Programs.

"I installed Hamster Accounting 3000, and I got some sort of error! The program won't run!"

a. Simtel.Net is a software archive, like a library. We don't run every single program we archive (just as librarians don't read every book on the shelves). While we try to answer questions when we can (like any good librarian), we don't have all the answers. We especially don't have answers about program details, and there's no way we can replicate every problem users experience.

b. If you have a problem with a program, please contact the author. We require all authors to include contact information in the README.TXT (or equivalent) in the original .zip archive. And often a program has contact information in the "About" menu entry.

c. If you can't find the author information, please contact us via email. We'll need the original file name of the file you downloaded, and we'll give you the author information so you can contact him. But read the program documentation first, please. We get a LOT of mail, and it may take a while to get back to you.

d. If you can't contact the author (e.g., email comes back "address unknown"), please let us know. We require a current email address for all uploads. If you report a bad email address for an author, we'll try it ourselves. If an email fails for us, we pull the program from the Simtel.Net collection. I know, that doesn't fix the program problem. But it insures no one _else_ has that problem, until the author surfaces again and starts supporting his users.

e. If you can't get the problem solved with the author's help, please let us know. We usually don't pull a program from the Simtel.Net collection just because one user had problems. However, _enough_ complaints and we certainly will pull it until the author resolves the problem. So your complaints _do_ get attention. Poor programs that don't work right aren't helping anyone, and Simtel.Net won't tolerate it.

f. If you find other things wrong with a program, feel free to let us know. Simtel.Net is a family-oriented service; we won't tolerate anything that isn't G-rated in a program.

g. Shareware and DEMO programs often have function limitations (to encourage you to register them). Still, if you think you've been misled or deceived, or if you think the program is extraordinarily crippled .. please let us know. We'll install it and check it out ourselves.

5. Simtel.Net File Categories.

a. Our short file descriptions don't provide a lot of space in which to describe files. However we try to make them as useful as possible. This may include a short file category at the end: Free, DEMO, or Adware.

b. Files uploaded to Simtel.Net are usually categorized as follows:

(1) Shareware: The author licenses you to use a fully functioning program for a trial period. He expects you to register or pay for it if you use it beyond that period. It may have slight restrictions or limitations during the trial period, but is basically fully functional. He may offer some support, so you can have a fair trial. The program may "drop dead" after the trial period (often 30 days), or it may lose some functions but continue working indefinitely.

(2) Freeware: The author still owns the program, but licenses you to use it for free, usually for any purposes whatsoever. The program is usually fully functional. It may be a "come-on", a taste of what other versions (commercial or shareware) can do. But it should work as described. He may not offer any support, however.

(3) Public Domain: The author gives the program, in its entirety, to the world in general, to do anything they want. You can use it, distribute it, sell it (if you could find someone to buy it), change it, whatever. The author gives away all rights, and usually provides no support either. He often distributes the source code when he gives it to the Public Domain.

(4) Adware: The author licenses you to use the program for free. However the price you pay is to watch advertisements that may appear during program use. This usually means the Adware software may need to contact the Internet to get new ads. It may mean collection of generic or possibly personal information during installation or use. It may mean your personal or usage information may be stored elsewhere, and even shared or sold.

(a) Simtel.Net is very particular and cautious about the Adware it accepts. We are highly sensitive to privacy and security issues, and were one of the FIRST Internet archives to raise the issue of Adware problems (and to reject any Adware that didn't meet our requirements).

(b) We only accept programs that use Adware technology we have tested and approved as "well behaved" and not overly intrusive. We also demand disclosure: the author or publisher must TELL you this is Adware, in the README.TXT (or equivalent). Simtel.Net Adware requirements are available for public examination; do a search for our "adware.txt" file in the Simtel.Net collection.

(c) We caution you to read all the details in any Adware you install and use. Be cautious; research what Adware is all about. Go to the Adware publisher and read his privacy information. Check for various warnings and problems in the Web. Adware is NOT FREE! Just be sure you're willing to pay the unwritten price.

(d) Simtel.Net rejects some Adware because it is overly intrusive, demands too much bandwidth during Internet connections, won't fully uninstall when you uninstall the "parent" program, or which secretly collects user information and violates normal privacy expectations. However we can't catch everything. So if you think you have a problem with privacy issues or functioning in any Adware program, please let us know all the details!

(5) DEMO: A DEMO program is one that is only partially functional, or that has significant limitations or omissions.

(a) The program may be an editor, but you can't save your work. Or a database that only permits 10 records. Usually the author or publisher has a fully functional version available for sale, and the DEMO demonstrates some of its functions. Or it may only work for 5 times, or for 3 days.

(b) There is a category of file, also called a DEMO, that is not functional at all, that is only a "slide show" of what a program would look like if used. Simtel.Net usually doesn't accept such nonfunctional demos.