When downloading a file, Windows users must choose between Run or Save. Run is actually a two-step process. First the file is saved to a temporary location, and then it is run (or executed) the same as if you had traversed to its location in Windows Explorer and double-clicked on it. The key is that the location is temporary. If you will ever need the file again, it is better to Save it, so you know where you to access it again. For more on the difference between Run and Save, read Ask-Leo.com.

Most instructions on downloading an ebook tell you to right-click on the download link and save the file on your computer. But what if the download link is in an email, or if the ebook is sent as an attachment? Because no one set of instructions covers all the possibilities, Ask-Leo.com has written a comprehensive guide to ebook downloading. Leo even includes a free ebook (titled “How do I keep my computer safe on the internet?”) for you to practice on.

Computer books can be expensive, but if you know where to look, you can (legally) download some tech books for free. Here are three resources: Tech Books for Free , O’Reilly Open Books Project, and Bruce Perens’ Open Source Series.

Java, which is a required plug-in for many online games, is no longer included with Microsoft’s Internet Explorer and must be downloaded and installed separately. If you do not see a Java option in Internet Explorer/Tools/Internet Options/Advanced, you can download the Java runtime environment from Sun Microsystems.

What happens when you left-mouse click on a link to document or spreadsheet depends on how you’ve configured your computer. The file will either open in the browser or its native application (such as Excel) or a download dialog box will appear. If you’d rather save the file (instead of opening it ), try a right-mouse click on the link instead of a left one. Then select ‘Save Target As’ or ‘Save Link As’ to download the file to your computer. Mac users can do the same by pointing to the link and pressing CTRL.