If you click on a filename with an extension of .exe, .zip, or .pdf, your Web browser may try to immediately run or open the file on the Web, rather than downloading the file. This may cause your browser to stop responding to keystrokes and mouse clicks. To prevent this from happening, right-click the filename and select an option that lets you save the file to your local computer. For example, in Internet Explorer 5, the appropriate option is Save Target As....

After you have downloaded the file to your own computer, you can view the file and/or extract its component files by double-clicking on the filename in the Windows Explorer window. 

If, when you double-click on a file with a ZIP extension and Windows responds by asking you to select a application to run the file, you must download and install a program that handles ZIP files. Here are two popular choices of programs:

WinZip, a handy utility that lets you compress and uncompress files. You can download an evaluation copy from www.winzip.com, and of course, they will be happy to sell you a license as well.

You can also use PowerArchiver2000, a freeware utility that handles a number of different file formats.

If the same thing happens when you double-click on a PDF file, you must download and install the Adobe Acrobat Reader. It's available for free from www.adobe.com.