Windows95.com Software FAQ

This document was designed to answer the most frequently-asked questions about the Windows95.com Free 32-bit Software collection.

Is all the software in the collection really FREE?: We call it a FREE software collection because it doesn't cost anything to download the programs and try them out. Many of the software titles are indeed free, and they are listed as freeware.
The two other categories are shareware and demo. Shareware programs are free for you to download and use for a certain amount of time (usually 30 days) to decide if you want to keep it. If you like it, you should register your shareware by paying a registration fee to the author of the program. Registration instructions are usually included in the help file of a program.
Demos (or commercial demos) are demonstration versions of commercially available software. They are free to download, but are usually limited in functionality, or contain only part of the full package. If you like a demo, then you can usually purchase the full program at a software store or online.
How do I find the software I want on Windows95.com?: We've divided the software into various categories, then we list them according to their release date on the page. To see our newest additions, you should check out the Newest Software page. We also have a search index on our Search Page to help you look for specific software.
How do I download a program?: Downloading is easy! Simply click on the icon in the program's listing. Depending on your Web browser, you will be prompted for what to do with the file. If you're using Microsoft Internet Explorer, you'll get a choice of Open or Save to Disk. If you press Open, your Web browser will try to run the file that downloads, using any default viewers for specific file types. If you press Save to Disk (which is our recommended option), you can choose a directory you wish to save the file to. If you're using Netscape Navigator, you will simply be prompted for a directory to save the file to.
How do I uncompress a program?: To make downloading faster, most of the files in the collection are compressed, meaning that the data has been squeezed together to save space. Before you can use a program, you may need to decompress it. The most common compression format is ZIP, and there are many tools that can help you extract ZIP files on our Compression Utilities page. We recommend using Nico Mak's highly acclaimed WinZip.
Another popular compression method is self-extracting EXE. This is a ZIP file that has been specially compressed with the decompression tools built in. You simply double-click the EXE file, and all the compressed files inside will be created on your hard disk.
What do the "Try it," "Getit," and "WINners" mean?: These are the methods we use to tell you about software that we think you'll like. A program receives a if stands out from the others in its category with at least a couple of must have features. We pick a Try It rather quickly; when we run it for the first time, if we yell "Cool!" then it's a Try It.
A Getit is a well-known distinction at Windows95.com. Previously, the Getit was our only distinction, but we added the Try It in an effort to urge software developers to provide software that is easier to install. Not being able to figure out how to install a program is the number one complaint among our visitors. Therefore, a Getit has the exact same criteria as a Try It, but it must also have at least Install Support.
The WINners are chosen annually by Windows95.com Webmaster Steve Jenkins. It is an award given to the standout programs of the previous year. You can't go wrong downloading one of these!
How do I list a software program at Windows95.com?: If you want to inform us of new software, or would like to update an existing listing, please check out our Developer's Frequently Asked Questions page.

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