exe. rar. bin. ? How do I install
 

I am lost on how to instal theses types of files, since there is no setup Icon..

vant

.exe don't need installation AFAIK. Just double-click , but run various type of scans on the file a priori (antivirus, adware, spyware... you know the drill.)
.exe are a rather dangerous bunch if gotten via P2P (not only, but especially).
.rar is a compression format (much like .zip) and you need to "unzip" (or "unrar" it, but it doesn't sound right, now does it?). This link leads to a unraring (bleh) application that is apparently free. I have no idea whatsoever if it's any good or not 'cause I don't use Windows.
.bin should also need only double-clicking to open. (At least that's as "troublesome" as it can get in Mac OS X...). All of those filetypes need careful scanning before opening as the may contain various malware.

Re: exe. rar. bin. ? How do I install
 

Unfortunately, so are all of us regarding what kind of computer you are using and what Operating Sysytem (OS)... ???

Anyway, here are links for the three major and best compression applications...


For WinZIP... (.zip)

http://www.winzip.com/downwzeval.htm


WinRAR... (.rar)

http://www.rarlab.com/download.htm


Stuffit (.sit)...

http://www.stuffit.com/win/index.html



Read the install and setup info for all of them !
Doing the correct configurations from the very beginning will aid you enormously...

You may also be successful in searching for and downloading trial? versions of all of the above via the Gnutella Network.

And, as murasmae said, be very, very, very cautious of .exe files that you may D/L...
However, one prob with some .exe files is that they are Self-Extracting .zip files - 99.99% harmless !
Self-Extracting .zip files are files that were compressed by someone using a special feature of some WinZIP apps. that allow you to compress a file WITH the Extraction software included in the file... The person receiving the file does NOT need to have the WinZIP software installed in order to open the SE file... Hence they are .exe files......
Complicated and dangerous world out there, huh ?

thanks
 

Thanks so much, very interesting and usefull advice. Most of the files that I have d/l //programs< I have not been able to install, unless it had it's own setup. I will be picking up more tips and tricks as my studies go along. Thanks again for your very usefull advice.
Vant

Exe stands for Executable. Linux and mac users, please discard these files as they are usless. Windows users, you only need to double click the file to begin.

.rar and .zip can be openned with Stuff it and WinRAR. WinRAR isnt free, through it does work past its limit ;)

.bin, as far as i know, as linux binarys.