by M.L. Giggleman
Netscape Communicator is a complete set of Internet tools. Individual components include Navigator, Messenger, Newsgroups, Composer, AOL Instant Messenger, Radio, and additional multimedia software for use within Navigator.
Downloading Netscape Communicator
Downloading and installing Netscape Communicator is actually a three-step process. The first two steps consist of online downloads (first the SmartDownload file, then the Communicator installer). The final step is the installation of the downloaded installer.
To begin, go to Netscape Netcenter (URL: home.netscape.com) and select Download. This takes you to the Download page - surprise! - to select the appropriate version for your system (i.e., Windows, Mac). The download page is located at URL: home.netscape.com/computing/download.
Now, for those three steps:
Step 1 - Online - Download and save the Communicator SmartDownload file to the Desktop.
Once this file is on your Desktop, you are ready to download the actual Communicator software.
Do not disconnect – stay online and go to step 2.
Step 2. - Online - Go to the Desktop and double-click on the SmartDownload file obtained in step 1 to begin download of the Communicator software.
Once the download begins, note the “Pause” button, which allows the download to be stopped at any time. Once paused, a “Resume” button allows the download to continue. A neat feature of SmartDownload is it allows a dropped connection to be resumed later. This is helpful since it is a hefty sized file.
When this download is complete, you can go offline for step 3, the installation of Communicator.
Step 3. Locate the Communicator install file downloaded in step 2, which should have a name like Cc32e47.exe. I usually download this file to the Desktop, but if you are using the default Windows settings, it may be located in the “C:\My Download Files” folder.
To begin installation, double-click on the install file (i.e., click on Cc32e47.exe). You will be asked to select a directory in which to install Communicator. Most users will select the default location. Click on Next to progress through a series of Communicator Install screens
When installation is complete, you must restart the computer. To use Communicator, double-click the icon on the Desktop
Note - Upgrades: If you are upgrading, selecting the default folder (or the folder where Communicator is currently installed) for installation will preserve your bookmarks, connection settings, preferences, and Internet settings. Note that once an upgrade is installed, the plug-ins and helper applications must be reinstalled.
Note - Windows 95 Users: It is recommended that you install the latest version of Microsoft Dial-Up Networking after installing Communicator.
Download the latest version of Microsoft Dial-Up Networking (also called DUN) directly from Microsoft at URL: support.microsoft.com/ support/kb/articles/Q285/1/89.ASP Scroll down the webpage and select the download for Windows 95 (currently Dun14-95.exe). Note that versions are availble for Windows 98 and Windows 98 SE users.
Keeping Your Communicator Software Current
Once you have installed Communicator, Netscape makes it easy to stay current using SmartUpdate. This provides email notifications of upgrades; allows you to download only selected components (a real timesaver); single-click downloading and installation. Interested? To install SmartUpdate, click on Navigator’s Help menu, select Software Updates and follow the step-by-step instructions.
M.L. Giggleman is Editorial manager of the HAL-PC Magazine and can be reached at melgig@hal-pc.org.
E-mail me at webmaster@hal-pc.org with any comments you have and tell me what you want to see here.
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Last modified: 2001:12:18