Which download files should be saved?

But files in your Downloads folder are all put there by you, sometimes inadvertently when you download a picture or program installer, so there is nothing critical to Windows that will be in there. Those files are all in the WIndows folder.

Your Downloads folder should be pruned regularly to keep only those program, driver and other downloads you want to keep or else transfer them to Pictures, Music, Videos folders for safer and more self-explanatory keeping. I hope this helps. Feel free to ask back any questions and let us know how it goes. Do I need to keep downloaded files? Tip If you need an excellent place to keep small to medium sized downloaded files, consider copying them to a USB flash drive.

Tip Some drivers should be backed up in case the company removes them from their website or the company goes out of business. Get Started now with a free trial of Badger Maps, no credit card required! How do I find a file saved on my computer? Click the Home button at the bottom left corner. Then choose File Explorer. Files in cloud storage can be shared with other users, allowing them to view the files and edit them if given permission.

Where should I save files? Note All options mentioned below are recommendations. Tip If you're working with big files, you may run into space limitations. Tip If you want several files on the desktop, it's easier to create a folder on the desktop to store the files.

Tip If you are having trouble determining what drive is associated with a flash drive or another external drive, open My Computer and look at the available drives. If a file that needs an add-on won't open, you might have an older version of the add-on, which needs to be updated.

When you download a file, Internet Explorer checks for clues that the download is malicious or potentially harmful to your PC. If Internet Explorer identifies a download as suspicious, you'll be notified so you can decide whether or not to save, run, or open the file.

Not all files you're warned about are malicious, but it's important to make sure you trust the site you're downloading from, and that you really want to download the file. If you see a security warning that tells you the publisher of this program couldn't be verified, this means that Internet Explorer doesn't recognize the site or organization asking you to download the file. Make sure you recognize and trust the publisher before you save or open the download.

There are always risks to downloading files from the web. Here are some precautions you can take to help protect your PC when you download files:. If the file has a digital signature, make sure that the signature is valid and the file is from a trusted location. To see the digital signature, select the publisher link in the security warning dialog box that opens when you first download the file.

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