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Thank you for your help! It was so silly, I was afraid to turn off the computer just to lose everything, but it all worked out well.

I am new to downloading on the internet and need some basic knowledge about what I can and cannot download. Sometimes things I download say I need to choose an application to run it, when I do it doesn't do anything. Then sometimes it won't respond at all. I understand macs are different, but a lot of these say mac osx compatable. What programs can I get to make things work? What are good free download sites? music, movie shorts, and some old school games, (apple IIe and atari)? I really appreciate the help!

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A compact, practical follow-up to the good points from for — focused on why downloads sometimes “do nothing” and what to try next.

First, identify the file type. On macOS the extension tells the story: .dmg (disk image), .pkg (installer), .app (application bundle), compressed archives like .zip, .tar.gz, .sit/.hqx, media like .mov/.mp4, Java .jar, and Windows-only .exe/.msi. Use Finder > Get Info to see the Kind and the current “Open with” setting. If the extension is missing, inspect it with Terminal:

file ~/Downloads/thatfile

Only run or change permissions for files you trust. For scripts you may need to make them executable:

chmod +x ~/Downloads/script.sh
./Downloads/script.sh

Common quick fixes: double-click a .dmg to mount it and then drag the app to Applications; double-click a .zip to expand it; run a .pkg with Installer. A Windows .exe will not run natively — use a Mac build, Wine/virtual machine, or an emulator if available. If a downloaded movie won’t play, try a broader player such as VLC; if an old Apple II or Atari game is the target, emulation is required (examples of Mac emulators exist), and ROM/license rules must be followed.

If an app silently fails, check Console or Activity Monitor for crash messages, verify file size/integrity, try redownloading from the vendor, and ensure the app is in /Applications (some apps misbehave when run from Downloads). Keep the OS and key utilities updated and prefer official or reputable sources to reduce the risk of corrupted files or malware.

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Member Avatar for kc0arf

Hello,

This is a deep involved question, and I will have to come back to it. Check back late tomorrow.

Christian

Member Avatar for kc0arf

Hello,

Thank you for your patience. I was out ill, and unable to think.

First, Apple Macintosh is not the same as Apple II. The two computers are vastly different, separated by years of technology and systems revisions. The Apple II was based on a 6502 processor that was 8 bit, and the fastest speeds were around 2.5 MHz in the Apple IIgs. The early Macs were based on Motorola's 68000 chip, and today's Macs are Motorola / IBM PPC technology. DIfferent chips mean different program versions. IN order for anything of an Apple II era to work on a Mac, you will need a software emulator, and I think there are some on the market. Emulation = Translation however, so some programs will not work period.

You can download any file you want off the internet; the Mac will not stop you. The better question revolves around what you can do with that download. You can install Acrobat Reader, and open any .pdf files that you find. You can purchase MS Office, or install Open Office (Warning -- that is a Darwin / X program right now, so will not feature the look and feel of Mac OS X) and open up .doc and .xls and .ppt files.

There are shareware programs out there to play music .mp3 files with, there are shareware or inexpensive graphics programs out there (MacAmp, GIMP) and some freeware applications for Desktop publishing (Ragtime). It would be better to know what you are looking for, instead of me describing what is out there.

Common places to look include www.shareware.com, www.download.com You can also go to Google and search for programs that may be available. Realize that you have to do what you can to remain in license compliance... if the program says it has to be purchased, it is your responsibility to fulfill that obligation.

Common programs that I use are: Open Office, Ragtime, Acrobat Reader, FireFox, Safari, Eudora Pro, Palm Desktop, and VNC.

Let us know what you are looking for if you need further suggestions.

Christian

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