Whether you want to get your PC ready ahead of time for the next online contest or you just want to enhance your web experience, you’re at the right place!  Here are the links to the downloads that you will likely need to have pre-installed on your PC.  If you have dial-up, you may want to plan to get these ready a few at a time as time is available.  They are:

1. Wordweb - It is almost a given that Wordweb will be used again in future contest and challenges.  With DSL it takes about 3 minutes to download and setup, while dial-up could take as long as 20 minutes. It would be a great idea to go ahead and set Wordweb up now.  To do this, click here. It may take several minutes to download, but once installed it is very fast to operate as will retrieve words and definitions almost instantly from the web.  Also note that there is no spam associated with the download. Excellent Tool!
2. Quicktime will take you a little over 30 minutes with dial-up.  It’s a great idea to install if you don’t already have it.  Click here

3. Java has become so important to so many web applications, it is often essential to have on your PC. It is a hefty download and where before, a solution for a virtual machine was provided by Microsoft, due to recent rulings this is no longer the case.  Hence, it is now necessary to install these components; often manually.  For dial-up it will take you about 40 minutes.  Once installed, when an application loads it will still take several minutes, but after loading completes (usually 2 – 5 minutes) the application is able to run well enough to enjoy using a dial-up connection.  To get started with the Java download, go to http://www.java.com/en/download/

(Note: If you already have Java, it is not necessary to install it. To test whether you have it, try running the Funderstanding Rollercoaster game found under Featured! Allow it time to load, but if Java is not found on your machine then this is what you should install.)

4. Download Microsoft Media Player. It will take about 35 minutes to download and another 15 minutes to install after it has been downloaded to your PC if you have dial-up.  Click here to begin.

5. Download Macromedia’s Shockwave Player by clicking here. With dial-up, the download will take about 7 minutes.

6. Now download Macromedia’s Flash Player by clicking here. It will take about 3 minutes with dial-up.

7. To get ready and to provide your PC with what is needed for today’s internet, it is also recommended that you visit the Microsoft Download Center to make sure you have everything. It’s 100% free with no spam.  You should insure you have the latest version of Internet Explorer with the latest Service Pak, the latest ActiveX component, and all the critical updates.  To do this, go to www.windowsupdate.com.  Microsoft will check for the latest versions of your software and provide recommendations. 

If you are a Netscape or Mozilla user, they should work OK, but the site was not tested with these browsers extensively.  Therefore, it is recommended that if possible, you use Microsoft Windows Explorer.

Thanks everyone!  Hope this page helps!

WIN BIG! Check out the Boys’ Life 2006 Summer Fun photo contest. Click on the “Contests” link.

Make the Alice Carlson After School Family Site your Home Page