VG Emulation for Newbies > Ch.03 Downloading & Using WinZip

Contents
● Creating a Folder
● Emulation Sites (FAQ)
● ROM File Conventions
● The File Download Window
● Tidbits on Placement & Zipped Games
● Using Compressed Folders (WinXP Users only)
● Downloading & Installing WinZip
● Using WinZip

Creating a Folder
I suggest you make a new folder for all the video game goodies before you start downloading. You don't have to, it just makes things easier. Here's how you create a new folder on your Windows desktop:
1. Right-click on an empty spot.
2. Left-click on New.
3. Left-click on Folder, the menu will look something like this.
4. Type in the name for the folder. I suggest "Emulation".

If you want to rename the folder...
1. Right-click on the folder.
2. Left-click on Rename.
3. Type the new name.
4. Press enter.

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Emulation Sites (FAQ)
Q: Where can I find ROM websites?
A: Your best resource can be my site. :) I have a bunch of ROM websites listed in my links. I try to keep that list updated.

Q: Are ROM websites safe?
A: I think they are. Just expect most of them to be full of ads and pop-ups. To be on the safe side I would advise browsing ROM websites with Firefox, because Internet Explorer tends to be too susceptible to spyware and such.

Q: Will emulators or ROMs crash my computer or give me a virus?
A: I've never heard of them doing so. You have nothing to worry about.

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ROM File Conventions
Many emulation websites list games like this:

     Super Mario All-Stars & World (E) [!]
     Super Mario All-Stars & World (U)
     Super Mario World (J) [!]
     Super Mario World (U) [!]
     Super Mario World (U) [T-Norwegian_V2001.04.28_Just4Fun]
     Super Mario World (V1.0) (E)
     Super Mario World (V1.1) (E) [!]

So what the heck do those symbols at the end mean? Here's the key:

     (U) United States release
     (E) Europe release
     (J) Japan release
     (###) Checksum
     (##k) ROM Size
     (M#) Multilanguage (# of Languages)
     [!] Verified Good Dump
     [a] Alternate
     [b] Bad Dump
     [f] Fixed
     [h] Hack
     [o] Overdump
     [p] Pirate
     [t] Trained
     [T] Translation
     [x] Bad Checksum
     ZZZ_ Unclassified

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The File Download Window
1. This is the "File Download" window.
2. Click on the Save button.
3. And now this window will show up, the "Save As" window. Each version of Windows has a slightly different looking Save As window, but all are based on the same methods. The Save As window gives you the option to choose where you want the file to go and to change the file name if you want to. The best place to save a game is right smack on your desktop. So let's make sure the Save As window will put the game there.
4. Look here. Click on the white box next to Save in to bring up another menu.
5. Click on Desktop.
6. Click on the Save button.

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Tidbits on Placement & Zipped Games
Now you have the game on your desktop. It will show up one of three ways:
● If you have Windows XP then it will show up as a folder with a zipper.
● If you have never installed WinZip then it will show up as an unrecognized file.
● If you already installed WinZip then it will show up as a WinZip file.

Before you touch it you should properly prepare your Emulation folder. Open it up and create a new folder for each video game system you intend to download games for. Why are these games in zipped files? Because doing so makes the game take up much less space, which allows you to download the game much faster and allows the webmasters of emulation sites to post lots more games.
● Video game emulators must be extracted (unzipped) from their zipped file in order for you to use them.
● Video game ROMs do not need to be extracted (unzipped) from their zipped files in order for you to use them. All the popular video game emulators have zip support, meaning they can automatically unzip the game for you each time you click to load it.

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Using Compressed Folders (WinXP Users Only)
As I have mentioned above, the game you downloaded will show up as a folder with a zipper on it. There are 2 ways you can extract its contents:
1. Windows XP treats the compressed file like a folder. You can open it up as if it were a folder, and simply drag & drop its contents.
2. This method must be used for extracting Kawaks, Mame and ePSXe. Right-click the compressed folder, then left click on "Extract All..." and the "Extraction Wizard" will pop up. Click Next to continue. The next screen says "Select a folder to extract files to". You don't need to worry about this part because it's defaulted to your desktop, so just click Next to continue, then click Finish. Now you should see the extracted files on your desktop. Note that you don't have to extract files to the desktop, it's just easier this way if you're not too computer literate.

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Downloading & Installing WinZip
If Windows detected the game as an unrecognized file then you need to download and install WinZip (WinZip is free btw).
1. WinZip can be found at www.winzip.com. Or more specifically, this page.
2. Choose C|net download.com, then click Download Evaluation.
3. The download will begin. Choose to save it to the desktop.
4. Double-click on the file.
5. A window will pop up saying "Thank you for your interest in WinZip!". Click on Setup.
6. Click OK when it asks if it's okay to install it in "C:\Program Files\Winzip".
7. Now the WinZip Setup window will show up. Click Next >.
8. Click Yes to the License Agreement.
9. Click Next > again.
10. Click to put the bullet next to Start with WinZip Classic (it's easier).
11. Click Next > again.
12. You'll arrive at the window with a bullet next to Express Setup. Leave it there and click Next >.
13. You can put the check next to delete setup file if you want to. Click Next > again.
14. Click on Finish. And now it's installed! :)

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Using WinZip
1. Double-click a WinZip file to open it.
2. Each time you open up Winzip a window will pop up telling you it's the evaluation version and try to convince you to pay the fee to register it. Just ignore that and click on Use Evaluation Version.
3. Now you'll get another window, it's the "WinZip Tip of the Day". These tips are annoying, just click the box where it says "Always show tips at startup" and choose "Never show tips at startup".
4. Now you'll arrive to the main WinZip window. This is how it looks like. There are 2 ways you can extract its contents:

● Extracting Method #1:
Simply drag & drop the file(s) onto the desktop or the folder you want them in.

● Extracting Method #2:
This method must be used for extracting Kawaks, Mame and ePSXe.
1. Click on the Extract button.
2. Another window will pop up. This window is kinda similar to the Save As window. Click on Desktop then click on Extract.
3. The real file of the game will show up on your desktop. Right-click on it then click on Cut.
4. Open up the desired folder.
5. Click on the Edit menu then Paste or right-click within the white space of the folder then left-click on Paste. Note that you don't have to extract files to the desktop, it's just easier this way if you're not too computer literate.

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