Windows 8 Bible

Downloading Programs to a Network Share

If you regularly download programs to install on multiple computers, consider using the folder named Public Downloads within your Public folder. After you save a downloaded program file to that folder, you’ll be able to install it on all the computers in the network. You still have to install it on each computer individually, but there is no need to download it on every computer, especially if you’re sharing a not-so-speedy Internet connection.

Start by creating the Public Downloads folder in your own Public Documents folder, or on another shared folder on your network. Then, initiate the download as you normally would. When the File Download dialog box appears, click Save or Save As. In the Save As dialog box, navigate to the shared Public Downloads folder and save the file there.

Tip

You can download the file from the computer where the Public Downloads folder resides or from another computer on the network. The advantage of performing the download from the same computer where the file will be stored is that you minimize network traffic. If you are instead saving to a shared folder across the network, the file comes through the network to your computer and then goes across the network to the shared folder, effectively doubling the network traffic and slowing down the process.

After the file has been downloaded, you can access it from any other computer on the network to install the program. Just browse the network from the computer ...