downloading drivers for windows on a Mac

[mryan12]

"Recently we bought an older dell omni plex computer with no OS, no drivers, just basically hardware, no software included. I had OS, and installed windows XP.
I then downloaded a list of drivers and patches and all that stuff listed on the dell site for that particular computer on my Macbook Pro, transferred it to my software program toast and burned a CD with all 81 downloads.
I then transferred the disc to my windows computer, and ran it. Many of the files transferred, and installed, making the monitor work, the speakers and so forth. However, when i tried to install a few files I received some error messages. I ignored them and continued on.
I thought once I get it up and running enough to put on line, the driver program I bought will update any outdated drivers.
Little did I know that the ethernet in that particular computer doesn't have a driver. Although two were provided in the download list from Dell. I contacted my ISP and spoke to them for a long time and we decided to try to download a driver for a little wireless USB device I had for another computer that would get the computer online, and then I could search for a driver later for the ethernet.
I went to the site, downloaded the driver, and Mac unzips the folder. I burned the files onto a disc, took it to the windows, and it wouldn't install. The guy told me, "no" don't unzip anything on the mac, just leave it zipped and burn a disc, take it to the windows and let Windows unzip it. I downloaded the program 6 times. Mac unzips it everytime. The ISP said somehow when Mac unzips it, it tries to put it into a Mac format, which corrupts the file. So.....having no other way to get the file, I am asking how do I download files on my Mac, without Mac unzipping them. Or is there not that option?

[Maximiliam]

Macs are not my speciality, but you can try to open the Archive Utility that you can find at /System/Library/Core Services/Archive Utility and goto preferences and select or deselect any options that would suggest to unzip / unpack your files automatically, like uncheck the checkbox next to "Keep expanding if possible." There might be more options, but thats where i would look.

Question though, does your internet browser download it as a zip file? Where does the zip file get unzipped, when you click on it after download?

[mryan12]

Thank you for you suggestions, I will take a look at that tomorrow. For now, i can tell you, being new to mac just a short time, when i click to download something, it just automatically downloads it. Behind the page you are looking at is a little window that says downloading. While it's downloading, it looks like a zipped file. Once it stops however, it becomes a folder. To view the folder, I go to my download folder, and there is no file that is zipped. All are unzipped. How or when it is done i don't know.

On a luckier note, I took a flash drive to another persons house, and downloaded the drivers that dell recommended. I brought them home, plugged it into the USB and uploaded the files into the computer and then upzipped them. It gave directions on where to go, and how the process was to install the drivers. I followed those directions, and wallah! We have internet!

Now it is a matter of having the contents of the computers drivers scanned, and updating any if needed. (A program i paid 30.00 for/one year) it was well worth the money I invested! Then i will try to burn all the drivers for that computer to a disc, and save them incase it crashes. Or so that is my intention.

[Maximiliam]

Good luck

A note for the Mac though, might be an option in your web browser that you have to disable. I would look in the browser preferences if it tells you something about automaticly deflate or unpack files once downloaded.