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Summary: You can Run a download or you can Save it, it's a difference many of us take for granted. We'll look at what it really means to Run or Save.
This is one of those things that I think a lot of people take for granted, but to many it's just so much magic. So, a quick look at what it means when you choose between "Run" and "Save" when you download a file. • When you select Run on a download, it's actually a two step process:
"Run" can mean several things. If the file is a ".exe" file, that's a program, and running it means exactly that: the program is loaded into memory and Windows runs it. If the file is a different type of file that Windows knows about, then it runs the program associated with that type of file. It points that program at the downloaded copy of the file. For example if you "Run" a ".jpg" file, the file is downloaded and the program associated with viewing .jpg files is run. It then opens and views the file. "One important thing to note about using Run: the file
was downloaded into a temporary location, and it may eventually be
deleted."
Depending on your browser or specific scenario, Run can also be considered the same as Open File With... where you actually get to chose the program with which to open the downloaded file. One important thing to note about using Run: the file was downloaded into a temporary location, and it may eventually be deleted. In fact it almost certainly will if you wait long enough. That's why Save exists. • When you select Save (or sometimes Save As...) in response to a download, the browser will simply download the file. That's all. The file is copied to your hard disk, and it's then up to you to do something with it. The big difference is that it's not downloaded into a temporary location. The file is downloaded into a default folder or a folder that you specify. It might be "My Documents", "My Downloads", or something else entirely depending on your browser and configuration. But it's a folder that should be easy to find. More importantly the file will not be automatically deleted at some later time. Like I said, you have to decide what to do with it and when. It could be as simple as leaving it where it is, and using Windows Explorer to locate and then double click on the file whenever you want to use it in the future. Or you could move it to a different location to backup and archive it. Or you could do something else entirely. • When might you use one or the other?
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Run lets you play or use the data you want at the moment off the disc or website you are on. Save keeps it on your hard drive so you can use it anytime you want without a disc or going to the website.
Posted by: George Arauz at June 5, 2007 06:37 PMAnother great value of SAVE is when you are downloading something you want to move and run on another machine.
Posted by: Bill at June 9, 2007 05:30 AMI NEVER, use the Run. I use the "Save As" so that I can scan the file for viruses.
Posted by: Scott at June 9, 2007 10:14 AMRun is just to damn risky in my opinion.
I agree 100% with Scott. By using "Save" you can scan for viruses before opening the file. If you just use "Run" who knows what you have downloaded besides the file. I am sooooo very surprised that "Ask Leo" didn't bring this up in his answer.
Posted by: glorya at June 10, 2007 04:19 PMMy computer behaves (now) at "Save" almost like at "Run". I mean... It looks like it downloads the file somewhere (I don't know where), then, after a (long) time, the "Save to" dialog box appears and the saving takes only 1 second (regardless the file width).
Posted by: iani at June 15, 2007 04:37 AMSee screen caps at www.geocities.com/iani2004/trouble/
What's going on?
I like to save them. This way I have a copy if the need arises that it needs to be re-installed at some time.
Posted by: Dominick at June 17, 2007 04:02 PMhttp://www.domdedomdom.com
I was ttrying to help a friend reinstall a program that had been installed by our IT Department. In anticipation of his question (do I select run or save?), I submittted the question to Goggle. I tried a few sites. Your site was, without doubt, the most targeted and helpful response. Thank you so much!
Posted by: Karol at August 23, 2007 06:22 PMI downloaded a long file to run and for some reason I was disconnected from the web. I found the file and saved it but then didn't know what to open the file with. Nothing worked. So I gave up and deleted the saved file and went to redownload. Apparently the run file was still there and the install proceeded without another long download. I don't know what was used to open the run file but I am glad it worked.
Posted by: duane moen at September 8, 2007 09:09 AMas scott and especially glorya im very surprised that leo didnt mention the better security of SAVE. There are things to discuss here, like how much safe is SAVE itself?
Posted by: benz at November 19, 2007 05:05 PMThank you, Leo and thank you all for this great input. I knew what "Run" does (sort of) and I knew what "Save" does, I just wasn't sure when to Run or Save. Your opinions and reasons work for me! Luv this website, I'll be back
Posted by: Diane at August 7, 2008 09:00 AM