How do you download a document from a remote computer?

Answer 1

It depends. There are different options: an old way but still used is FTP, now there also is PUTTY (there may be others too, ask your system admin). If the remote computer allows you to use FTP (file transfer protocol) then this is how. You'll find out fairly fast whether you'll need a username and password when you hook up to the remote computer.

1. Get online (eg dialup, broadband etc);

2. Remember that your own computer is local (here) and the remote computer is, well, remote (there);

3. If using a browser, e.g. internet Explorer or Firefox, type the URL in the address box e.g. ftp://the.remote.computer/. A screen will appear with folder (directory) listings. Navigate through these in the usual way. Another Windows-type application, e.g. WS_FTP, has two side-by-side windows: one showing what's on your local computer, the other the contents of the remote computer. This type of application is fairly intuitive and usually involves clicking buttons to move/copy files from one side to another;

4. If using an FTP through a command-line program, e.g. Telnet, then open this application and type 'open the.remote.computer' (or similar command, depends on the software you're using). Once you get in (possibly after entering a username and password), then navigate around using Linux or unix commands (probably) e.g. 'ls' to show the contents of the current directory (folder), 'CD' to change directory. If you're accessing the remote computer using a command-line interface, then to download you must 'get' a file in order to download to your local computer. You may need to have moved to your preferred download folder (directory) first before downloading as this is where the file will be downloaded to when you enter the download command. Otherwise after the download, search your computer using e.g. Windows Explorer, for the filename (remember or write this down before beginning the download!).

Answer 2

In Windows XP there are several ways of transferring files from a remote computer to your computer, the easiest being to use a USB memory key. These are relatively cheap, with 2GB of flash storage costing around £3, and will allow you to move files from one computer to another. Just plug in your key to your remote computer, and copy the files to your usb key (if you don't know how to do that, go to the Related Link. Then remove the memory stick and plug it into your other computer, then copy the files across. It's as simple as that!

Another way to do it would be to send your files to your computer from your remote computer using a file sharing service, such as Dropbox. You'll find many of these sites by doing a quick Google search, and they will allow you to upload your files to them and pick them up on your other computer by downloading them. Alternatively you could send the files: if they're not too big you could send them as an attachement in an email, or else there are services to send big files of up to 4GB free, or you can pay to send even bigger files.