Problem with Unzipping/Installing Python-2.3.exe

[John Latter]

On 1 Aug 2003 18:54:16 -0700, sjmachin at lexicon.net (John Machin)
wrote:

>bokr at oz.net (Bengt Richter) wrote in message news:<bgeqdp$b6v$0 at 216.39.172.122>...
>> On 1 Aug 2003 15:06:20 -0700, sjmachin at lexicon.net (John Machin) wrote:
>> 
>> >John Latter <jorolat at msn.com> wrote in message news:<kjokivg3ptek5v2ueurba8k8c57vajm00l at 4ax.com>...
>> >> Hi,
>> >> 
>> >> I downloaded Python-2.3.exe but when I used winzip it kept asking me
>> >> if I wanted to replace old files with new ones, and in some instances,
>> >> new files with old ones.
>> >> 
>> >> I've never downloaded/installed Python before, and as something of a
>> >> computer novice, would like to know what I may be doing wrong!
>> >> 
>> >> This is the link I downloaded from:
>> >> 
>> >> >Windows users should download the Windows installer, Python-2.3.exe
>> >> >, run it and follow the friendly instructions on the screen to complete 
>> >> >the installation. 
>> >
>> >Faced with the 4 clues in the above sentence:
>> >
>> >(1) "installer"
>> >(2) ".exe"
>> >(3) "run it"
>> >(4) complete absence of any mention of ".zip", "unzip", "Winzip", ...,
>> >
>> >my expectation would be that one should run the damn thing, not try to
>> >unzip it.
>> >
>> >Do you feel that the instructions were unclear? Do you have any
>> >suggestions on how they might be improved?
>> >
>> I guess for those who are rightfully afraid of any .exe's downloaded from the net,
>
>Except that the OP's remarks didn't strike me as being those of one
>who "fears to tread" :-)
>
>> a parenthetic reassuring mention in the same paragraph that the MD5 digests and file
>> sizes are displayed further down the page might be a small improvement. Then all you
>> have to do is trust the folks that created installer and the files and web page ;-)
>> 
>
>Indeed.
>
>In-Timbot-we-trust-ly-yours,
>
>John

I was having a bad day

And besides

I like unzipping things

:)

--

John Latter

Model of an Internal Evolutionary Mechanism (based on an extension to homeostasis) linking Stationary-Phase Mutations to the Baldwin Effect.
http://members.aol.com/jorolat/TEM.html

'Where Darwin meets Lamarck?' Discussion Egroup
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/evomech