I have a Compaq presario with an eighty GB HD and 512 Ram. Is it bad and will it make it run slower if I download java, shockwave, and other things like that?

No, download away. You need those downloads for basic viewing.

Shockwave is already included in Windows. You may just need to update it.

Micro$$oft Java is also included, but it's no longer supported by Micro$$oft and is targeted by viruses.

Instead, you can use Sun Java.

Is downlaods.com a safe place to download things like java and shockwave?
Do you have any other suggestion for safe websites that are better for downloading that kind of stuff?

I normally go direct to the site,

Sun Java (http://www.java.com/en/download/index.jsp)

MacroMedia ShockWave (http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/)

MacroMedia Flash Player (http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash)


I don't like download.com as they don't test their software and are only interested in the money.

They now proclaim their software is virus free, but it wasn't always the case.

One of the best places that tests everything is MajorGeeks.com.