Help with downloads and setup

Many solutions in this directory are made by independent developers and communities. They may involve installing software that is not supplied or supported by the equipment manufacturer, Microsoft or Apple. Software can contain faults or make changes you did not expect, so take the same sensible precautions you would with any download.

Before you install

• Download from the original project linked in the listing, and check the exact device and operating system it supports.
• Read the instructions before starting. Check what the software will change and why it needs any requested permissions. If a step or permission is unclear, ask for help before continuing.
• Back up important files. If a solution replaces a driver or changes an existing setup, check how to remove it or restore the previous setup.
• Read security warnings rather than dismissing them automatically. If your computer reports malware, do not run the file. If the warning is unfamiliar or differs from the guide, pause and check with the developer.

Our role

Keep Things Working is a directory linking to original projects for software and instructions. We take care with our descriptions, but a listing is not a security check or a promise that the software will work without problems on every setup. Using this directory explains our role, limitations and how to report a concern.

Download and setup terms

Use this reference for unfamiliar terms, alongside the original project's instructions.

• Downloads and GitHub
• ZIP files
• Signatures and security warnings
• Device and system details
• Processor labels
• Installers and other terms
• Getting help

Choose the right download

GitHub is a website where people publish software and its development files. A project's main page usually has a guide. Releases contains published versions, release notes and downloads, often under Assets. Choose the file named in the guide. Source code (zip) and Code → Download ZIP usually contain development files rather than an app ready to use. GitHub's guide to releases.

Open a ZIP file

A ZIP packs files and folders into one download. Extract or unzip means unpacking them into a normal folder. This does not install or check the software. Keep the extracted files together unless the guide says otherwise.

Understand a security warning

A digital signature helps identify a software publisher and detect changes since signing. Unsigned means that check is unavailable. A signature does not guarantee safety, and an unsigned app is not automatically harmful. Notarisation is an additional Apple check for known malicious software.

Read the actual warning and compare it with the project's guide. A warning about an unfamiliar app differs from one reporting malware or a damaged file. If the publisher or message differs from what you expected, pause and check. Apple explains Mac security alerts; Microsoft explains download reputation.

Check before changing a USB driver

A driver lets the operating system communicate with equipment. Replacing one can affect how other apps use the device. Check the exact model, original instructions and recovery information before changing it. The solution page should explain any specific driver-replacement risk.

Find device and system details

Look for a model label on the equipment. On Windows, Settings → System → About shows the Windows version and system type. On a Mac, Apple menu → About This Mac shows the macOS version and chip or processor. If you are unsure, say so rather than guessing.

Understand ARM64, x64 and Mac processors

These labels identify processor families. x64, AMD64 and x86-64 refer to the 64-bit family used by compatible Intel and AMD computers. ARM64 refers to Arm processors. Mac downloads may say Apple silicon, Intel or Universal (both). Check the operating system as well: Windows ARM64 software is not a Mac app. A driver must support the computer's processor even when some ordinary apps can run through translation. Microsoft's Arm FAQ.

Install an app or run it from a folder

An installer sets software up on the computer. A portable or standalone app usually runs from its folder, although it can still save settings. A Mac package (.pkg) opens an installer. An .exe filename alone does not tell you whether a Windows app needs installation.

Understand administrator permission

Administrator permission lets software change system settings, for example to install a driver. Check why the project needs this access before granting it.

Plan removal and recovery

Uninstalling removes software. Restoring a driver puts back a previous device setup. These are different operations. Check the project's removal and recovery guidance before a change that could disrupt equipment you depend on.

Check connections and sharing

USB connects equipment directly by cable. A network connection uses Wi-Fi or Ethernet. A host is a computer running software for another device; it may need to stay awake. Check which arrangement the solution needs.

Follow instructions with typed commands

A terminal accepts written instructions, such as PowerShell commands on Windows or Terminal commands on a Mac. A script runs a saved set of instructions. Commands can change files and settings, so understand their purpose before running them. Different terminals do not necessarily accept the same commands.

Check the result and report it

Try the function you need, such as printing a document or saving a scan. dpi means dots per inch, a measure of resolution. Tell us what worked or failed and which settings mattered. Report an experience.

Getting help

If you are comfortable using an AI chatbot, you can ask it to explain an unfamiliar term or a step in the original guide. Include the relevant instructions and say which system you use. Treat its answer as help to understand the instructions, rather than confirmation that a download is safe. Crop or cover personal details before sharing screenshots, and avoid sending passwords or private logs.

About these listings explains how we describe evidence and limitations.