What is Napster?

The Napster software and service connect you to a community of millions of music lovers. Using Napster, you can search and browse for music files in MP3 and WMA formats, share music files, and chat with other members of the Napster Community.

Napster uses peer-to-peer technology, which means that none of the music files you find in your search results are stored on our servers. Instead, our technology enables users to connect directly with other users for file sharing.

While you're using Napster, be sure to get involved in the Napster Community by using our chat rooms and Instant Message feature. And don't forget to check out the Discover area to find new types of music and new artists!

Downloading the software

First, download the latest version of Napster for Windows from http://www.napster.com/win/download/. Click the "Download Now!" link, and then choose the "Save this program to disk" option. In the "Save As" window, saving the program to your desktop will make it easy to find.

Installing

To launch Napster, find the file you just downloaded and double-click it. The Napster setup assistant will lead you through a step-by-step installation process. Use the buttons at the bottom of the setup window to move through the steps.

Read the license agreement
First, read the Napster license agreement. Once you've finished reading and scrolled to the bottom, click "Yes" to accept the agreement.

Choose the installation directory
Next, you'll be prompted for a directory in which to install the software. If you're unsure, just click "Next," and the software will be installed in the default location.

Choose the program folder
Next, specify a name for the program folder where Napster will be stored. Again, if you're unsure, just click "Next."

The software is now ready to install. If you want to make any changes to the previous two choices, click the "Back" button and make your changes before moving forward.

Watch the program install itself
Click "Next," and the installer will copy all the necessary files to the correct place on your computer, based on your choices in the previous steps.

Click "Close" to exit the setup assistant and run the Napster application.

Launching Napster for the first time

If you're re-installing the software over a previous installation, you may be launched straight into the program. Otherwise, you'll be taken through the following steps.

Read and agree to the license agreement
First-time users who run the program will be prompted to read and agree to Napster's license agreement. Once you've read the text and scrolled to the bottom, you'll be asked if you agree to the terms described in the license. If you choose "Yes," a message will confirm your agreement, and you'll continue with setup. If you do not agree to the license, setup will be cancelled and you won't be able to use Napster.

Provide connection information
Information about your connection speed is useful to other Napster users.

If you know your connection speed, select it from the drop-down menu. Your connection speed is determined by your modem speed (14.4, 28.8, or 56K), your arrangement with your Internet service provider (ISDN, DSL, Cable, or T1), or the local area network (LAN) provided by your company or organization (DSL, T1, or T3). If you're unsure about your connection speed, select "Unknown."

Proxy server information
If you don't know what a proxy is, just skip this section, since it probably doesn't apply to you.

If you connect to the Internet through a proxy server, click "Proxy Setup" and enter your proxy information in the window that appears. You may also update this information in your Napster Preferences after you install Napster. If you need help with this information, ask your system administrator.

Registering a new account

To register a new account, you'll be taken through the following steps.

Required user information
If you're already registered as a Napster user, click "I am an Existing User." Two of the options will become grayed out, and you simply need to provide your Napster user name and password. If you're a new user or if you've forgotten your password, you need to create a new user name and password.

User name
This name will represent you in the Napster Community; be creative, and choose a unique name. Your user name can be as short as one character or as long as 24. You may use letters, numbers, and any of these characters: _, [, ], {, }, -, ^, !, $.

If you choose a name that's already claimed by another Napster user, you'll be asked to select another.

Password
Your password is your key into the Napster Community, so choose a password that's easy to remember. You might want to write it down. Anyone with your password can log on as you, so keep it in a safe place.

Email address
Please provide a valid email address, so we can contact you if we need to. Except in the very limited circumstances described in our privacy policy, Napster will not disclose any Personally Identifiable Information, including your email address, that you provide during the registration process.

Optional user information
While we don't require this information for registration, we would appreciate it if you told us a little bit about who you are. The information you provide gives us insight into the make up of the Napster Community and helps us serve you better.

COPPA compliance
In keeping with COPPA legislation (the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act of 1998), children under the age of 13 will not be allowed to use Napster. Users who select "12 or under" in the age category of the optional information step will not be allowed to continue registration.

Neither your user name nor the demographic information you provide during registration, such as your age and education level, are associated with your Personally Identifiable Information (e.g., your email address). Again, except in the very limited circumstances described in our privacy policy, Napster will not disclose any Personally Identifiable Information.

Scanning your computer for files to share
Next, you're asked if you want the Napster application to scan your computer for files to share with the Napster Community. If you click "Yes," Napster searches your computer for MP3 and WMA files, and then designates all folders where it finds MP3 or WMA files as shared. The scanning process might take several minutes.

Napster looks only for MP3 and WMA files, and you have final control over choosing shared folders. Right after Napster scans your disks, you'll see which folders have been designated as shared, and you can remove any folders from the list.

You can also change your choice of shared folders after installing Napster, through your Preferences. Again, no one can use Napster to access any files on your computer other than the MP3 and WMA files in the folders you've chosen to share.

Selecting shared folders
If you let Napster scan your computer for files to share, you'll now see a list of the folders on your computer that contain MP3 and WMA files. Take a look at each folder on the list and decide if you want to share it. To identify folders designated for sharing, look for boxes with a black or gray check mark (shared folders) and boxes with a red outline (folders that contain shared folders).

Designating download folder
In this screen, you choose where to save the files you transfer from other Napster users. The default location is the folder called "My Files," inside the Napster application folder.

The files in your download folder will be shared with the Napster Community. If you'd rather not share the files in your download folder, you can use the Napster Preferences to set your maximum simultaneous outbound transfers to zero.

Finishing up
After you've designated a download folder, the software will look for a local data port through which to connect you with other Napster users. Once the application successfully connects to the Napster servers, you can start searching for music files and discovering the Napster Community.

If the software has problems connecting to the Napster servers, you'll be asked if you're behind a firewall. If you know that your computer is behind a firewall or if you're not sure, choose the "behind a firewall" option. If you're not behind a firewall, choose the second option: "I am not behind a firewall."

Connecting to Napster through a firewall will restrict your access to music files: you won't be able to transfer files with other users behind firewalls. If possible, you should configure your firewall to allow incoming connections on your port. Talk to your system administrator for more information.