FileZilla is the best Windows FTP client we have found for use with our web server. It can be downloaded from http://filehippo.com/download_filezilla/.

Once installed and executed, enter the server name as Address, your user name and password and click Quickconnect.

Nothing will substitute for reading the documentation at http://filezilla.sourceforge.net/documentation/ but for the impatient, note the local and remote panes. Juggle location until you have the proper location on your machine (Local) and the proper location on the server (Remote). Double clicking on a file in one window will transfer it to the other.

The first thing you should do is backup your website(s). A sensible place is My Documents. Create a local directory by navigating to My Documents and right click on "Filename". Name the directory sensibly and navigate to that directory. Next right click on public_html in the remote pane and choose download. Go get a cup of coffee and hug your wife and kids, this may take awhile.

FileZilla has a rich set of options. For example, you can select "Show Hidden Files" fropm the View menu to get at the hidden files (those prefixed with a dot ".").

Although you can upload system files, it is difficult to generate the encrypted password for "htpasswd" files. Send a request via the "Contact" page for such matters.