It says Acer (C:) and has folders of:

AMD
Program Files
User
Windows


is that it?

Ok, ask your brother to get Total Commander on his PC(bought, pirated, whatever). It makes things much easier.
Yes, that's it !
Actually, no. The one who's losing is you, by not playing a great game just because you're too fucking lazy to look for a solution.

so I download a program, mod, patch, etc. and put it in a folder with said game's name and it works?

The only game I have bought here that I feel was a waste is The Witcher 2. All games I have bought so far I enjoyed, but I just cannot get into TW2. I have tried 3 times now, but just cannot get along with it. I cannot stand the combat style, the stupid medallion aoe that lights things up that you can click on. The whole thing just irritates me. To each his own I guess.

Those are the visible folders in your C drive then. If you're sure there should be a c:\programs\games folder, then it's probably hidden. You should be able to access it by typing it in the bar at the top (the one that should say something like "Computer > Acer (C:)" until you click it). Another alternative would be to make sure your hidden files options are set so you can see 'em through the Folder and Search options (Organize -> Folder and Search Options -> View -> check the "Show hidden files etc.")

Also, if you want to find a game's folder easily, right click its shortcut, select "Open file location" and it'll open like a happy magical treasure chest of butterflies. :p

If you want to mod and patch stuff, I recommend you install your games outside Program Files. If you need help with that, I can give a detailed description.

I like the open file location, and I know a website that has a fix for Alone in the dark 4

So I download it and put it in a folder of the file?

Yes, that's basically it. You know, you can just go to youtube and type in "How to instal a mod/patch for Game X" and get a very detailed and VISUAL explanation.

It depends. If it's a patch executable, you run it and install it like you do with GOG installers, with the possible added requirement that some fan-fixes want to be in the game's folder when run. If it's just replacement files, you just put 'em in the folder and replace the old ones.

So I guess it's usually okay to put the files in the folder. Those fixes just about always come with installation instructions, sometimes in a file named "readme" (it wants you to read it :p ). If you've installed your games in Program Files, you might run into authority issues. Methods for those situations are a pain to explain using text, and to do. I find it easier to uninstall the game and install it in a friendlier folder :p

Also, don't download shady files from shady places. If the site you're getting your fixes from is filled with pictures of naked people beating each other up with plastic phalluses, it might be a great idea to check if there's some other source.

Have you checked the Alone in the Dark subforums already?

Here, watch some of these videos:


http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=how+to+use+windows+7+for+beginners&oq=how+to+use+windows+7&gs_l=youtube.1.1.0l10.18117.26200.0.28894.22.18.2.2.2.1.419.3717.5j5j4j3j1.18.0...0.0...1ac.1.T9SS2EaJkyI

This guy seems to be the problem solver, what he posted:

go into the game directory
and set
launch.exe to run as admin (if it isnt already)
and alone4.exe to run as admin
and also set alone4 to run in compatibility for windows 2000

How do I do the bolded sentence?

You select the words, and then you press that "B" on your left.

I'm sorry but

?????

What "B"?

I right clicked alone4, but it has nothing what you said I do not see any Bs.

EDIT: Nevermind....

you need to right-click the file select Properties and then select the Compatibility tab.

Right click the game shortcut, select properties and switch to the compatibility tab.

Edit: Damn ninjas