In your "My Documents Folder" create a folder labeled "My Download Files"...then go to that folder when downloading files then create a separate folder inside your "My Download Files" folder for each download to remind you of what that file really is IE; CCleaner.exe, Zone Alarm.exe, etc. (and since I think you use Mozilla Firefox as a browser, reset the default folder in the following way to "My Download Files" folder).
In Mozilla Firefox, click on Tools>Options>Main Tab>Downloads Section>put dot in Download Files To: And click Browse button to browse to C:\Documents and Settings\"your specific user name will be here"\My Documents\My Download Files
Once the file downloads, simply go to the "My Downloads" file folder and drag and drop the downloaded file into its respective folder. Then enter that folder & install as necessary the required downloaded program.
I never ever download to My Desktop. Keep your file tree clean create plenty of folders and you'll know exactly where everything is...and how to find it later.
As an example, using "Windows Explorer" or "My Computer" icons which are both on my desktop and in quick start, the path to my CCleaner.exe's install file is;
C:\Documents and Settings\"my specific user name is here"\My Documents\My Download Files\XPSetupFiles 8-25-05\CCleaner.exe.
And there are 18 different versions of that file in that folder from version ccsetup128.exe~the latest issue ccsetup203.exe, and I have over 200 folders located in XPSetupFiles 8-25-05 but all are in alphabetical order. But I can find any of about 4,000 or more downloaded files in a flash.
Same thing w/ downloaded hardware drivers....In that "My Download Files" folder is a file simply labeled "Soyo SY-P4I 845PE Version1.0 Drivers" then went to my mobo mfg. site, downloaded each driver avail. for that mobo into it's own folder, then burned a driver CD for my motherboard...should the drivers list ever disappear, I have them. If I sold the mobo, that CD w/ the updated drivers along w/the manual would be in the original box w/ all the hardware. All other hardware drivers are in another folder labeled "Other Hardware Drivers", and "Printer Drivers" is in another folder.
It isn't a Vista situation folks, it is a Windows situation...all your personal docs, pics and downloads should be in your "My Documents" folder. That way the partial tree contains them, and burning/backing up is a single folder click operation. Just save "My Documents" and it is all there.
1 more thing, don't "get rid of Vista"...Vista, just like XP allows dual booting through the NT Bootloader...just get XP Pro or Home, partition your drive (at least 40 GB please but can be as small as 25~30 GB), then install XP, install your programs and use XP and UPDATE IT VIA WIN/MS Updates till Vista is truly ready for prime time and SP's have fully been released. Then go back to Vista....But then you have access to the whole file tree using Windows Explorer and you have both OS's to use. Drive total space should be at least 80GB or higher, Vista takes 40GB fully patched though that will grow w/ future SP's and patches, XP takes at least 20 right now fully patched=60GB's plus at least 20GB or more for data. Pick your poison at the link below. Step by step directions are there. I build multiple boot machines. Mine alone has 7 operating systems on it.
Good Luck!