The archive can be accessed via Internet Explorer via the URL
ftp://ftp.dante.de/tex-archive
There is a very convenient application which makes it possible to easily find files in the archive when working in FTP's line mode (that is, not working with a browser, nor with any Windows' program).
You do it in UNIX or in DOS (or using Start --> Run in MS Windows) by typing
ftp ftp.dante.de
Username: anonymous
Password: Your e-mail address
Then you type
cd tex-archive
quote site index name_of_required_file_or_Package
For example, if you are looking for the package XYPIC,
you can type
quote site index XYPIC
This displays the exact path of a file or package you are
looking for in the archive.
You go to the relevant directory using the command cd (=Change Directory)
and then you download the file by typing
bin
get filename
You can also get a whole package in tar or zip mode if you locate yourself in the direcory containing the required files, and type
bin
get dir_name.zip or
get dir_name.tar
where dir_name is the name of the directory whose contents you want to download, and the extension zip or tar is the one you are interested in.