Initialize your Arduino or Freeduino board

1) download the software from arduino.cc 
2)Install it . you will also have inbuilt drivers in it.
3)if you use freeduino use the following link 

  4) plug in your arduino UNO or freeduino

5)check the com port connections from your device manager
            Right click Mycomputer--->manage--->device manager--->com ports & lpt's --->check uno driver com port no

6) open the arduino and go to tools then update the desired com port

7)select the desired board

8)open a example program from file and click upload .