John,
Make a separate folder for these DOS programs (e.g. a folder named Validator, or a folder named Spec160 for that version of Spec). Copy the ZIP file containing the software to the appropriate folder then extract from the ZIP to the folder. (Here's a post on extracting files from a ZIP:
http://bindfold.com/forums/showpost.php?p=5479&postcount=5).
To create a Desktop shortcut, find the program file (e.g. Val3c.exe or SPEC160.exe, right-click it, select Send To, then Desktop - and a shortcut to the program will appear on your Desktop.
Ted