Content/Update server best way?

Here's my plan. Program queries server for a list of available content. Check the items you want and the ZIP file(s) are downloaded and automatically extracted into x:\ where x is a removable drive. Which is the best way to do this? Traditional coding or is there already a free program/source I can incorporate. BTW this is completely freeware and only for personal use, so no license is needed.

I don't know any software that can do this off the top of my head, but It's worth having a good look, because it seems like it would be quite a large project if you were to code the lot yourself.