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Internet Explorer

Options and Preferences

I had a brief epiphany today as I helped two of my customers. When I'm setting up a computer or troubleshooting one, I am constantly in an out of the Options or Preferences of many programs. Almost all programs, from Quicken to Word to image editing software and of course Internet and email software, contain a section that allows you to customize the experience. For example, in Internet Explorer, I always click Tools –> Options, then the Settings button to lower the amount of saved temporary files to 4 or 5 megabytes. Sometimes this setting is set as high as 3000 megabytes! That's a lot of temporary files.

Block Internet Explorer 7

Internet Explorer 7 finally became final last week and is starting to be deployed as a Windows Update. While I believe that IE 7 is a huge step in the right direction, the changes in the look and feel of the browser will throw many for a loop. Even after working with IE 7 for the past five or so months as it made its way through the beta stages of development, I don't think it holds a candle next to the Firefox browser . If you aren't afraid to learn the new nuances of IE 7 and don't want to change to Firefox, I say go for the upgrade. However, if you are perfectly comfortable where you are right now with Internet Explorer 6, then you might want to download and install this tool , made available through Microsoft, that prevents the automatic installation of the new Internet Explorer 7.

Printing Internet Explorer Favorites

Many people have asked me how to print their Internet Favorites. If you are like me and have hundreds of bookmarks or favorites, you might go through a ream of paper printing them. It is more efficient to back them up as I describe in this tip.

If you really want to print them, here are the steps:

1. From Internet Explorer, choose "File" – "Import and Export".
2. Click Next
3. Select Export Favorites and click Next.
4. Make sure the Favorites folder is selected, and click Next.
5. Select Export to a File or Address.
6. Click the Browse button and choose the Desktop
7. Click Finish
8. Click OK
9. Close all windows and double-click on the bookmarks file that is on your desktop.
10. Click File –> Print
11. When the Print box appears, click the Options tab.
12. Check Print table of links box (important step).
13. Click the General tab
14. Click Print (and have plenty of paper)

Dude, where’s my shotgun?

Rick pointed out to me tonight that I haven’t put up any shotgun articles for a few days. It was at that exact moment that I realized that I hadn’t written any shotgun articles for a few days.

I have some catching up to do so consider this article one of the most important articles I have written for several days.

When I fix a computer I try to always approach the computer and the situation as if it were my own. I work hard at using techniques that allow me to get the best job done in the least amount of time. I ask myself three questions to determine the approach that I want to take.

Successful Searching of the Internet

All too often I hear comments like "I can’t find anything on the Internet" or "I’m afraid of getting viruses from the Internet" or "Where do I start". In today’s meetings, we discussed some tried and true methods of searching the Internet successfully and easily.

Google is the current king of web searching and should be your first stop to start any search.

Boolean searching is probably the single best methodology to learn to improve your searching skills. Here’s how it works in a nutshell:

Nothing is by the book

There are two things that make the businesses Rick and I run different from running a computer shop or working as the IT guy in a big company.

1. We see dozens of computers each week and no two of them are the same in any way.

2. Rarely is anything done by the book.

Every person has their own preference for desktop wallpaper, word processing program, Windows version, printer, antivirus, digital camera, web browser, etc.

Keep an eye on the kids

One common question I get from parents is how to keep kids safe while using the Internet.  Here are some apps and sites to help answer questions about kids and the Internet:

Cyber Patrol 

Get Net Wise

However, if you use Internet Explorer, then you have a great tool already built into the browser itself.  Here’s how to use it:

  1. Click on Start
  2. Click on Settings
  3. Click on Control Panel
  4. Double Click on Internet Options (or Internet)
  5. Click on the Content tab
  6. Click on the Enable button next to the "Content Advisor"
  7. Use the tools provided to restrict access to web sites that you approve (make sure that you remember and protect the password you set for this feature)

Give this tool a try and I think you will find it useful.

Tired of looking at clouds?

Here is a quick way to add new wallpaper to your desktop as you browse around the Internet (this tip works with Netscape, Internet Explorer, and AOL):

  1. RIGHT Click on any image on any web page
  2. Click on “Save Image as Wallpaper” or “Set as Wallpaper”

That’s it!  A simple tip with a fun result!

Internet Speed Tip

The Internet’s prowess for finding almost any type of information continues to grow. 

Today’s tip focuses on how to get back to where we have been on the Internet. There are many times that I need to get back to a web page that I was viewing earlier in my Internet session and pushing the Back button a gazillion times seems silly and slow. 

Internet Explorer (version 4.0 and greater) users note that there is a little upside down triangle next to the Back button. Click on it and viola there is a list of all the sites you have visited so far. Just scroll through the list and click on any item to be instantly transported there!

Netscape users (version 4 and greater), the method is similar. Simply click and HOLD your mouse button down on the Back button and you will see a list of all the sites you have visited in the current session and can click on any one of them to leap frog to it.

Note also that the same technique can be used for the forward button as well. Sorry AOL users, this is yet another feature not currently supported by AOL.