Ask Dr. Webbie
Is there an Internet question you'd like to see answered in a future edition of Website Compass? E-mail your question to DrWebbie@WebsiteCompass.com.
To assist him in answering your question as specifically as possible, be sure to include the following: the name of the browser you are using (i.e. Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0, Firefox 1.0, etc.), the name of the e-mail software you are using (i.e. Microsoft Outlook Express 5.5, OS 10.3 Mail, etc.), and the version of your system software (i.e. Windows 98, Windows XP, etc.)
Q: My son wants an iPod for Christmas but says that there are charges for downloading songs. How does this work and aren’t there any free music downloads offered with the iPod?
A: If you want to put songs from CDs that you already own onto your iPod, it’s free. All you have to do is import the songs from a CD into your music management software (probably iTunes) and then download them to your iPod. You can also find free songs by visiting artists’ and record labels’ websites. Some online music stores offer free downloads as well.
However, much like buying a new CD, there are charges for downloading most new music on the Internet. iTunes, Apple’s music service for the iPod, generally charges 99¢ per song and $9.99 per album which is still much less expensive than buying most CDs in stores.
Q: I use Windows XP and Internet Explorer and want to block pop-up windows. I can’t find this option in Windows XP Security Center. Where can I change this setting?
A: To block pop-ups without any third party software, you’ll need Windows XP with Service Pack 2 installed. After SP2 is installed, most automatic pop-ups should be blocked. To make sure your pop-up blocker is on, follow these steps:
1. With Internet Explorer open, click on “Tools” in the menu bar.
2. Select “Pop-up Blocker” and then “Turn On Pop-up Blocker” from the drop-down menu. (If it says “Turn Off Pop-Up Blocker,” your blocker is already on.)
To adjust your pop-up blocker settings, do the following:
1. With Internet Explorer open, click on the “Tools” menu.
2. Select “Pop-up Blocker” and then “Pop-up Blocker Settings” from the drop-down menu.
3. Adjust your pop-up blocking settings to suit your personal preferences.
Q: Is the new Firefox browser better than Internet Explorer? And does it work on all websites?
A: Firefox is supposedly faster than Internet Explorer. Firefox is compatible with most websites; however, to be safe simply load both browsers on your desktop. (Adding Firefox does not mean you have to get rid of Internet Explorer.) If you are surfing using Firefox and a site won’t load, open up Internet Explorer to view the site. To download a free version of Firefox, go to www.mozilla.org.
Q: I bought a laptop and, after using it, I found that the screen was too small. I’d like to buy a larger monitor. What do I need to purchase to upgrade my screen?
A: If your laptop has DVI or VGA ports, you should be able to connect to an external monitor. Take note of the port type on your laptop and the connection type on your monitor. You may need to purchase an appropriate adapter if one wasn’t included with your laptop.
Also, make sure that your graphics card supports the resolution of the monitor you are trying to hook up. Generally smaller monitors work fine, but larger monitors require higher end graphics cards.
Q: I recently purchased a new computer and transferred my iTunes music library from my old computer to my new one. When I went to update my iPod, all the music that I purchased would not load on to my iPod. Is this because I switched computers? Is there anything
I can do?
A: Music purchased from Apple’s iTunes music store is DRM (Digital Rights Management) controlled. You’ll need to “authorize” your new computer by entering your username and password. This is found in iTunes under the “Advanced” menu and the “Authorize Computer” option. You’ll want to deauthorize your old computer as well since your can only use your iTunes purchased music on a few computers at once.
Q: I don’t like the keyboard on my laptop and would like one with more features. Can I just buy a different keyboard and plug it into my laptop?
A: Yes, you can buy a keyboard and hook it up to your laptop. Usually this is accomplished by hooking up a USB keyboard into a USB port on your laptop. If you are also planning on using a mouse, you may want to make sure the keyboard itself has a USB port where you can plug in the mouse so you don’t take up all the available USB ports on your laptop.
If the keyboard has many non-standard extra features (like volume and CD playback controls), you may have to install the manufacturer’s software in order for these to work properly.
Q: My husband and I both share a computer at home and he is more computer savvy than I am. If security updates pop up and ask me if I want to download them, should I download now and hope that they are not viruses or should I just cancel out and let him download later?
A: If you are unsure, you’ll probably want to consult your husband and let him download and install the security updates since they may effect performance of some of your computer applications. Otherwise, if you’re sure it’s from Microsoft, it’s a good idea to install security updates when presented the opportunity.
Q: When entering the URL of a site on my old browser, it would show the searching process within a narrow horizontal window at the bottom of the browser. It was interesting to watch and would assist in knowing whether I was going to a legitimate site. My new browser doesn’t show this. How do I get this to appear again?
A: That narrow horizontal bar is called the “Status Bar.” To get it back, just click on “View” in the menu bar and check the “Status Bar” option.
Q: Sometimes I see that a small logo icon appears to the left of a web address in my Address Bar when I’m visiting a commercial site. I haven’t noticed this before. I have a small retail website and would like to add this feature so people coming to my site will see my logo in the URL Address Bar. Is this easy to get set up?
A: The small icon that appears to the left of some website’s address in the Address Bar is called a “favicon.” To add a favicon to your site you’ll need to create a 16 pixel by 16 pixel image, save it in the .ico format, name it “favicon.ico,” and upload it to your website’s root directory. Newer browsers also allow you to use GIF or PNG images as well. For more info on favicons, visit http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Favicon.
Q: My friends and family think I need inspiration daily so they forward many e-mails daily without a personal message from them with the e-mail. How can I be politically correct and tell them not to forward that kind of e-mail anymore?
A: This question sounds like a possible Dr. Phil show ...
Q: When launching my Web browser on my computer, the browser page only fills about half of my computer monitor’s screen. How do I make the browser window larger so the words are easier to read?
A: To enlarge your browser window, just click and drag the bottom right corner of your browser window (it looks like a dotted triangle) to fit your screen. You can also use the various options under the “View” menu to turn off toolbars, the status bar, the address bar, etc. to gain more screen real estate.
Q: I travel a lot. Is there anyway to access my bookmarked sites when I’m on a different computer than my one at home?
A: There are several bookmark services available that let you access your bookmarks from anywhere on the Web. Search for the phrase “bookmark manager” and you’ll find a bunch. An alternative way is to export your favorites and take them with you on a CD or other portable storage device.
To export your favorites from Microsoft Internet Explorer:
1. With Internet Explorer open, click on “File” in the menu bar and select “Import and Export” from the drop-down menu choices.
2. Click the “Next” button in the Import/Export Wizard.
3. Click on “Export Favorites” to highlight it. Then click the “Next” button.
4. The “Favorites” folder should be highlighted. If not, click on it to highlight it and then click the
“Next” button.
5. Browse to the location where you want to save your favorites so you’ll know where to grab them when you are burning them to a CD or copying them to a portable storage device. Then click the “Next” button.
6. Click the “Finish” button to export your favorites. Then click “OK” after the “Successfully exported favorites” dialog box pops open to exit the Import/Export Wizard.
Q: What’s the difference between “gigabytes” and “gigahertz?”
A: The term “gigabyte” is used as a measurement for memory or disk capacity while “gigahertz” is used to measure computer processor speed. For example, you may have a 40 gigabyte hard drive and a 2.5 gigahertz processor. Check out our Internet Glossary on page 19 for their definitions.
Q: I don’t have an iPod. Can I still listen to a podcast?
A: Yes. All you need is a program capable of playing MP3 streams. Most digital audio player software is now capable
of this feat.
For those of you not familiar with the term “podcast,” point your browser to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcast for an in-depth explanation.
Q: I’ve have converted a lot of my CDs into digital audio files in the .wma format in Windows Media Player. Why will they only play on the computer I converted them on?
A: Windows Media Player “protects” music files during the conversion process (also known as “ripping” from a CD), which limits the computers on which the files can be played.
Unfortunately, you can’t remove the protection from music that you have already converted but you can change the settings in Windows Media Player to prevent your music from being “protected” the next time you rip music from a CD.
To prevent music from being protected when ripping them in Windows Media Player, follow these steps:
1. Click on the menu bar and then select “Options.”
2. Click on the “Rip music” tab. This tab is called “Copy music” in Windows Media Player 9 and Windows Media Player for Windows XP.
4. Uncheck the “Copy protect music” check box.
Be sure to know and follow the copyright limitations whenever you convert music that is copyrighted and protected by law.
For more Windows Media Player questions and answers, visit Microsoft’s “Windows Media Player FAQ” page at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/faq.aspx.
Q: I get several PowerPoint files from my friends. I don’t have PowerPoint software loaded onto my computer so I assume this is the reason I’m unable to open the files to view them. Do you have any recommendations on what I can do?
A: Yes. You need to have the PowerPoint program on your computer to be able to view these files. Your first option is to buy the PowerPoint software program which comes with the Microsoft Office suite of software or you can buy it separately. Alternatively, you can ask your friends to save the PowerPoint file(s) in a stand-alone presentation so you can play it without the software. They can also save it in Web page format and send it to you but you may miss out on some of the animation in the original PowerPoint presentation.
Q: What is a codec?
A: Short for “compression-decompression” or “coder-decoder,” a codec is a software or hardware component (usually based on mathematical algorithms) that is used for compressing or decompression digital video or audio signals.