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. I have Internet Explorer 6 and am interested in downloading Internet Explorer 7. If I do this, what will happen to my Favorites?
A: When you install Internet Explorer 7, the Favorites listed in your Internet Explorer 6 browser will migrate into the new browser. There won’t be any need to add your favorite websites when you then begin surfing the Web with your updated browser.
Q. I just downloaded and installed the Firefox browser. However,
I can’t find the e-mail software within this browser in order to send and receive e-mail messages. Where is the e-mail client in Firefox?
A. Firefox is a web browser only. It is not a complete Internet solution. However, the Mozilla Foundation has also produced an e-mail and news client called Mozilla Thunderbird. For more information about Thunderbird and to learn how to install it, go to: http://mozilla.com/en-US/thunderbird.
Q. I recently purchased an X-Box for my kids and now they
want to get X-Box Live. What is X-Box Live and why would I need to get it?
A. X-Box has an Ethernet port on the back of it, which allows the gamer to connect it to the Internet. The X-Box works just fine without the X-Box Live service. However, if an X-Box owner subscribes to X-Box Live, (which is an additional service offered by Microsoft Corp. with a yearly subscription fee), the owner has the ability to also play many of his/her game titles online against other X-Box Live subscribers who own the same X-Box game. In addition, subscribers of X-Box Live can also talk to other X-Box gamers during game play. (This feature can be turned off.) X-Box Live requires a high speed connection to the Internet to work correctly.
Q. I’ve downloaded Internet Explorer 7 and now I cannot see the File menu. Did I do something wrong?
A.With a goal of maximizing website viewing, Microsoft has hidden the File menu by default. Most menu options can be accessed from the toolbar. To view the File menu, however, simply click on the “ALT” key.
Q. I want to delete my Cookies from my browser. How do I do this? I use Internet Explorer 6.
A. Open the Internet Explorer browser and click your cursor arrow on “Tools” located on the browser menu bar. Select “Internet Options” from the resulting drop-down menu.
1. When the “Internet Options” box appears, select the “General” tab.
2. Under “Browsing History,” click
on the “Delete” button and the “Delete Browsing History” window will appear.
3. Click on the “Delete Cookies” button.
4. The “Delete Cookies” confirmation window will appear.
5. Click the “Yes” button to confirm and close the “Delete Cookies” window.
6. Click the “Close” button to close the “Delete Browsing History” window.
7. Click “OK” to close the “Internet Options” window.
Q. How do I clear all of the names that appear below my Google search bar when I type in just a letter or two into the search box? I’m on a PC and my browser is Internet Explorer 7.
A. 1. Open Internet Explorer.
2. Click your cursor arrow on the “Tools” menu and select “Internet Options” from the resulting drop-down menu.
3. Click on the “Content” tab. Look for the AutoComplete section.
4. Click on the “Settings” button. The “AutoComplete Settings” window will appear.
5. To prevent future listings from appearing under your Google search bar, uncheck the “Forms” button and then click “OK.”
6. To remove the current listings that show under your Google search bar, click on the “General” tab.
7. Under “Browsing History,” click the “Delete” button. The “Delete Browsing History” window will open.
8. Look for “Form Data” and then click the “Delete forms” button. A “Delete Form Data” alert box will appear and ask if you are sure you want to do this. Click the “Yes” button.
9. Click the “Close” button to close the “Delete Browsing History” window.
10. Click the “OK” button to close the “Internet Options” window.
Q. I hear people talk about JPEG files. I know they are pictures but what is JPEG?
A. JPEG is named after the committee (the Joint Photographic Experts Group) that created this technology. It’s a very commonly used file format that utilizes compression for saving and viewing images.
Most people who send photos to friends via e-mail attachments first save the photos as JPEGs so that the recipient can easily open and view the photos. Many digital cameras save photos directly to JPEG format.
Every commonly used e-mail software program (i.e. Outlook Express, Outlook, Netscape Messenger, Entourage, Thunderbird, Eudora, etc.) has the ability to display a JPEG image file. (There’s no need to download the JPEG software separately.) Also, if you save JPEG images out of your e-mail client or web browser and store them on your hard drive, a simple double click will open the JPEG image with a viewer application. On a Macintosh, the viewer app is called “Preview” and on Windows XP, it’s called “Windows Picture and Fax Viewer.” Both are part of the standard operating system installation so again there’s no need to download any type of JPEG software.