Exploring the Internet

Chapter Objectives:
Understand and connect to the Internet Find a specific Web page Browse and search the Web Add Web pages to Favorites Change your Home page Display and clear a history of visited Web pages Download pictures and software Understand the Information Bar Use the Pop-up Blocker Understand how to secure your computer Use e-mail

Prerequisites
How to use the mouse to click, double-click, drag and drop, and right-click How to start programs in the Start Menu How to use menus, toolbars, and dialog boxes

Unless youve been living on a deserted island for the past ten years, you already know that the Internet is the biggest thing to happen to computers since well, computers! You cant ignore itthe Internet is not going away and its already changing the world we live in. Fortunately, for the most part, the Internet is incredibly easy to use. Even the most computer-phobic users seem to feel right at home on the Internet. This chapter explains the ins and outs of the Internet. If youve ever spent a sleepless night wondering exactly what the Internet is and how it got started, youll finally learn it all. Well discuss how to get your computer connected to the Internet, and how to surf the Web using the Windows XP Internet Explorer, especially with the changes in Service Pack 2. Youll also learn some useful tips like how to secure your computer, how to search for information, how to bookmark your favorite Web pages so that you can easily come back to them later, and how to change the Web page that first appears when you connect to the Internet. Finally, youll learn how to download and how to send and receive e-mail.

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Lesson 9-1: Introduction to the Internet

Figure 9-1 The Internet is the largest network in the world, consisting of millions of computers, all over the world, all connected together. Figure 9-2 Web pages are stored on Web serverscomputers that are permanently connected to the Internet.
Figure 9-1 Figure 9-2
WWW

Headlines

Amazon
WWW

The Internet is the largest computer network in the world. It consists of millions of computers all over the planet, all connected to each another. The Internet was born in the 1960s when the United States military worried that a nuclear bomb could destroy its computer systems (there werent many of them back then). So it placed several computers far apart from each other and connected them with some super-fast telephone lines so that the computers could talk to each other. If a nuclear bomb blew up one computer, another computer could instantly take over; thus, the computer network wouldnt go down. Years passed and other organizations, such as colleges and universities, started connecting their computers to this growing network to share information. Although the Internet has been around a long time, it wasnt until the 1990s that the World Wide Web was born. The World Wide Web is what you probably think of when you think of the Internet, although its really just a part of the Internet. The Web consists of millions of documents that are stored on hundreds of thousands of computers that are always connected to the Internet. These documents are called Web pages, and you can find Web pages on every subject imaginablefrom your local newspaper to online catalogs to airline schedules, and much more. Web pages are stored on Web servers. A Web server is a computer, not unlike your own computer, only bigger and faster. There are hundreds of thousands of Web servers located all over the world. Web servers are always connected to the Internet so that people can view their Web pages 24 hours a day. So what can you do once youre connected to the Internet? Plenty. Table 9-1: What Can I do on the Internet? shows just a few of the many things there are to do through the Internet.

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Table 9-1: What Can I do on the Internet? Task Send and Receive E-mail Description Exchanging electronic mail (or e-mail) is the most popular feature on the Internet. Just like regular paper mail, you can send and receive e-mail with people around the world, as long as they have access to a computer and the Internet. Unlike regular paper mail, e-mail is delivered to its destination almost instantly. The World Wide Web is what most people think of when they think of the Internetalthough its really only a part of the Internet. The World Wide Web is an enormous collection of interconnected documents stored on Web servers all over the world. The World Wide Web has information on every subject imaginable. Newsgroups are discussion groups on the Internet that you can join to read and post messages to and from people with similar interests. There are thousands of newsgroups on topics such as computers, education, romance, hobbies, politics, religion, and more. Chatting lets you communicate with people on the Internet instantlyno matter how far away they are! Most chats are text-based, meaning you have to type when you converse with people on the Internet. A growing number of chats have voice and even video capabilitiesall without having to pay long distance changes. You can download pictures, demo programs, patches and drivers for your computer, and many other types of files and save them to your computer. You can listen to sound on the Web, such as radio stations, or music by your favorite artists.

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Browse the World Wide Web

Join online discussions with newsgroups

Chat with other online users

Download software Listen to music and watch videos

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Lesson 9-2: Connecting to the Internet

Figure 9-3 The Connections tab of the Internet Options tab. Figure 9-4 Specify how you want to connect to the Internet.

Figure 9-4 Figure 9-3

Other Ways to Open Internet Explorer: Click the Internet Explorer icon in the Quick Launch bar.

There are three things youll need to connect to the Internet: An Internet Service Provider (ISP): An Internet Service Provider is a lot like a phone company, except instead of letting you make telephone calls to other people, an Internet Service Provider lets your computer connect to the Internet. Just like your telephone company, Internet Service Providers charge for their services. A Web Browser: A Web browser is a program that lets your computer view and navigate the World Wide Web. Windows comes with a built-in Web browserInternet Explorer. A Phone Line and Modem or Other Connection: A modem is your computers very own telephone that lets it talk to other computers on the Internet. There are slower dial-up modems that connect to the Internet using your phone and much faster cable modems and Digital Subscriber Lines (DSL) as well. DSL is technology that provides high-speed Internet access through standard phone lines. A cable modem connects to the Internet through the cable hookup in your house. Both of these connections are much faster than a dial-up modem and are connected to the Internet 24 hours a day, so you dont tie up any phone lines. Make sure you have an account with an Internet Service Provider (ISP). If you want, you can follow the step-by-step instructions and let the New Connection Wizard help you find an Internet Service Provideror you can find your own. Ask a computer-savvy friend or an employee at a local computer store for the name and number of a local Internet Service Provider. Once you are set up with an Internet Service Provider, come back and finish the rest of this lesson. Click the Start button and select Internet Explorer from the menu. Since you probably dont have an existing Internet connection you probably will get an error page when you start Internet Explorerdont worry about it.

1.

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Select Tools Internet Options from the menu, then click the Connections tab. The Connections tab of the Internet Options dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 9-3. This is where you tell Windows how you want to connect to the Internet. Click Setup. The Welcome to the New Connection Wizard screen appears. Click Next. You are presented with a few options; we want to use the default Connect to the Internet option. Click Next. Next you have to specify how you want to connect to the Internet: Choose from a list of Internet Service Providers (ISPs): If you dont have an account with an Internet Service Provider you can select this option to get set up with Microsofts very limited of ISPs. Set up my connection manually: Although its not the default option, most of the time youll want to set up your connection manually, especially if you already have an account with an ISP. Be ready with your user name, password, and, if youre still using a dial-up connection, phone number.

7.

Use the CD I got from an ISP: If your received a CD from your ISP you can insert it, select this option, and click Next although you can probably install the software just as easily without the help of the New Connection Wizard. Select the Set up my connection manually option and click Next. More Internet connection choices, as shown in Figure 9-4. Heres what they are: Connect using a dial-up modem: Use this option if youre still using a dial-up modem. Connect using a broadband connection that requires a user name and password: Select this option if you have a DSL or cable modem that requires a user name and password to connect to the Internet.

Quick Reference To Connect to the Internet: 1. Click the Start button and select Internet Explorer from the menu. Or Click the Internet Explorer icon on the Quick Launch bar. 2. Select Tools Internet Options from the menu then click the Connections tab. 3. Click Setup and click Next, Next. 4. Select an option for how you want to connect to the Internet (usually manually) and click Next. 5. Follow the remaining onscreen instructions, entering a name for the Internet connection, your user name, and password if prompted.

8. 9.

Connect using a broadband connection that is always on: Most DSL and cable modems always stay on and connected to the Internet; select this option if you have this type of connection to the Internet. You will probably have to refer to your ISP documentation to determine which of these three options is right for you. Select the option that best describes how you want to connect to Internet and click Next. The last step will differ, depending on which of the three options you selected; dont worrythe rest of the Wizard should be self-explanatory. Follow the remaining on-screen instructions, entering a name for the Internet connection, your user name, and password when prompted.

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Lesson 9-3: Displaying a Specific Web Page

Figure 9-5 The Microsoft Web site. Figure 9-6 When a Web page is unavailable, this screen is displayed in Internet Explorer.
Address bar Type the address of the Web page you want to view and press <Enter>.

Figure 9-5

Figure 9-6

Other Ways to Enter an Internet Address: Press <Ctrl> + <L>.

Web addresses are everywhereon television advertisements, in magazine and newspaper articles, and even on business cards. These www.something.coms youve seen and heard so much about are URLs (Uniform Resource Locator). Just like there is a house, office, or building behind a postal address, there is a Web page behind every Web address. Unlike postal addresses, however, through the magic of technology you can instantly arrive at a Web page by typing its Web address, or URL, into your Web browser. Well, hopefully instantly if youve already been on the Internet for any amount of time, you probably know that sometimes the Internet gets busy and net congestion can cause a Web page to come up slowlyif at all! This lesson will show you how to visit the Web sites behind all the Web addresses youve seen.

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1. 2. 3.

Connect to the Internet. It doesnt matter where you are on the Internetyou can always enter a Web address in the Address bar. Click an empty area in the Address bar. The text in the Address bar becomes highlighted. Type the address of the Web page you want to view: type www.microsoft.com and press <Enter>. After a moment, the home page of the Microsoft Web site appears. Web addresses are preceded by http://. For example, the address we want is http://www microsoft.com. Technically, you dont need to add the http:// before typing the Web addresssave yourself some time and leave it out. NOTE: If you forget the www in front of a Web address or a .com, an Internet Explorer called IntelliSense attempts to correct the Web address by adding the www or .com for you. Unfortunately, its not foolproof: sometimes it works, sometimes it doesnt. Lets go to another Web site. Type www.yahoo.com in the Address bar and press <Enter>. Possibly the most famous Web site on the Internet, the Yahoo home page, appears.

Address Bar

4.

You can leave off the http:// when you type a Web page address. For example, type

www.nbc.com
instead of

Sometimes when youre browsing the Web, youll see a screen like the one in Figure 9-6. This means the Web site is unavailable. Several things can cause a Web page not to load: The computer where the Web page is stored is down. Too many users are trying to view the same Web page at the same time. Youve lost your connection to the Internet. The Web page no longer exists, or maybe it never existed in the first place (did you type in the correct Web address?).

http://www.nbc.c om.

For all these cases, try going to the Web site again later. Whatever was causing the problem might be fixed a few minutes or hours later. Quick Reference To Display a Specific Web Page: Type the Web address in the Address bar and press <Enter>. Or Press <Ctrl> + <L>, type the Web address, and click OK.

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Lesson 9-4: Browsing the Web

Figure 9-7 The Internet Explorer toolbar. Your toolbar may be different depending on how your computer is set up. Figure 9-8 The Yahoo home page.
Brings you back to the previous Web page. Brings you Stops loading a to the Home Web page. page. Shows bookmarked Web pages. Opens Edit the Opens Windows current your e-mail Web Opens Messenger. Research program. page. task pane.

Brings you forward to the next Web page in the History.

Reloads or refreshes the current Web page.

Figure 9-7

Search the Web with the Search Companion.

View Web pages you've visited recently.

Prints the current Web page.

Opens the Discuss pane.

Opens Encarta Researcher.

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Internet Explorer blocks popup windows that you dont request. For example, all pop-up windows are initially blocked, but any pop-up windows that you request to open will appear. If you are certain you want to view a blocked pop-up window, click the Information Bar and select Temporarily Allow Pop-ups from the shortcut menu.

Click the Address list arrow to display a list of Web sites that you have typed in.

Figure 9-8

The World Wide Web is remarkably easy to navigate. Its so easy that most users have an uncanny ability to browse through Web pages without any training, even if they have difficulty with other computer programs. This lesson explains how to find your way through the millions of Web pages that are on the Internet. Even if you already think you have browsing down, you should read this lessonyou might learn a trick or two.

1. 2.
Instead of repeatedly clicking the Back and Forward buttons, you can click the list arrow to display a list of previous Web pages.

Make sure your Web browser is open and that youre connected to the Internet. Hopefully you know how to do this by now! Lets go to the Yahoo home page. Click the Address bar, type www.yahoo.com, and press <Enter>. The Yahoo home page fills the screen. Many of the underlined words and pictures you see on the Yahoo page are actually hyperlinks. When you position the pointer over a hyperlink, it changes to a . Clicking a hyperlink will automatically: Take you to a page within the same Web site. Take you to a page in a different Web site. Take you to a part of the same Web site. Allow you to download a file.

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Send an e-mail to a specified e-mail address.

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7.

Play a video or sound. Position the pointer over the Travel icon near the top of the Yahoo page. The pointer changes anytime it is over a link. Links can be either text or pictures. Click the Travel icon or text. The Yahoo Travel Web page appears. You can easily move back to the previous Web page. Click the Back button on the toolbar. Youre back at the Yahoo home page. The Forward button moves forward through the Web pages you have viewed. Click the Forward button on the toolbar. You return to the Travel Web page. Just like a metro highway system at rush hour, the Internet often becomes congested when too many users try to view the same Web site at the same time. When this happens, it may take a long time for the Web page to appear on-screen, or it may not be accessible at all. Here are a few strategies to try if you are having problems displaying Web pages. Click the Address bar, type www.microsoft.com, and press <Enter>. Before the Microsoft home page completely loads, click the Stop button on the toolbar. You can also try refreshing a sluggish or difficult Web page. There are basically two reasons to refresh a Web page: To attempt to view a Web page that is not loading. To update a Web page that contains information that is constantly changing, such as headline news stories or financial information. Click the Refresh button on the toolbar. Another way you can return to previously visited Web sites is to use the Address bar, which remembers every Web address that youve manually typed into it. Click the Address list arrow. A list of the Web addresses youve previously entered appears below the address bar. Select the http://www.yahoo.com site from the list. You return to the Yahoo Web site.

Link pointer

Refresh button

Quick Reference To Use a Hyperlink: Click the hyperlink with the pointer. To Go Back to the Previous Page: Click the Back button on the toolbar. To Stop the Transfer of Information: Click the Stop button on the toolbar. To Refresh a Web Page: Click the Refresh button on the toolbar. To Return to a Web Address you Typed in the Address Bar: Click the Address bar list arrow and select the Web address.

8. 9. 10.

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Lesson 9-5: Searching the Web

Figure 9-9 The Search Companion task pane. Figure 9-10 The Google search engine.
Enter your question here and click Search.

Figure 9-9

Enter a word or phrase you want to search for and click search.

Figure 9-10

The Internets greatest strength is also its greatest weakness: with so much information literally millions of Web pagesit can be extremely difficult to find what youre looking for. Fortunately, there are many search engines that catalog the millions of Web pages on the Internet so that you can find Web pages on topics that interest you, such as Google, Yahoo! and Excite. In this lesson, youll learn how you can search the Web to find information on the topics you specify.

Search button

1. 2.

Make sure your Web browser is open and you are connected to the Internet. Click the Search button on the toolbar. The Search Companion pane appears on the left side of Internet Explorer, as shown in Figure 9-9. This is where you specify what you want to search for.

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3. 4. 5.

6.

Click the Search box and type your question. For better search results, use complete sentences or several keywords that describe what youre looking for. For example, typing Where can I find a good oyster restaurant in Chicago? would yield better results than simply oysters. Click Search. The Search Companion searches the Web for results using the MSN search engine. The results of the search are shown in the window to the right of the task pane, ranked by relevance. Click the Web page you want to view. Are you finding irrelevant information in your search results? Then you may have to refine your search. For example, a search on the word Windows may result in links to Anderson Windows, Stained Glass Windows, and Microsoft Windows, while a search on the phrase Microsoft Windows will result in links to Microsoft Windows. Some search engines will let you search within your results. For example, you could do a search for Microsoft Windows and then further refine your search by searching the results for the word Networking. Click the Search Companion task pane Close button. You dont have to use the Search Companion to surf the Webyou can go directly to a search engines Web site and specify what you want to look for there. Table 9-2: Popular Search Engines on the Web is by no means a definitive inventory of the search engines that are currently available on the Web, but it lists the best and most popular Web search engines and their Web addresses.

Search Box

Table 9-2: Popular Search Engines on the Web Site AOL Web Address search.aol.com Description The default search engine for America Online subscribers, the AOL search engine isnt bad, but youre probably better off using Google or Yahoo. Excite once had a powerful, highly-rated search engine, but in recent years it has fallen behind the other search engines in terms of features and popularity. The MSN, or Microsoft Network, is not only the default search engine for Internet Explorer; its also the default home page (surprise, surprise). Even with that enormous advantage, both Google and Yahoo still manage to be the preferred search engines for most Internet users. Google is the most popular search engine in the world and its consistently ranked as having the most relevant search results. However, it doesnt contain many features other than its fantastic Web search. Yahoo is actually more of a directory service than a search engine, but it makes it very easy to find topics, especially if youre new to the Internet.

Quick Reference To Search the Web for Information Using Internet Explorer: 1. Click the Search button on the toolbar. 2. Type the word or phrase you want to search for in the Search box and click Search. 3. Click the link for the Web page you want to view. 4. Click the Search button on the toolbar to close the search panel. To Search the Web for Information Using a Search Engine: Type the Web address for the search engine in the Address bar and press <Enter>. Type the word or phrase you want to search for in the Web pages Search box and press <Enter>.

Excite

www.excite.com

MSN

www.msn.com

Google

www.google.com

Yahoo

www.yahoo.com

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Lesson 9-6: Adding a Web Page to Favorites and Changing Your Home Page
Figure 9-11 The Add Favorite dialog box. Figure 9-12 Click the Favorites button to view a list of your favorite Web pages. Figure 9-13 The General tab of the Internet Options dialog box. You can change your home page here. Figure 9-14 The Organize Favorites dialog box.
Figure 9-11
The name of the Web page appears here. Click the Web page you want to visit. If the Web page is in a folder, click the folder ( ).

Figure 9-12

Figure 9-13

Figure 9-14

Other Ways to Add a Web Page to Favorites: Right-click anywhere on the Web page and select Add to Favorites from the shortcut menu.

You have finally found a Web page about hippopotamus food, and you want to return back to it later. What should you do? Well, you dont have to write down the Web address on a Post-It note and stick on your monitoryou can add the Web page to Internet Explorers Favorites feature so you can always quickly return back to it later. In this lesson, youll learn how to add your favorite Web sites to the Favorites list. Youll also learn how to change your home page (also called a start page)the Web page that appears each time you start Internet Explorer.

1. 2.

Make sure the Web browser is open and youre connected to the Internet. Go to a Web page that you visit frequently and want to add to your Favorites list. It doesnt matter how you get to the Web sitetype the pages Web address in the Address bar (if you know it) or navigate to it by clicking a hyperlink from another Web site. When the desired Web page appears on your screen, you can add it to your Favorites so you can always easily return to it later.

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3.

4. 5. 6.

7.

8. 9.

Select Favorites Add to Favorites from the menu. The Add Favorite dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 9-11. The name of the Web page appears in the Name boxif you want, you can replace the Web pages default name with one that is more meaningful to you. Clicking the Create In button lets you add shortcuts to a folder. Click OK to add the Web page. A shortcut to the Web page is added to your list of favorites. Heres how to display your favorite Web sites: Click the Favorites button on the toolbar. A list of your favorite Web pages appears in a panel on the left side of Internet Explorer, as shown in Figure 9-12. Click the favorite Web page you want to view. If your favorite Web page is in a folder, just click the folder ( ) and then the favorite Web site. The Web page you clicked appears in the right panel of Internet Explorer. Is there a Web page that you really like and use almost every time youre on the Internet? You might consider making that Web page your Home pagethe Web page that appears each time you start Internet Explorer. Some of the search engines we discussed in the previous lesson make excellent home pages. Heres how to make a Web page your home page: Go to a Web page that you want to set as your home page and select Tools Internet Options from the menu. Click the General tab, if necessary. The Internet Options dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 9-13. The address of your current home page appears in the box in the Home page section. Click the Use Current button to set the Web page that is displayed on your screen as your new home page. Click OK. The Internet Options dialog box closes. The next time you start Internet Explorer, the Web page you selected will appear as your start page. If youve added a lot of Web pages to your list of favorites, it can be difficult to find a specific Web page out of all those entries. You can organize your favorites list by creating subfolders to keep related Web pages togetherfor example, you might create a folder called Travel to keep all your travel related Web pages together, and another folder called Financial to hold your financial and investment related Web pages. Heres how to organize your list of favorites: Select Favorites Organize Favorites from the menu. The Organize Favorites dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 9-14. We dont need to go into detail hereyou can organize your favorites using the same Windows file management techniques you already know (if you dont, review the file management chapter). The Organize Favorites dialog box even provides you with several handy buttons to move, rename, and delete files and shortcuts. Close the Organize Favorites dialog box.

Favorites button
Other Ways to View Your Favorite Web Pages: Select Favorites from the menu bar and select the Web page.

Quick Reference To Add a Web Page to Your List of Favorites: Go to the Web page, select Favorites Add to Favorites from the menu and click OK. Or Go to the Web page, right-click anywhere on the Web page and select Add to Favorites from the shortcut menu. To Go To a Favorite Web Page: Click the Favorites button on the toolbar and select the Web page from the left side of Internet Explorer. Click the Favorites button when youre finished. Or Select Favorites from the menu bar and select the Web page. To Change Your Home Page: Go to the Web page, select Tools Internet Options from the menu and click the Use Current button. To Organize Favorites: Select Favorites Organize Favorites from the menu.

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Lesson 9-7: Displaying a History of Visited Web Pages

Figure 9-15 Internet Explorer displays a history of previously visited Web sites.
Select the day or week when you last viewed the Web page.

Visited pages are grouped by Web site.

Figure 9-15

History button

Cant find your way back to that really neat 101 Lutefisk Recipes Web site you were looking at yesterday? Dont worryInternet Explorer keeps track of the Web pages youve visited over the past 20 days. This lesson shows you how to access that list.

1. 2.
Quick Reference To Display a History of Visited Web Pages: 1. Click the History button on the toolbar. 2. Click the day or week you viewed the Web page. 3. Click the Web site you want to revisit. 4. Click the specific Web page you want to view. 5. Click the History button on the toolbar when youve finished.

Make sure the Web browser is open and youre connected to the Internet. Click the History button on the toolbar. A history of all the Web pages youve visited recently appears in the left side of Internet Explorer. The history is grouped chronologically and by Web siteall you have to do is click the day or week you viewed the Web page, the name of the Web site, and the Web page. Click the day or week you viewed the Web page that you want to view. If you cant remember the day or week off hand, dont worry. Finding the Web page you want to view in the history may take a bit of trial and error, because who really remembers the exact day when they visited a specific Web page? When you click a day or week, the Web sites you viewed during that day or week appear, organized by Web site folder. Click the Web site you want to revisit. The Web sites individual Web pages appear. Click the Web page you want to view. The Web page appears. Click the History button on the toolbar when youre finished working with your history of recently viewed Web pages. The History pane disappears.

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Lesson 9-8: Clearing the History of Visited Web Pages

Figure 9-16 The Internet Options dialog box.

Increase or decrease the number of days a page is stored in history. Click to erase the history of pages you have visited.

Figure 9-16

You and your spouse have spent weeks planning and researching your surprise family vacation this summer. Unfortunately, since many of your searches and reservations have been made over the Internet, your Web-savvy kids know everything about the trip, thanks to the History feature. You can take control of this feature by erasing the record of your Web activity.

Quick

Reference

1. 2. 3.

4.

Select Tools Internet Options from the menu. The Internet Options dialog box appears. Clearing the history is permanent, so make sure this is something you want to do. Click the Clear History button in the History section of the tab. A dialog box appears, asking you to confirm the action. Click Yes. And just like that, the list of saved page links disappears. You might also notice that you can change the number of days a page is saved in history. By default, pages are saved for 20 days, but you can increase or decrease that number if you want. Setting the number to zero only stores links to pages visited on the current day. Click OK. One thing to remember is that the history is different from the Back and Forward buttons on the toolbar. The history keeps a record of every Web page that is visited over a period of time. The Back and Forward buttons only remember which pages were visited when the Web browser was open.

To Clear the History: 1. Select Tools Internet Options from the menu. 2. Click the Clear History button. 3. Click Yes to confirm the deletion. 4. Click OK.

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Lesson 9-9: Downloading Pictures and Files

Figure 9-17 Specify where you want the file to be saved on your hard drive. Figure 9-18 Windows displays the progress of a download.

Figure 9-17

Figure 9-18

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Internet Explorer blocks downloads that you do not instigate. For example, if Internet Explorer doesnt think you requested a download, or if the download waits too long to begin, it is blocked. If you are certain you want to download the file, click the Information Bar and select Download File from the shortcut menu.

Another common use of the Internet is to download files from a Web server and save them onto your local hard drive. Some of the most common types of files people download from the Internet include: Images: You can save any picture that you see on a Web page, print it, use it as your Windows wallpaper, or anything else you can think of. Programs: Many software companies have demo versions of their programs available on the Internet that you can download and evaluate. In addition, thousands of shareware programs are available for you to download for free! Patches, Fixes, and Drivers: One of the great things about the Internet is finding fixes for your programs, and drivers for your hardware devices, such as a driver for a discontinued foreign printer. Music: MP3s are revolutionizing the music industry. MP3 files are sound files that you can listen to on your computer. They have digital CD quality sound, but use compression so that they are 11 times smaller than the CD equivalent and small enough to be easily downloadable from the Internet. Viruses: Just kiddingthe last thing you want to download from the Internet is a computer virus! Since you wont always know where a program or file you want to download comes from, you should make sure your computer has a virus protection program installed before you download anything from the Internet.

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Aside from possibly contracting a virus, the only other downside of downloading files from the Internet is that it can take a long timeespecially if you use a dial-up connection. Downloading and saving programs over the Internet is quite simple: just follow the links on the Web site. But you can also save other elements on a Web page, such as images and even the pages themselves.

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1.

Right-click the image you want to save and select Save Picture As from the shortcut menu. Windows asks where to save the image in the Save As dialog box, as shown in Figure 9-17. NOTE: Never download an image for free and then profit from its use: it is a copyright violation. If youre looking for images to use in publications or Web sites, there are many Web sites with stock images that you can purchase. Navigate to the drive and/or folder where you want to save the image, give the image a different name, and click Save. Windows saves the image in the specified drive and/or folder. If this does not work, the image has probably been protected so that others cant download the picture and use it for free. You can also save a Web page or file thats on the other side of a hyperlink, the target of the link. Right-click the link or file and select Save Target As from the shortcut menu. Windows asks where to save the image in the Save As dialog box. As with images, you have to specify where you want to save the file. Navigate to the drive and/or folder where you want to save the file, give the file a different name if you want, and click Save. Windows will download the file and save it to the drive and/or folder you specified. It may take several minutes or several hours to download the file, depending on the files size and how fast your connection to the Internet is. Windows displays a dialog box that shows the progress of the download, as shown in Figure 9-18. NOTE: Make sure you remember where you save your files! Many people download software without thinking about where theyre saving it, only to be unable to find the file once its finished downloading. It makes sense to create and use a folder called Downloads or something similar where you can save your downloaded files.

Be careful when downloading files. Many downloads are free, but there are also many that require purchase.

2.

3. 4.

Quick Reference To Download an Image: 1. Right-click the image you want to save and select Save Picture As from the shortcut menu. 2. Navigate to the drive and folder where you want to save the image, give the image a different name if you want, and click Save. To Download a Link Target: 1. Right-click the link and select Save Target As from the shortcut menu. 2. Navigate to the drive and folder where you want to save the file, give the file a different name and click Save.

One more note about downloading files and programs off the Internet: many of the programs are stored in ZIP files. ZIP files package programs and files together, making them easier to download. ZIP files do two things: Compress information: Instead of downloading a 2 MB file, compressing the file will cut the download time in half. Store multiple files together in a single ZIP file: Instead of downloading 20 or so files that a program requires to run, you only have to download a single ZIP file.

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Lesson 9-10: Understanding the Information Bar

Figure 9-19 The Information Bar, notifying that a pop-up window has been blocked.

The Information Bar appears when a security action has been taken. Click the Information Bar to access a menu of actions you can take.

Windows XP Service Pack 2 The Information Bar notifies you when a security action has taken place. Click the Information Bar to overrule Internet Explorer or to change settings.

The security icon appears in the status bar when a security action has occurred.

The pop-up icon appears in the status bar.

Figure 9-19

One of the most noticeable additions to Internet Explorer in Windows XP Service Pack 2 is the Information Bar. The Information Bar notifies you when a security action has taken place in order to protect you from harmful files. For example, it tells you when a suspicious download has been stopped and when an unwanted pop-up window has been blocked. The Information Bar could also appear if a Web site tries to install an ActiveX control or run active content on your computer automatically. Quick Reference To Use the Information Bar: Click the Information Bar and select an option from the shortcut menu. Another benefit of the Information Bar is that it provides an opportunity for you to overrule the block and proceed with the action. In the example above, the Information Bar has been clicked and a menu appears with options to view the pop-ups that were blocked, or to even change the settings of the pop-up blocker. Though you cant turn off the Information Bar altogether, you can change how it works with each individual notification by clicking the Information Bar when it appears. Here are some messages that you might see in the Information Bar: Table 9-3: Information Bar Messages To help protect your security, Internet Explorer blocked this site from downloading files on your computer. Click here for options To protect your security, Internet Explorer stopped this site from installing an ActiveX control on your computer. Click here for options Pop-up blocked. To see this pop-up or additional options click here To help protect your security, Internet Explorer has restricted this file from showing active content that could access your computer. Click here for options

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Lesson 9-11: Using the Pop-up Blocker

Figure 9-20
Enter the Web address of a site you want to exclude from the pop-up blocker here. Sites that allow automatic pop-ups appear in this list.

The Pop-up Blocker Settings dialog box.

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Internet Explorers Pop-up Blocker prevents extra windows from appearing on your screen. You can change how the Pop-up Blocker works by clicking the Information Bar, or under the Tools menu.

Change how the pop-up appears in Internet Explorer and its filter level here.

Figure 9-20

Another change included in Service Pack 2 is the pop-up blocker. The pop-up blocker prevents annoying advertisement windows from disrupting your browsing on the Web. Most people will appreciate the pop-up blocker, but if you dont, heres how to change its settings.

1.

Quick Reference
To Change Pop-up Blocker Settings: 1. Select Tools Pop-up Blocker Pop-up Blocker Settings from the menu. 2. Change the Pop-up Blocker settings in the dialog box. Or Click the Information Bar and select an option from the shortcut menu. To Turn Off the Pop-up Blocker: Select Tools Pop-up Blocker Turn Off Pop-up Blocker from the menu.

2.

3.

Select Tools Pop-up Blocker Pop-up Blocker Settings from the menu. The Pop-up Blocker Settings dialog box appears, as shown in Figure 9-20. If you know the Web site you want to allow pop-ups, you can enter the name of the Web site in the dialog box. Type the Web site in the Address of Web site to allow text box and click Add. The address is added to the Allowed sites list in the dialog box. By default the pop-up blocker is always on, but you can turn it off. Select Tools Pop-up Blocker Turn Off Pop-up Blocker from the menu. When the pop-up blocker is off you will probably experience some unwanted advertising windows as you surf the Web. The pop-up blocker has a pretty good filter, so between controlling its settings and making exceptions, you probably wont ever have to turn it off completely.

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Lesson 9-12: Understanding Information Security

Figure 9-21 Windows XP has new security features in Service Pack 2 that help protect your computer from attackers.

Figure 9-21

Quick

Reference

To do this: 1. Step one here. 2. Step two here. Information Security: Information security is the practice of protecting your computer from intruders. Here are some security precautions that help protect your sensitive information Install anti-virus software. Or Update anti-virus software. Update software Use firewalls Be smart with e-mail

Security is a sensitive issue. We hire security officers to protect our workplaces, analyze national security efforts, and install security systems in our homes. But many people arent sure of what they can do to secure their computer, even though identity theft is occurring more often now than ever before. Microsoft has added many security improvements to Windows XP in Service Pack 2, and listed below are some security precautions and resources that you can maintain to keep your computer safe. Install anti-virus software: Every computer that accesses the Internet should have antivirus software installed on it. This software identifies potentially harmful files, and keeps them from infiltrating your computer. Update anti-virus software: One of the biggest reasons a computer gets infected is that anti-virus software is not updated. Always download updates for your anti-virus software, and always renew your anti-virus software license. Update software: Always download updates and repairs for programs. This will prevent attackers from exploiting holes in the software. Windows XPs Automatic Updates keeps your computers technology safe and current. Use firewalls: A firewall blocks malicious files or computers from connecting to your computer. A firewall is especially important for computers that connect to the Internet via DSL or cable modems. Windows Firewall has been added in SP2, but you can also choose your own software program. Be smart with e-mail: Viruses and worms are sent through e-mail messages all the time. Never open an e-mail message from someone you dont know. In the end, the best defense against a security problem is you. By using common sense and avoiding sites, files and messages that look suspicious, your computer will be safe.

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Lesson 9-13: Understanding Windows Firewall

Figure 9-22
The tabs in the Windows Firewall dialog box allow you to change its settings. General Turn Windows Firewall on or off. Exceptions Allow certain connections through the firewall, such as instant messaging requests. Advanced Change advanced settings, such as network connections and security logging.

The Windows Firewall dialog box.

Windows XP Service Pack 2

Figure 9-22

You like to spend sunny afternoons out on your backyard patio. Unfortunately, so does your neighbors slobbery dog. In fact, the offending canine is usually accompanied by its owner, who has a knack for disturbing an otherwise pleasant afternoon. What do you do to keep these uninvited guests out of your yard? Keep them out with a fence or a wall. Just like your yard, when your computer is on the Internet, it is inundated with connections from other computers. To keep these annoying intruders out, Microsoft has built a firewall for your computer. A firewall is a utility that keeps your computer secure by restricting the information that comes into your computer. Its main objective is to prevent intruders, such as hackers, viruses and worms, from getting in to your computer. The firewall is like a monitor of all the information between your computer and the Internet, allowing good information through, and rejecting bad information. So what is the difference between good and bad information? Basically, any connection you try to make to another computer, such as viewing a Web page or connecting to another network, is allowed. But when someone tries to make a connection to your computeran unsolicited requestthat connection is blocked. Lets take a look at the Windows Firewall.

Windows Firewall has been added to help keep your computer more secure. It is turned on by default.

Quick

Reference

Windows Firewall: This security utility keeps your computer secure by restricting the information that comes into your computer. To Open Windows Firewall: 1. Click the Start button and select Control Panel from the menu. 2. Click the Security Center category. 3. Click Windows Firewall.

1. 2.

Click the Start button and select Control Panel from the menu. Click the Security Center category. The Security Center displays the security features that are active on your computer. Click Windows Firewall near the bottom of the screen. The Windows Firewall dialog box appears. You should always keep Windows Firewall on, unless you have your own firewall software that you want to use. You can change how the firewall works by changing some of its settings, however. Refer to Figure 9-22 for more information on these settings.

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Lesson 9-14: Introduction to E-mail

Figure 9-23 Microsoft Outlook Express is the e-mail program that is included with Windows XP. Figure 9-24 Outlook Express toolbar. Figure 9-25 An Internet e-mail address has two parts: a user name and a domain name, separated by the @ symbol.
Toolbar

E-mail folders: see Table 9-4: E-mail Folders for their descriptions.

Click the task you want to perform here.

Figure 9-23

Compose a new E-mail message.

Sends messages youve composed, and downloads new messages.

[email protected]
User Name This is the name of the persons e-mail account. It is similar to the persons name on an envelope. Domain Name This is the location of the persons account on the Internet. It is similar to the address on an envelope.

Figure 9-24

Opens the address book.

Finds people, messages, or text.

Figure 9-25

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Outlook Express has undergone improvements in its security settings, including some security features that also appear in Outlook 2003.

Do you really need an introduction to e-mail? You already know that you can use e-mail to send messages to the staff at the office or to people all over the world. You probably also know that e-mail is fast (almost instantaneous) and economical (many e-mail accounts are completely free!). Just like you need to know a persons street address if you want to send them a letter, you need to know a persons e-mail address to send that person an e-mail message. Figure 9-25 is an example of what a typical e-mail address looks like. Windows XP comes with an e-mail program called Outlook Express. Outlook Express is a stripped-down version of Microsofts full-featured e-mail program Outlook, which comes with Microsoft Office. Outlook Express allows you compose, send, and receive e-mail messages over the Internet. The remainder of the lessons in this chapter will show you how to accomplish these tasks. Move on to the one and only step in this lesson and well take a quick look at Outlook Express before we move on and learn how to compose, send, and receive e-mail.

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1.

Click the Start button. Select All Programs Outlook Express from the menu. The main screen of Outlook Express appears, as shown in Figure 9-25. Notice the folders in the left pane of Outlook Express? These folders categorize your messages and work just like the In and Out boxes youve seen at the office. Table 9-4: E-mail Folders describes each of these folders. NOTE: The first time you open Outlook Express, you will have to set up your account, such as user name, send and receive server types, e-mail address, and so on.

Although well be working in Microsoft Outlook Express throughout the remaining lessons in this chapter, Outlook Express is by no means the only program you can use to send and receive e-mail. There are many, many different e-mail programs available, such as GroupWise, Lotus Notes, and even America Online that can also send and receive e-mail. In fact, if youre connected to the Internet and have a Web browser, you dont even need an email program at all to send and receive e-mailyou can do it right from the Web! Web based e-mail is usually free, and it allows you to compose, send, and receive e-mail using a Web page instead of an e-mail program. Many people actually prefer using Web-based e-mail instead of an e-mail program because its free and can be accessed anywhere there is a computer with an Internet connection. Hotmail, owned by Microsoft (who else?), is the largest Web-based e-mail program in the world. Table 9-4: E-mail Folders Folder Inbox Outbox Sent Items Deleted Items Drafts Description Stores the messages youve received. Temporarily stores any messages that youve composed but have not been sent. Stores copies of messages you have sent. Stores messages that youve deleted. Stores draft messages that you havent completed yet.

Many people prefer to use Web-based e-mail, such as Hotmail, since you can use it on any computer that has a connection to the Internet.

Quick Reference To Start Outlook Express: 1. Click the Start button and select All Programs Outlook Express from the menu.

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Lesson 9-15: Composing and Sending E-mail

Figure 9-26 The New Message window. Figure 9-27 The New Message toolbar.
To: Enter the recipient(s) of the message. Cc: Send a copy of the message to these recipients. Subject: Enter the subject of the message. Formatting Toolbar: Use to apply font and paragraph formatting to your message, and to insert lines, pictures, and hyperlinks to Web pages. Body: Type your e-mail message here, as you would using a word processor.

Figure 9-26
Send the message to the Outbox Cut Check names for errors Attach a file Encrypt message

Paste

Figure 9-27

Copy

Undo

Spell check

Set as a priority

Digitally sign message

Work offline

Heres a brief explanation of how to compose and send an e-mail message:

1.
Create Mail button
Other Ways to Compose a Message: Select Compose New Message from the menu. Press <Ctrl> + <N>.

2.

3.

4.
To: button

Click the Start button and select All Programs Outlook Express from the menu. The Outlook Express program window appears. Click the Create Mail button on the Outlook Express toolbar. The New Message window appears, ready for you to write your e-mail message. The first thing to do is to specify the recipients e-mail address in the To: field. You can either type this address in the To: box, or you can click the Select Recipients from a list button that appears immediately to the left of the To: box. Type the recipients e-mail address in the To: field. If you need to send a message to more than one person, simply enter all the recipients e-mail addresses, making sure you separate them with a comma (,) like this: [email protected], [email protected]. Skip to Step 7 when youre finished. If the address is in your Address Book, click the To: button. The Select Recipients dialog box appears.

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5. 6. 7.

8. 9. 10.

11.

Double-click the name of the recipient in the Name list. Repeat this step to add more than one recipient from the Name list. Click OK. The Select Recipients dialog box closes and the recipient(s) appear in the To: field. (Optional) To send a copy of a message to someone, click in the Cc: field and enter their e-mail address(es). You can type their name in the field or click the Cc: button to select a name from the Address Book. So what is (Cc) and (Bcc)? Table 9-5: Ways to Address an E-mail Message gives a description of each of these ways to send a message. Next, enter the subject of the message so your recipient(s) will know what the message is about. The subject will appear in the heading of the message in the recipients inbox. Click the Subject field and enter a subject for the e-mail. Now youre ready to type the actual e-mail message. Click the pointer in the body of the message then type the message as you would in a word processor. Keep in mind that all the generic Windows program commands youve learnedsuch as cutting, copying, pasting, and formatting textwill work in Outlook Express. (Optional) To check the spelling of your message, select Tools Spelling from the menu. Outlook Express checks the spelling in your message, flags each word it cant find in its dictionary, and suggests an alternate word. To replace an unknown word with a suggestion, select the suggestion in the Change To list and click the Change button. To ignore a word the spell checker doesnt recognize, such as the name of a city, click Ignore All. (Optional) To send a file or picture along with your message, click the Attach button on the toolbar and select the file in the Insert Attachment dialog box.

Attach button

Send and Receive button

Quick Reference To Compose a Message: 1. Open Outlook Express. 2. Click the Create Mail button on the Outlook Express toolbar. 3. Type the recipients address in the To: field. Or Click the To: button, click the name of the recipient in the Name list, then double-click the name. Click OK when youre finished. 4. Click the Subject field and enter the messages subject. 5. Click the pointer in the lower pane and type the message. 6. (Optional) Check the spelling of your message by selecting Tools Spelling from the menu. 7. (Optional) Attach a file to the message by clicking the Attach button on the toolbar and then selecting the file in the Insert Attachment dialog box. 8. Click the Send button on the toolbar to send the message.

12. When youre finished with the message, click the Send button on the 13.
toolbar. The message is sent to the Outbox folder, and will be sent the next time you click the Send and Receive button. Click the Send and Receive All button on the Outlook toolbar. Outlook sends all the messages that are stored in the Outbox folder and retrieves any new e-mail messages it finds on the e-mail server.

Table 9-5: Ways to Address an E-mail Message Address To Carbon Copy (Cc) Blind Carbon Copy (Bcc) Description Sends the message to the recipient you specify (required). Sends a copy of the message to a recipient who is not directly involved, but would be interested in the message. Sends a copy of the message to a recipient without anyone else knowing that they received the message.

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Lesson 9-16: Adding a Name to the Address Book

Figure 9-28 The Address Book window. Figure 9-29 The Select Recipients dialog box. Figure 9-30 The Properties dialog box.
Figure 9-28 Figure 9-29
Select the recipient(s) Add to To: list Add to Cc: list

Add to Bcc: list

Figure 9-30

Address Book button

Other Ways to Open the Address Book: Press <Ctrl> + <Shift> + <B>.

Unless you only write to two or three people, its almost impossible to memorize the e-mail addresses of everyone you correspond with, especially when they have e-mail addresses that look something like [email protected]. Fortunately, if you use the Windows Address Book, you dont have to. Simply enter the names and e-mail addresses to whom you regularly send messages, and youll never have to remember another obscure email address again.

1. 2.

If necessary, open Outlook Express. Click the Address Book button on the Outlook Express toolbar. The Address Book window appears, as shown in Figure 9-28. Two types of items appear in the Windows Address Book: Contacts: Contacts are the individual recipients in your Address Book.

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Groups: A group allows you to send messages to a group of recipients. Click the New button in the Address Book toolbar. Select New Contact from the list. The Properties dialog box appears with the Name tab in front, as shown in Figure 9-30. Type the recipients first and last name in the appropriate fields. Enter the recipients name in the Display box, then enter the e-mail address. You can also use the other tabs in the Properties dialog box to add additional informationsuch as phone numbers and addressesabout the recipient. Click OK to close the Properties dialog box. You return to the Address Book window, where the new contact appears. Click the Address Book window Close button to close it.

261

3. 4. 5. 6. 7.

New Contact button

Quick Reference To Add a Name to the Address Book: 1. Click the Address Book button on the Outlook Express toolbar. 2. Click the New button on the Address Book toolbar and select New Contact from the drop-down list. 3. Type the recipients first and last name and enter the recipients e-mail address. 4. To add additional information about the contact, click on other tabs in the Properties dialog box. 5. Click OK, then close the Address Book.

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Lesson 9-17: Receiving E-mail

Figure 9-31 Outlook Expresss Inbox folder. Figure 9-32 Outlook Expresss Inbox toolbar.
This area displays the messages in the highlighted folder. Click or double-click the message you want to read. Messages that have not been opened appear in bold and have a closed envelope ( ). A paper clip ( ) indicates an attached message. The contents of the selected message appear in this area.

Windows XP Service Pack 2 Outlook Express has added some security settings that effect how you view messages: E-mails can now be read in plain-text format instead of HTML. This prevents some security issues that can occur with HTML messages. Images in HTML messages are blocked. This prevents Spammers from knowing if your address is valid. This is also more convenient for dialup users.
Figure 9-31

Compose a new E-mail message.

Reply to all the recipients Print a message. of a message.

Send or receive a message.

Find a contact or message.

Reply to the author of a message.

Forward a message to someone else.

Delete the message.

Open the address book.

Figure 9-32

This lesson explains how to receive and read your e-mail messages with Outlook Express. Youll find its a lot easier to retrieve and read e-mail messages than it is to sort through and read postal mailno envelopes to rip open, no scribbled handwriting to decipher, no junk mail to go through well thats not quite true. Unfortunately, the online world is plagued with junk mail, called Spam, just like the postal world. Oh well.

Inbox folder

1. 2. 3.

If necessary, open Outlook Express. Click the Inbox folder in the left pane of the Outlook Express window. The contents of the Inbox folder appear in the upper-right pane of the Outlook Express window, as shown in Figure 9-31. Lets check and see if you have any new e-mail. Click the Send and Receive button on the Outlook Express toolbar. Normally, Outlook Express automatically checks your mail server for new messages every 30 minutes. If it finds any new messages on your mail server, it downloads them and saves them to your computer. You can force Outlook to check for new messages by clicking the Send and Receive button. If you connect to the Internet with a modem connection, Outlook Express will automatically dial out and connect to the Internet to establish a connection with your mail server.

Send and Receive button

Other Ways to Send and Receive Messages: Press <Ctrl> + <M>.

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Your new messages are saved in the Inbox folder. Any new, unread messages appear in bold and have a closed envelope icon ( ) next to them. Heres how to open and read a message. Click the message you want to read. The contents of the message appear in the lower-right pane of Outlook Express, and the From and Subject information appear at the top of this pane. You can also open a message its own windowthis is especially helpful when you want to read a long message. Simply double-click the message you want to read. The message appears in its own window. You can close the messages window when youre finished reading it by clicking the windows close button. If a message has one or more files attached to it, a paper clip will also appear in this area. If a message contains an attachment, go to Step 5 to open it. If not, skip ahead to Step 6. (Optional) To open files attached to a message, click the paper clip icon and select the file from the list. Sometimes youll want to print a copy of a message. Heres how to do it: (Optional) To print a message, click the Print button on the toolbar. Click OK to print the message.

263

4.

Paper Clip

5. 6.

Print button
Other Ways to Print: Select File Print from the menu. Press <Ctrl> + <P>.

Quick Reference To Receive and Read E-mail Messages: 1. Start Outlook Express and click the Inbox folder. 2. Click the Send and Receive All button on the Outlook Express toolbar. 3. Click or double-click the message you want to read. To Open an Attached File: Follow the above steps to read the message, then click the paper clip icon, and then click the file you want to open from the list that appears from the paper clip. To Print a Message: Click the Print button. Or Select File Print from the menu. Or Press <Ctrl>+ <P>.

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Lesson 9-18: Replying to a Message

Figure 9-33 You can reply to a message.
Outlook Express fills in the address and subject fields for you.

Type your reply here.

Figure 9-33

A copy of the original message is included to help the reader know which message you are replying to.

Reply to All button

You can reply to a message, just like you would answer a letter. This lesson explains how to do it.

1.

Find and open the message you want to reply to. You learned how to open and read messages in the previous lesson. Next, you need to decide who you want to respond to. You have two choices: Reply to Author: Sends the reply only to the author of the message. Reply to All: Sends the reply to everyone who received the message. Click the reply option you want to use: Reply to Author or Reply to All. A window appears where you can type your reply. Type your reply and click the Send button on the toolbar when youre finished.

Reply to Author button

2. 3.

Quick Reference To Reply to a Message: 1. Find and open the message you want to reply to. 2. Click the reply option you want to use: Reply to Author or Reply to All. 3. Type your reply and click the Send button on the toolbar when youre finished.

You can use special characters to express emotion in your e-mail messages, in chat rooms, or elsewhere on the Internet. Table 9-6: Expressing Emotion in Your Messages has some of the more common ones. Some of them resemble a face if you turn them sideways. Table 9-6: Expressing Emotion in Your Messages Abbreviation : ) or : - ) : ( or : - ( ; ) or ; - ) : )~ or : - )~ : O or : - O Description Smile Frown Wink Sticking tongue out Surprise Abbreviation FAQ IMHO LOL ROTFL FWD Description Frequently asked questions In my humble opinion Laughing out loud Rolling on the floor laughing Forwarded message

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Lesson 9-19: Forwarding and Deleting a Message

Figure 9-34 You can forward a message.

Type the e-mail address of the recipient you want to receive the forwarded message.

Type any comments you want to add to the message here.

The original message appears here.

Figure 9-34

After youve read a message, you can add your own comments and forward it, or pass it along, to someone else. Besides the typical business correspondence, many people especially like to forward e-mails that contain jokes or words of wisdom.

Forward button

1. 2. 3. 4. 5.

Find and open the message you want to forward. Click the Forward button on the toolbar. A window appears with the message you are forwarding. You need to specify to whom you want to send, or forward, the message. Type the recipients e-mail address in the To: field or use the Address Book to enter the recipients address. You can also add your own comments about the message you are forwarding. (Optional) To add your own comments to the message, click the message body area and type your comments. Youre ready to send the forwarded message. Click the Send button on the toolbar to forward the message. Remember that clicking Send normally only sends it to the Outbox folder. Youll have to click the Send and Receive button to actually send the message. When you no longer need a message, you can delete it to prevent your Inbox folder from becoming cluttered with dozens of messages. Deleting a message is very, very easy. Heres how to do it: Select the message you want to delete and press the <Delete> key. The message is removed from the current folder and is placed in the Deleted Items folder. Quick Reference To Forward a Message: 1. Find and select the message you want to forward and click the Forward Message button on the toolbar. 2. Enter the recipients email address in the To: field. 3. (Optional) Enter your own comments in the message body area. 4. Click the Send button on the toolbar. To Delete a Message: Select the message you want to delete and press the <Delete> key.

6.

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Chapter Nine Review

Lesson Summary
Introduction to the Internet
The Internet is the largest computer network in the world, with millions of computers all over the world connected to each other. Web pages are stored on Web servers, which are always connected to the Internet so that people can view their Web pages 24 hours a day. Some of things you can do using Internet include sending and receiving e-mail, browsing the World Wide Web, posting and reading newsgroup messages, chatting with other Internet users, and downloading software.

Connecting to the Internet

To connect to the Internet you need an Internet Service Provider (ISP), a Web browser program, and a phone line and modem or other connection to the Internet. To Connect to the Internet: Click the Start button and select Internet Explorer from the menu or click the Internet Explorer icon on the Quick Launch bar. Select Tools Internet Options from the menu then click the Connections tab. Click Setup and click Next, Next. Select an option for how you want to connect to the Internet (usually manually) and click Next. Follow the remaining on-screen instructions, entering a name for the Internet connection, your user name, and password if prompted.

Displaying a Specific Web Page

To Display a Specific Web Page: Type the Web address in the Address bar and press <Enter>. Or, press <Ctrl> + <L>, type the Web address, and click OK. Sometimes a Web page may not be available for viewing. This can be caused by a Web server being down where the Web page is stored, by Internet congestion, or by the Web page no longer existing. Try returning to the Web page later.

Browsing the Web

A hyperlink is a link to another Web page or file. The pointer changes to a positioned over a hyperlink. To Use a Hyperlink: Click the hyperlink with the pointer. whenever it is

To Go Back to the Previous Page: Click the Back button on the toolbar. To Stop the Transfer of Information: Click the Stop button on the toolbar. To Refresh a Web Page: Click the Refresh button on the toolbar. To Return to a Web Address you Typed in the Address Bar: Click the Address bar list arrow and select the Web address.

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To Search the Web for Information Using Internet Explorer: Click the Search button on the toolbar, type the word or phrase you want to search for in the Search the Web for box and click Search, then click the link for the Web page you want to look at. Click the Search button on the toolbar to close the search panel. To Search the Web for Information Using a Search Engine: Type the Web address for the search engine in the Address bar and press <Enter>. Type the word or phrase you want to search for in the Web pages Search box and press <Enter>.

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Adding a Web Page to Favorites and Changing your Home Page

To Add a Web Page to Your List of Favorites: Go to the Web page, select Favorites Add to Favorites from the menu and click OK, or right-click anywhere on the Web page and select Add to Favorites from the shortcut menu. To Go To a Favorite Web Page: Click the Favorites button on the toolbar and select the Web page from the left side of Internet Explorer, then click the Favorites button when youre finished. You can also go to a favorite Web page by selecting Favorites from the menu bar and selecting the Web page. To Change Your Home Page: Go to the Web page, select Tools Internet Options from the menu and click the Use Current button. To Organize Your Favorites: Select Favorites Organize Favorites from the menu.

Displaying a History of Visited Web Pages

Click the History button on the toolbar and click the day or week you viewed the Web page. Click the Web site you want to revisit and then the specific Web page. Click the History button on the toolbar when youve finished.

Clearing the History of Visited Web Pages

Select Tools Internet Options from the menu. Click the Clear History button, click Yes to confirm the deletion and click OK.

Saving Pictures and Files to Disk (Downloading)

To Download an Image: Right-click the image you want to save and select Save Picture As from the shortcut menu, navigate to the drive and folder when you want to save the image, give the image a different name if you want, and click Save. To Download a File: Right-click the file you want to download, select Save Target As from the shortcut menu, navigate to the drive and folder when you want to save the file, give the file a different name if you want, and click Save. Many programs and files on the Internet are stored in compressed ZIP files and need to be unpacked using a program called WinZip.

Understanding the Information Bar

The Information Bar notifies you when a security action has taken place. To Use the Information Bar: Click the Information Bar and select an option from the shortcut menu.

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Microsoft Windows XP Using the Pop-up Blocker

To Change Pop-up Blocker Settings: Select Tools Pop-up Blocker Pop-up Blocker Settings from the menu and change the Pop-up Blocker settings in the dialog box. Or, click the Information Bar and select an option from the shortcut menu. To Turn Off the Pop-up Blocker: Select Tools Pop-up Blocker Turn Off Pop-up Blocker from the menu.

Understanding Information Security

Information security is the practice of protecting your computer from intruders. Here are some security precautions that help protect your sensitive information. Install anti-virus software; Update anti-virus software; Update software; Use firewalls; Be smart with e-mail

Understanding Windows Firewall

This security utility keeps your computer secure by restricting the information that comes into your computer. To Open Windows Firewall: Click the Start button and select Control Panel. Click the Security Center icon and click the Windows Firewall icon.

Introduction to E-mail
To Start Outlook Express: Click the Start button. Select All Programs Outlook Express from the menu.

Composing and Sending E-mail

To Compose a Message: Start Outlook Express, click the Create Mail button on the Outlook Express toolbar, type the recipients address in the To: field or click the To: button to the left of the To: field and double-click the name. Click OK when youre finished. Click the Subject field and enter the messages subject. Click the pointer in the lower pane and type the message. Click the Send button on the toolbar to send the message. To Check a Message for Spelling Errors: Before you send the message, select Tools Spelling from the menu. To Attach a File to a Message: Before you send the message click the Attach button on the toolbar and then select the file in the Insert Attachment dialog box. You can address a message using To which sends the message to the recipient you specify (required), Carbon Copy (Cc) which sends a copy of the message to a recipient who is not directly involved, but would be interested in the message, and Blind Carbon Copy (Bcc) which sends a copy of the message to a recipient without anyone else knowing that they received the message.

Adding a Name to the Address Book

To Add a Name to the Address Book: Click the Address Book button on the Outlook Express toolbar, and click the New button on the Address Book toolbar and select New Contact from the drop-down list. Type the recipients first and last name in the appropriate fields and enter the recipients display name and e-mail address. To add additional information about the contact, click on other tabs in the Properties dialog box. Click OK, and then close the Address Book.

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Chapter Nine: Exploring the Internet Receiving E-mail

Outlook Express checks your mail server for new messages automatically, but you can also check for new messages by clicking the Send and Receive All button on the Outlook Express toolbar. To Receive and Read E-mail Messages: Start Outlook Express and click the Inbox folder, click the Send and Receive All button on the Outlook Express toolbar, and click or double-click the message you want to read. To Open an Attached File: Follow the above steps to read the message, then click the paper clip icon and then click the file you want to open from the list that appears from the paper clip. To Print a Message: Click the Print button, or select File Print from the menu, or press <Ctrl>+ <P>.

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Replying to a Message
To Reply to a Message: Find and open the message you want to reply to, click the reply option you want to use: Reply to Author or Reply to All. Type your reply and click the Send button on the toolbar when youre finished.

Forwarding a Message
To Forward a Message: Find and select the message you want to forward and click the Forward Message button on the toolbar, enter the recipients e-mail address in the To: field, enter your own comments in the message body area, and click the Send button on the toolbar. To Delete a Message: Select the message you want to delete and press the <Delete> key.

Quiz
1. A Web server is: A. B. C. D. The worlds largest supercomputer that contains and runs the Internet. A computer that stores Web pages and that is always connected to the Internet. A computer that acts as a gateway between your office network and the Internet. A waiter at a restaurant for spiders.

2. A Home page is the first Web page you see when you connect to the Internet. (True or False?) 3. Which button on Internet Explorers toolbar brings you back to the page you last viewed? A. B. C. D. Home Stop Refresh Back

4. What can you do to keep your computer secure? A. B. C. D. Install and update anti-virus software. Use a firewall. Avoid suspicious e-mail messages. All of the above.

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Microsoft Windows XP
5. Which of the following statements is NOT true? A. B. C. D. Internet Explorer keeps a history of visited Web pages for 20 days. A search engine lets you search for Web pages by topic. Eudora is an e-mail program that comes with Windows XP. You can download and save images from a Web page onto your computer.

6. When youve finished writing a letter in Outlook Express, clicking the Send button on the toolbar will instantly send the message to its destination. (True or False?) 7. Which of the following statements is NOT true? A. When you reply to a message, Outlook Express includes the content of the original message to make it easy for the recipient to know which message youre replying to. B. E-mail messages can contain files, such as pictures and word processing documents called attachments. C. You can send anonymous e-mail using the Blind Carbon Copy (Bcc) field. D. You can save a list of Web pages you visit frequently in Internet Explorers Favorites list. 8. What is a firewall? A. A security device that keeps your computer secure by restricting the information that comes into your computer. B. What you put around your cubicle after doing something wrong. C. There is no such thing. D. A fire prevention tactic used by firefighters.

Homework
1. Get a connection to the Internet. 2. Open Internet Explorer. 3. Go to the Yahoo Web site (www.yahoo.com). 4. Search the Internet for information on Russia. 5. Spend at least 30 minutes browsing the Web on whatever topics you want.

2003 CustomGuide, Inc.