Internet explorer 5.0 miscellaneous tips;

Internet Explorer 5.0 Miscellaneous Tips;

Page 2

Ok, I get all these tips in the mail see. But I'm too lazy to organize them, so here they come just as posted.
Note: I haven't tried them all.
You can "Get you Own Tips" everyday by E-mail at
http://www.winmag.com/listserv/

Page 3

Every now and then it's fun to switch home pages. Lycos and Yahoo--as well as many others--have customizable start pages, which track stock quotes and news, among other offerings. Here's how to make the switch.

Choose Tools, Internet Options. Click the General tab (if it's not already selected). Enter an address in the Home Page area. You can also click Use Blank Page or Use Default.

The default page may vary depending on which version of IE5 you use. In my case, the default is the Microsoft Network. Some cobranded versions may send you to the page of the company that provides it--for example, your ISP.

===========================================

USE FAVORITES AS HOME PAGE

Faithful TipWorld subscriber Jack Decker writes in with this fancy bookmark question:

"I have my bookmark folder set as the home page in Netscape. When Netscape starts, it displays all my bookmarks as clickable links. Is there any way to do this with Internet Explorer 5? I know I can make the Favorites folder the home page, but I would like all the favorites displayed the same way as in Netscape."

Here's a way to make a Favorites page you can use as your home page. The problem is that it won't be updated as you add new Favorites. But it will display your Favorites, the way Netscape does.

>From IE5, choose File, Import And Export. The Import/Export wizard appears. Click the Next button. The Import/Export Selection screen opens. Select Export Favorites from the list of options. Click Next. The Export Favorites Source Folder page appears. Select the topmost Favorites folder (if it's not already selected). Click Next. In the following screen, choose the Export To A File Or Address option. Then enter a path and file name in the corresponding textbox--for instance, we chose:

C:\windows\desktop\bookmark.htm

Click Next, and in the following screen click Finish. The Favorites file appears on your system (in this example, on the desktop).

Now choose Tools, Internet Options. Click the General tab, and in the Address textbox, enter the path and file name to which you exported your bookmark.htm file. Again, it looks like this:

C:\windows\desktop\bookmark.htm

Click OK. Now when you start your browser or click the Home button on the toolbar, your bookmark.htm file will appear, with your favorites listed as clickable links. Tomorrow, we look at the exciting world of setting the Favorites folder as your home page.

SET FAVORITES FOLDER AS HOME PAGE

Yesterday we told you how to create an HTML page consisting of your Favorites and set it as the home page. The problem with this tip is that the page won't update as you add new Favorites. You can, however, set the Favorites folder as your home page, which is less convenient for your browser, but stays more current. Here's how to set it up.

Choose Tools, Internet Options. Click the General tab and in the Address textbox, enter the following:

C:/windows/favorites

where C: is your root drive. Click OK and you're set. Restart your browser or click the Home button on the toolbar to check it out.

OPEN YOUR FAVORITES

The best way to open favorites from within Internet Explorer is to just type C:\WINDOWS\Favorites in the location bar and press Enter. That opens your Favorites right in the IE window. But here's a twist. Bookmark this window and call it "Open Favorites." You'll be able to access the folder as a regular Windows folder any time you want just by selecting Start Menu, Favorites, Open Favorites. And when you're working in IE, choosing it from the Favorites menu will open it right in the IE window. That works in Win98 and Win98 SE (and also Windows 2000).

EXPLORE YOUR FAVORITES

If you're really serious about bookmarks management, the best way to handle it is with a two-paned Favorites Explorer window that opens directly to your \Windows\Favorites folder, shows all your favorites subfolders, and displays what's in each one as you click it in turn. Drag and drop copies and moves of multiple favorites icons are a snap, and it's easy to rename things or check their dates. To set this up, right-click the desktop and choose New, Shortcut. In the command line field, insert this line:

C:\WINDOWS\EXPLORER.EXE /e,root,c:\windows\favorites

Name the shortcut "Favorites Explorer." Now right-click the new shortcut and choose Properties. Click the Change Icon button. Click the Browse button, navigate to your \Windows\System folder, locate and highlight the SHELL32.DLL file, and click Open. That will display a large palette of available icons for your new shortcut. Scroll to the right and choose the icon that shows a folder with a blue asterisk or star on it; click OK twice in selection to finish the job. Whenever you launch this shortcut it will open a two-paned Explorer window with folder hierarchy on the left side automatically anchored to your Favorites folder. You should also place this one on your Favorites menu.

CREATE FAVORITES ICON

In several tips we've mentioned how Internet Explorer 5 can display custom icons in the Favorites list. This feature allows sites to use their logo or other graphics, which display when you click the Favorites button on the menu bar. If you run your own site, you can easily create one of these icons. Check out this tutorial at the Microsoft Developer's Network:

http://www.pcworld.com/r/tw/1%2C2061%2Ctw-ie51123%2C00.html
==========================================

MSIE5 SECURITY PATCHES

On more than one occasion, security holes have turned up in Internet Explorer 5. While the risk is minimal, these holes could allow a malicious person to access or corrupt information on your computer. To get the latest security patches, and to find out more about security, point your browser to this address:

http://www.microsoft.com/security

===========================================

REMOVE GO BUTTON

With some frequency, we receive letters asking how to remove the Go button from the Internet Explorer toolbar. To use the Go button, type a URL in the Address box, then click the Go button to jump to the Web address you entered. The button serves little purpose, since clicking the Enter key does the same thing. To remove the button, right-click it and deselect Go Button. Repeat these steps if you'd like to return the button to the toolbar.

===========================================

DUMP CACHE

"How do you get rid of the cache in Internet Explorer 5?"

Good question. The cache stores pages you have visited on your hard drive so IE5 can retrieve them more quickly and speed up your browsing. Here's how to clear it and take back some disk space.

Click Tools, Internet Options. The Internet Options dialog box appears. Select the General tab (if it's not already selected). Click the Delete files button to get back a good bit of disk space. Then click OK to finish up. Empty disk space awaits you.

===========================================

RECONNECT AUTO-DISCONNECT

Friendly TipWorld subscriber Scott Tyler asks this puzzling Auto-Disconnect question: "How do you use Auto-Disconnect if you have turned it off previously and asked not to be asked again?"

Easy enough, Scott. Just choose Tools, Internet Options. Now click the Connections tab to bring it forward. Click the Settings button to open the Settings dialog box. Click the Advanced button. The Advanced Dial-Up dialog box opens. Select "Disconnect when connection may no longer be needed."

Click OK three times to close all open dialog boxes.

DISCONNECT WHEN IDLE

Yesterday we responded to a reader message about enabling Auto-Disconnect (Internet Explorer will prompt you to close your connection when you close the browser). Today, we look at disconnecting automatically if you aren't using your browser for a specified amount of time.

Choose Tools, Internet Options. Now click the Connections tab to bring it forward. Click the Settings button to open the Settings dialog box. Click the Advanced button. The Advanced Dial-Up dialog box opens. Select "Disconnect if idle for X minutes" (where X is the number of minutes you enter).

If you like, you can also enable Auto-Disconnect as described in the first paragraph. Select the "Disconnect when connection may no longer be needed" option.

Click OK three times to close all open dialog boxes.
===========================================

Question:
I have one question regarding IE 5.0 and 4.0 that I've not seen an answer to anywhere. Netscape, when you open a new window from a link on a page will open a full size (maximized) window. When you do the same thing in IE you get any size BUT a maximized window. Sometimes, depending on the last time you were in IE it might even be a 1" x 1" window. Do you know or have you heard whether IE has some registry tweak that can be set to allow IE to open a new window in a maximized state? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Answer:
The Internet Explorer icon in the Quick Launch menu is a shortcut. Right-click this icon and choose Properties. When the Properties dialog box opens, click the Shortcut tab. Now, click the arrow at the right side of the Run list box and select Maximized. Click OK to close the dialog box and save your changes.

===========================================

"Internet Explorer must store the URLs in my Favorites list somewhere, but I can't find the file. What I want to do is copy the URLs I use at work to my home machine. Help me!"

No problem. Typically, Favorites are stored in the Windows/Favorites folder on your root drive. To export your Favorites, open Internet Explorer 5. Choose File, Import and Export. The Import/Export wizard launches. Choose the Next button and select Export Favorites from the list that appears. Click Next twice. MSIE5 stores your Favorites in a file called bookmark.htm in the My Documents folder.

===========================================

SKIP THE CACHE

Sometimes when you view a page you've seen before, you get an older version of it. What's up? Internet Explorer 5 stores some pages on your system for faster viewing later.

To make sure you always see the latest version of a page, you can tell IE5 to load a fresh version every time--although in doing so you trade off a bit of speed. Select Tools, Internet Options, and click the Settings button. Under the section marked "Check for newer versions of stored pages", select "Every visit to the page". Click the OK button twice to finish up.

===========================================

MAKE A PAGE AVAILABLE OFFLINE

Hitting the road? Internet Explorer 5 offers a couple of cool features for browsing offline. To make the page you're viewing available for reading offline, try these quick steps. First add the page to your Favorites: Select Favorites, Add To Favorites. Select the Make Available Offline box, then click the OK button. Before you take off for your trip, connect to the Internet as you normally do. Then select Tools, Synchronize. You should get the latest version of your page downloaded to your system. Cool, huh?

To view the page later, choose File, Work Offline. Then click the Favorites menu and choose your page from the list that appears.

===========================================

REJECT COOKIES

Cookies personalize your browsing experience, and most are harmless entries to a text file on your system. If you find them invasive, however, give them the boot. In Internet Explorer 5, choose Tools, Internet Options and click the Security tab to bring it forward. Click the Custom Level button. Scroll down (or type the letter C) to jump to the Cookies section. To disallow cookies completely, select Disable. To allow cookies only after getting a prompt that says they will be downloaded to your system, select Prompt. Warning: This latter option can get tiresome, since so many sites employ cookies, and you may run into quite a few in one visit.

Also keep in mind that rejecting cookies may get rid of some personalization features--for instance, at a shopping site like Amazon.

===========================================

CACHE TIP

An anonymous TipWorld reader writes in with this cache question:

"I am a heavy user of Internet Explorer 5 and am not sure which of the following options to choose.

"First select Tools, Internet Options, and then click the General tab. Click the Settings button, and you'll see the following under 'Check for newer versions of stored pages':

* Every visit to the page
* Every time you start Internet Explorer
* Automatically
* Never

"What should I choose?"

Good question. It really depends on your browsing habits. IE5 stores versions of previously browsed pages on your hard drive for speedy retrieval. If you demand freshness above all else (and your connection is speedy), select "Every visit to the page". If each time you start IE5, you want the browser to check for newer versions of the pages you've previously visited, select "Every time you start Internet Explorer". Choose Automatically if you want to let IE5 determine whether a newer page exists. Choose Never if you don't want IE5 to check--this will offer speed benefits, but may show you older versions of pages.

===========================================

MODEM NOISE

Here's another TipWorld request--a letter from a reader named Jerry who wants a little silence:

"I remember reading somewhere that you can eliminate or reduce the modem dialing noise. Could you print the procedure again?"

Easy enough: Select Start, Settings, Control Panel, and double-click the Modems icon. The Modem Properties dialog box opens. Select your modem from the list (if more than one appears), then click the Properties button. A new dialog box appears. You should see a little slider under Speaker Volume. Move the slider to Off, or all the way to the left. Click the OK button, then click the Close button to finish the procedure.

In some cases you may want to hear your modem, especially when you can't get a Internet connection and want to check for a dial tone. Make sure to turn the slider back to the right to hear your modem when you're troubleshooting.

===========================================

AUTOCONNECT GONE CRAZY--PART 1 OF 2

Here's a troubling question from TipWorld reader Mitchell Banks:

"I don't know how this got started, but every time I open a folder, control panel, or anything else on my computer, the dial-up connection box pops up and starts dialing. What gives?"

Try this: Open Internet Explorer 5. Choose Tools, Internet Options. Select the Connections tab. Select "Never dial a connection".

If that doesn't work, try repairing IE. We'll tell you how tomorrow, so stay tuned.

AUTOCONNECT GONE CRAZY--PART 2 OF 2

TipWorld reader Mitchell Banks wrote in to let us know that his computer keeps trying to connect to the Net every time he opens a folder on his PC. How frustrating. Our first shot at his problem was as follows: Open Internet Explorer 5. Choose Tools, Internet Options. Select the Connections tab. Select "Never dial a connection". Click the OK button to save changes.

Guess what? It didn't work. Here's our second opinion. Try repairing IE 5.

Choose Start, Settings, Control Panel. Double-click the Add/Remove Programs icon. Choose Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 (note that your program name may differ slightly from ours). Click the Add/Remove button. Select Repair Internet Explorer, then click OK. You'll see a confirmation dialog box; click Yes. IE will attempt to repair itself, reinstalling corrupted or missing files. Neat, huh?

===========================================

RECONNECT IE 5 TO HTML FILES

Occasionally you may install a program that associates itself with your HTML files. It might be an HTML editor or a browser add-on. If you find yourself in this situation, try this simple fix:

Press the Shift key and right-click an HTML file (any one on your computer will do). From the pop-up menu that appears, choose Open With. The Open With dialog box appears. From the list, select iexplore. Select "Always use this program to open this type of file". Click the OK button to finish.

===========================================

SHRINK THE START MENU

If you add a lot of shortcuts and folders--say, more than seven--to your Start menu, an arrow appears at the top so you can scroll up to the entries that don't fit on screen. To avoid all that cumbersome scrolling, make your entire Start menu smaller. Right-click a blank area of the Taskbar, select Properties, select Show Small Icons On Start Menu, then click OK.

===========================================

DELETE HISTORY

We often receive mail from folks who can't delete their history list in the usual way (select Tools, Internet Options, click Clear History, then click OK twice). If your history is sticky, open Windows Explorer and browse to Windows\History on the hard drive where you installed Internet Explorer 5. Select all files (choose Ctrl-A) and press the Delete key. That ought to do it.

===========================================

When you save a Web page, all you really save is the HTML; images and other components remain at the original site. But IE5 lets you save an entire Web page, including graphics. Select Save As from the IE5 File menu and choose Web Page/Complete from the Save As Type drop-down menu.

===========================================

FASTER 128-BIT ENCRYPTION

Last month we talked about 128-bit encryption and where to find it. Some secure services, such as online banking, may require you to use a browser with 128-bit encryption to view your account information. Or an online broker may require 128-bit encryption to make stock trades.

Here's a quick way to find Internet Explorer 5 with encryption. Click Help, About Internet Explorer, then click the Update Information link in the About Internet Explorer dialog box. This takes you to Microsoft site, where you can download the update for your browser. Save the file to your hard drive. Once it downloads, double-click it and follow the directions to install it.

===========================================

BROWSE YOUR HARD DRIVE FROM INTERNET EXPLORER

You're browsing the Web in an Internet Explorer window, and suddenly you want to look at something on your hard drive. Do you go back to the desktop and navigate your way there? Sure, if you like to take the long way around. For the most efficient route, try this: Select Go, My Computer (or press Alt-G, C), and there are your local drives. Now you can navigate your way to the folder you need, as you would inside any other Explorer window.

(Tip: To jump directly to a folder other than My Computer, type the folder's path on Internet Explorer's Address bar, then press Enter.)

===========================================

"When I launch my IE 5, I notice that AOL is powering it. Why?"

Since AOL uses IE as its default browser, the AOL icon appears in the top right of the browser window. In the stand-alone version of IE5, a spinning globe usually displays instead. When the icon spins, data is downloading to your browser. You can remove the icon with a Registry hack--however, we don't really recommend it. We've run the tip for removing the icon before, but editing the Registry can lead to bad mojo on your system. Unless you're a pro, grin and bear it.

===========================================

SELECT ADDRESS BAR

Here's a speedy tip for your Monday viewing pleasure. Quickly select everything in the Address bar by pressing Alt-D or F6. Now you can change an existing address or type in a new one.

===========================================

If you're like most IE users, you probably maximize your browsing space by hiding various toolbars, enabling small icons or turning off text labels. To save even more space, hide the Address bar (right-click on it and deselect it from the Context menu)-then simply hit Ctrl+O to access the Open dialog whenever you need to enter a URL.

===========================================

When you install Internet Explorer 5 over Win9x, you'll find a new folder called Windows Update Setup Files in your root directory. This folder is filled with setup files that take up between 10MB and 20MB of space on your hard disk. It's a good idea to save them for a while after installing IE5 to make sure it's running properly. That way, you won't have to download the app again if you run into trouble and want to reinstall. After using IE5 for a while without encountering any problems, you can delete these files to regain the disk space.

===========================================

MAKE INTERNET EXPLORER 5 THE DEFAULT

If you install another browser on your system, it may become the default whether you like it or not. We suffered this indignity ourselves, thanks to the NeoPlanet add-on. Here's how to rectify the situation.

Open Microsoft Internet Explorer 5. Select Tools, Internet Options. Then click the Programs tab. Select the box labeled "Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser" and click OK to close the dialog box.

Now close and restart IE 5. You'll see a prompt asking if you want to make IE 5 your default browser. Accept its kind offer, and you should be all set.

===========================================

MISSING STATUS BAR

More growing pains from the Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 front, this one from TipWorld reader Craig Houghtaling:

"Every time I open IE, it appears by default with no status bar. I have to select View and check Status Bar--then it appears. Even when I open a new browser window, I don't have any status bar, so I have to go through this every time I open IE or an additional window. "

Here's a potential fix. You may need to edit the Registry, which can cause other problems on your system. Do so only if absolutely necessary. Also, back up the Registry before making any changes. Make copies of the system.dat and user.dat files in your Windows folder. Then put them on a floppy disk or elsewhere on your hard drive (anywhere but the Windows folder).

Start the Registry Editor. Do so by clicking the Start button, then typing

regedit

Navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main

In the right pane, scroll down to the value Show_StatusBar. Right-click the entry and choose Modify. When the Edit String dialog box opens, enter

yes

under Value Data. Click OK, then close the Registry Editor. That should do it.

Good luck!

===========================================

LINKS TOOLBAR

Have you ever noticed the word "Links" on the far-right side of an Explorer window's Address bar? Double-click it (or the word "Address"), and you've got another whole toolbar! The Links bar provides you with--what else?--links to Web sites.

Of course, you'll want to customize the links to suit your own needs. To delete a link, right-click it and select Delete. To add a link, point the current window at that Web page (type its URL on the Address bar and press Enter), then drag that Web page's icon from the Address bar directly over the Links bar and release the mouse button.

Want your Address bar back? Double-click Address or Links.

(Note: If you're missing the Address bar or the Links bar from your folder window, select one or the other, or both, from the View, Toolbars window.)

CHANGE ICONS ON LINKS TOOLBAR

In our last tip, we introduced the Links toolbar--a bar of Web-site links that hides out to the right of any Explorer window's Address bar. To display this toolbar, just double-click the word "Links" on the right side of the Address bar. (To view your Address bar again, just double-click Address.) Tired of having to choose between the Address bar and the Links bar? This default arrangement of sharing a bar isn't written in stone. If you prefer, you can give each bar its very own row.

Hold your mouse pointer over the vertical bar at the left end of the Links toolbar. When it changes to a double-pointed arrow, click and drag the bar downward, then release the mouse button. Instantly, the bar expands to fill the row just below the Address bar.

(Tip: If you'd rather have the Address bar on the bottom, after following the steps above, use the vertical bar on the Address bar to drag it down below the Links bar, then release the mouse button.)
===========================================

REDRAWING A BLANK

If you want to speed up the launch of Internet Explorer 5, tell it to start with a blank page. When you first install IE 5, it usually uses the Microsoft Network home page, your Internet service provider's main page, or other possibilities depending on where you got the program. To draw a blank, try this.

Choose Tools, Internet Options. Click the General tab (if it's not already selected). Click the Use Blank button, then OK to save changes. Restart the browser and you'll see an empty page--how sweet it is.

===========================================

ADDRESS BAR ADVICE

Here's a bit of Address Bar wisdom from a TipWorld reader named Jeliel, a shortcut guru:

"Quickly select everything in the Address bar by pressing Alt-D or F6. Now you can change an existing address or type a new one. Or just double-click anywhere in the address bar to select the whole line. PLUS if you don't have the focus set to the address bar, simply clicking it once selects its entire contents as well."

===========================================

SET SHORTCUT KEY

Here's a cool way to bring up a Web site you use often. It takes a little work, but really makes viewing the page a breeze. First open the page you want to bookmark. Select the page icon (to the far left in the Address Bar) and drag it to the desktop. A shortcut now appears. Right-click it. From the dialog box that opens, click the Shortcut Key text box. Type a shortcut letter, one you'll remember. For instance, to create a shortcut for Yahoo, you might type

and Windows displays Ctrl-Alt-Y.

You're almost set. Now click the OK button to apply the changes and close the dialog box. From now on, when you press Ctrl-Alt-Y, IE 5 opens the page. Slick, no?

===========================================

I got tired of not being able to easily sort Windows Favorites folder:

So in \windows\favorites folder I created a new folder called (guess what?) Favorites.
Then I copied all my Favorites folders Except the one called 'Favorites' into the one called \windows\favorites\favorites.

Now they are always sorted automatically and the Favorites pullDown and the Favorites Button show Favorites in the same order,
and its faster.

===========================================

FLUSH AUTOCOMPLETE LIST

In our last tip, we told you how to delete individual AutoComplete entries that appear when you're filling out Web forms. (When the list pops up, just use your cursor keys to select the incorrect entry, then press the Delete key to remove it.) To clean out the entire list, choose Tools, Internet Options. Click the Content tab, then click the AutoComplete button. Click Clear Forms or Clear Passwords. Then click the OK button twice to save your changes.

===========================================

UNDERLINES BE GONE

By default, most Internet Explorer 5 installations underline each link on a page. It's easy to turn this feature off. Select Tools, Internet Options. From the dialog box that appears, click the Advanced tab. Scroll down to the Underline Links area and choose Hover or Never. Click OK and you're ready to go, without any underlines to get in your way.

===========================================

For a site you've previously visited, you can type an incomplete URL into Internet Explorer's Address bar, and the browser's AutoComplete feature will fill in the rest. However, it only searches for entries with .com, .org and .edu extensions by default. You can edit the Registry to make it also search for .gov and .net URL extensions. Run Regedit and go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft \Internet Explorer\Main\UrlTemplate. You'll find six strings with these value names and data: 1 "www.%s.com"
2 "www.%s.edu"
3 "www.%s.org"
4 "%s.com"
5 "%s.edu"
6 "%s.org"

Select Edit/New/String Value and add the following values and data:
7 "www.%s.net"
8 "www.%s.gov"
9 "%s.net"
10 "%s.gov"

===========================================

COPY FROM INTERNET EXPLORER 5, SANS WEB LINKS

Need to copy text from a Web page to a word processing document? It's simple. Just select the text, then press Ctrl-C to copy, move over to your word processor, and press Ctrl-V to paste. If you use a Web-enabled word processor such as Microsoft Word, you may also take all the formatting and hyperlinks with you. If you don't want them, just paste the information into Notepad, then cut and paste it into your word processor. You'll remove all formatting and save yourself the trouble of converting from tables to text, removing hyperlinks, and changing the formatting of the text.

===========================================

CONNECT BY YOURSELF

"Whether I'm working online or offline, the Dial-Up Properties dialog box keeps popping up. I find this very distracting and would appreciate assistance."

If you find yourself in Thomas's situation, try this. Select Tools, Internet Options, then click the Connections tab to bring it forward. Select Never Dial A Connection. Click OK twice to close all the dialog boxes. This should stop the madness.

===========================================

ALPHABETIZING FAVORITES

A frequent Favorites request appeaClick the Favorites menu (not the Favorites button), then select a favorite link and right-click. From the menu that appears, choose Sort By Name.

===========================================

REMOVE RADIO LIST

Here's a Radio request from a TipWorld reader:

"I have Windows 98, and have the Net radio turned on in my browser. How can you remove a radio station from the Favorites list?"

You can clear the radio station list, but the only way we know how is to do a Registry edit. Unless it really bothers you, don't try this. Editing the Registry can lead to bad mojo on your system, including inability to boot your system. Before editing anything in the Registry, back it up by copying your system.dat and user.dat files from the Windows folder. Place them outside your Windows folder, preferably on a Zip or floppy disk. Consider that fair warning.

To start the Registry Editor, select Start, Run. Type

regedit

and press Enter. Navigate to this key:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\MediaPlayer\Radio\MRUList

Right-click Radio_Station_Count and choose Modify from the pop-up list that appears.

Type

in the Value Data text box. Select OK and close the Registry Editor. Whew. That should clear it. (Note: type the numeral zero, not the letter "O").

Good luck!

===========================================

CLEAR PASSWORDS

TipWorld reader Edwin Persons needs to clear out a mistyped password from the Internet Explorer 5 AutoComplete feature:

"If you register at a new site, and it finds the user name and password you have already used, you end up with a saved user name and password you don't need. Where is this list of saved user names, and can I edit or delete them? I'd like to clear that register and reinput them so only the ones I use pop up."

Here's the trick: Just select the one you don't need from the pop-up list that appears, then click the Delete key. To clear the entire list, choose Tools, Internet Options. Click the Content tab, then press the AutoComplete button. Click the Clear Password button. Then choose OK twice to close all dialog boxes.

===========================================

UNINSTALL IE 5.01

We've received many complaints from users of Internet Explorer 5.01, and in particular a lot of requests on how to get rid of it. For those of you who wish to return to the trusy old version 5, read on.

The steps take a little explaining, and you can find more information at the following URL from the Microsoft Knowledge Base.

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q246/1/94.asp

Note: If you have not installed Outlook Express before installing IE 5.01, you'll end up removing OE completely. The uninstall process reverts back to the last full version of OE, and if it finds no version, it simply removes OE. Proceed with caution.

===========================================

REMOVE IE 5.5

Yesterday we talked about removing Internet Explorer 5.01. Other readers have complained about the beta version of IE 5.5, and wish to remove it. Here's how.

Close IE 5 if it's running. Open the Control Panel (Start, Settings, Control Panel). Double-click Add/Remove Programs. Choose Internet Explorer 5.5 And Internet Tools. Choose Add/Remove.

You should end up with the version of IE you had installed previously--simple enough?

===========================================

Remove the URLs that IE remembers for its AutoComplete feature by launching RegEdit and going to HKEY_USERS\Default\Software\Microsoft \InternetExplorer\TypedURLs. Delete any unwanted URLs.

===========================================

REPAIR IE 5

If Internet Explorer 5 starts to behave badly, try the Repair option. Note: In some cases, folks who have Windows 98 Second Edition can't find the Repair feature for IE 5 (we'll give you a special tip tomorrow).

First try this. Choose Start, Settings, Control Panel. Choose Add/Remove Programs. Select Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 and Internet Tools (the name of your IE 5 may vary slightly, but it should be pretty obvious). Select the radio button marked Repair Internet Explorer. Then click the OK button. Choose Yes when the confirmation box appears.

REPAIR IE 5 WITH WINDOWS 98 SE

Yesterday we talked about how to use Internet Explorer 5's Repair option. (Abridged directions: Choose Start, Settings, Control Panel. Choose Add/Remove Programs. Select Microsoft Internet Explorer 5. Select Repair Internet Explorer. Click OK. Click Yes.) Some folks with Windows 98 SE report that the Repair feature isn't available to them. If that's your situation, try the following.

Choose Start, Programs, Accessories, System Tools, and select System Information. Select the Tools menu, and choose Internet Explorer Repair Tool. Choose Repair Internet Explorer. Choose OK. Finally, click Yes when prompted.

===========================================

KIOSK MODE

Seems like a lot of folks who read TipWorld like to browse in full-screen mode (try pressing the F11 key to toggle this mode on and off). Mubashir Nabi writes in with a tip on working in kiosk mode, which lets Internet Explorer 5 take over your whole screen without displaying any toolbars. It's especially helpful for presentations. Here's a way to open IE 5 in this mode, straight from Nabi:

"Create a shortcut to IE 5 on the desktop. To do this, choose Start, Programs, then right-click the Internet Explorer icon and drag it to the desktop. When you finish dragging, choose Create Shortcut(s) Here from the pop-up menu that appears. Do not create a shortcut from the Internet icon on your desktop, or this tip may not work.

"Right-click the shortcut's icon. Choose Properties from the contextual menu. In the Target box, write or amend the text so it displays the following:

"C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE" -k

"Click OK. When you click THIS icon, IE 5 launches in kiosk mode. To open a Web site, press Ctrl-O to launch the Open dialog box. Since there is no Close button, you can shut down IE 5 by pressing Alt-F4.

"You can have two IE 5 icons--one that opens normally and one that operates in kiosk mode."

===========================================

OPEN NEW WINDOWS MAXIMIZED

Last month we ran a tip about opening Internet Explorer 5 maximized from the get-go.

To recap, click the Maximize button (it's the middle button of the three at the top right of the screen), then click the Close button. IE 5 will open up maximized the next time you launch it.

We received nearly a hundred letters, all of which said essentially, "Great, thanks for the tip, but how about one that opens NEW browser windows maximized?" One e-mail, from Herman Chia (who wrote in from Singapore), also noted that we said the Maximize button was on the top LEFT of the window, not the top right. Oops. Good catch--thanks.

OK, so here's how to open new windows maximized: From IE 5, right-click a URL and choose Open In New Window. Now go to the first window you opened and close it (don't forget this step, or the tip won't work). Go back to the newly opened window and drag it to the size you want, but DON'T use the Maximize button. Close the browser window. From now on, when you open a new window, it should open to this size--personalized just the way you like it.

===========================================

Make sure IE is using a minimum amount of disk space when caching Internet files. First, select View/Internet Options and click on the Delete Files button under the Temporary Internet Files section to clear your current cache. Then, click on the Settings button and make sure the "Amount of disk space to use" option is set to 1%.

===========================================

SHORTCUT HOME

Need to get home in a hurry? You can jump to the beginning of a Web page by clicking the Home button or, predictably, go to the bottom of the page by clicking the End key. Lost something in between? Click Ctrl-F to find text on a page.

===========================================

ANIMATED GIFS BEGONE

Animated GIFs can hamper and distract your surfing experience when you're trying to read pages. You'll see an increase in browsing speed if you turn them off. Choose Tools, Internet Options. Then press the Advanced tab. Under Multimedia, deselect Play Animations. Click OK to save your changes.

===========================================

TURN OFF UNDERLINE

Do you find underlined hyperlinks distracting? You can change the way hyperlinks appear by opening the Tools menu, then clicking Internet Options. Choose the Advanced tab. In the Underline links section, choose Hover or Never.

===========================================

USE IE 5 TO VIEW HARD DISK SPACE

Want a quick way to see how much space is on your hard drive? Double-click the My Computer icon on your hard drive, then select View, As Web Page. Single-click your hard drive (C:). A pie chart should appear showing you how much space is available.

===========================================

If you want to change your home page to the page you are currently viewing, select Tools, Internet Options. Click the General tab to bring it forward. Click the Use Current button under Home Page. Or you can save time by choosing Use Blank, and Internet Explorer 5 will start without launching a page.

===========================================

EXPORT COOKIES

Many people think cookies are intrusive, but in most cases they are helpful personalization tools. When you're checking your bank balance or buying books online, they save time, because you don't have to log in each time you visit sites where you maintain accounts. Here's how to move cookies to a new machine or to your laptop.

Choose File, Import And Export. The Import/Export wizard appears. Click the Next button. Choose Export Cookies and click Next. In the next screen, select Export To A File. Click the Browse button if you want to change the location where you save the file (called cookies.txt). Click Next again. In the next screen, click Finish.

You've saved your cookies. To import them, just launch the Import/Export wizard again, and this time choose Import Cookies. Easy as pie, or as cookies--whatever your taste may be.

===========================================

SHOW ALEXA LINKS

An often-overlooked capability of Internet Explorer 5 is the Show Related Links feature. When you finally find the site you're looking for, you can also quickly find other relevant sites by choosing Tools, Show Related Links. The selection queries an Alexa database, then returns sites other surfers have used. Alexa is a free service that finds and ranks sites, which often leads to better search results than you might find trudging through the returns of your average search engine. If you like this feature, consider installing the Alexa download, a free browser add-on, which lets you view user rankings and reviews of the sites you visit.

===========================================

FIRST A CORRECTION, THEN A TIP

Last month we ran a tip about the Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 repair tool for users of Windows 98 SE. We left out a couple of important points. Windows 98 SE removes the IE 5 repair tool, and now lets the System File Checker handle missing and corrupt files. The feature does appear, though, if you download and install IE 5.01 on Windows 98 SE. Sorry for the confusion.

Now it's tip time. TipWorld reader Barb Wyatt needs a quick solution for when she accidentally clicks a link: "Is there any way I can abort a link click before my (elderly, slow) computer gets it loaded far enough to activate the Stop button?"

Just click the Esc key on your keyboard and the page will stop loading. In fact, it's a good idea to do so when a page hangs. Sometimes resubmitting the request can get a slow-loading page to come across more quickly than just waiting for it.

===========================================

To control who sees what on your browser, go to View/Internet Options (Tools/Internet Options for IE 5) and open the Content ab. Then click on Enable under Content Advisor. You'll be prompted to create a supervisor password and define sensitivity settings for offensive content types.

===========================================

INTELLIMOUSE TRICK

"If you have a scrolling mouse, you can hold down the Ctrl key and scroll your mouse button to change the size of the text. This is great if you have to print something. Just make the text smaller, then increase it again."

===========================================

SORT CONTENTS OF START MENU FOLDER (FOR IE 5.X USERS)

Want to alphabetize a folder inside your Start menu? Assuming you have Internet Explorer 5.0 or beyond installed, it's a snap. Click Start and navigate your way to the Start menu branch you want alphabetized. Right-click any item at this level, select Sort By Name, and all non-folder shortcuts at that level will be sorted alphabetically.

===========================================

MAXIMIZE NEW WINDOW

"Your recent tip for opening a new browser window in Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 (press the Shift key while clicking a link) is one I use a lot. But the new window NEVER opens maximized, which really bugs me. Is there a way to get the new windows to open maximized?"

Sure. Just press Shift, then click a link. Now--and this is important--go back to the first window and close it. Stretch the second window to the full size of your screen (don't use the Restore button at the top right of your browser). Close the second window. From now on, when you Shift-click a link, the second window should open maximized.

===========================================

MSIE 5, THE FIRST VERSION

A reader name John asks where he can get Internet Explorer version 5.0 (rather than 5.01 or 5.5 beta): "I can't find a site to download it; Microsoft doesn't seem to have it anymore."

Try this URL, John:

http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-10058-100-906260.html?tag=st.dl.10001_103_1.lst.td

We currently use IE 5.01 and consider it a stable release. Each new version usually comes with growing pains, which may include infrequent crashing or other maladies. If you have IE 5.0 and it's working for you, there's no reason to upgrade. But if you're starting from scratch, IE 5.01 looks like a good bet.

===========================================

SHORTCUT TO DESKTOP

"If I am on a Web site I like, how do I create a shortcut on my desktop?"

This is a really handy way to make a quick link to a site you often use, and you can even place a shortcut in your Quick Launch toolbar at the bottom of your screen (next to the Start button typically). Just click the page's icon in the Address bar, which--no surprise here--appears next to the word Address. Drag it to your desktop and let go. It's that simple!

===========================================

CHANGE MSIE 5 WINDOW TITLE

Got a strong desire to change the name of your Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 title bar? Actually, this tip requires a Registry edit, so we don't recommend it unless you have a very strong desire to change the name.

First back up the Registry. Make copies of the system.dat and user.dat files in your Windows folder, and save them on a floppy or other removable drive (like a Zip).

Now open the Registry Editor. Click Start, Run, then type:

regedit

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main

Then add a String Value called Window Title (right-click and choose String Value). Set the Value Data to whatever you want to call your browser.

Messing with the Registry can lead to serious problems with your system. If you're not sure how to back it up, it's probably best to avoid working with the Registry Editor. No kidding.

===========================================

GET RIGHT TO IT

Need to save a link or image to your hard drive? No problem. You can copy a page by right-clicking a link--you don't even have to open the page. Here's how: Right-click the link, then choose Save Target As and click the Save button when prompted. To save an image, right-click the image and choose Save Picture As. Then click the Save button.

===========================================

ADD FAVORITES QUICKLY

This week we've been using the right-click contextual menu quite a bit, and here's another handy way to use it. To add a hyperlink from a page you're viewing to your Favorites list (without having to open the page first), right-click the link and choose Add To Favorites. Or you can just click and drag the link into the Favorites menu until it opens, then drop it where you want it. You can also drag a link directly to the Links toolbar.

• Back To The Top

• Back To Home