If you're new to the Internet or would simply like a little help, the following FAQ's will help you get started and let you get the most out of it.

Getting Started

What do I need to get on the Internet?

All you need is a PC, a modem and a telephone or cable line, as well as the necessary connection software which is called a browser. Usually the browser is already loaded onto your computer but upgrades can be provided by an Internet Service Provider (ISP) and found in many magazine free disc's. menu

What is a Modem?

A modem is an external box or a card inside your PC that simply translates computer signals into phone signals. This enables a computer to communicate with another computer via a telephone or cable line. You'll need a modem and an ISP to send e-mails and surf the net. The faster your modem, the faster your connection. The fastest modem you can currently buy is 56kbps (that is kilobits per second), or you could consider an ISDN link, Home Highway or Broadband. These services may not be available in all areas. Your telephone or cable service provider will be able to give you more information. menu             

What is a browser?

A browser is software that allows you to view web sites. It has a number of controls in the form of the menu bar, toolbar and shortcut menu.  Examples of browsers include Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator. You will need a minimum requirement of Internet Explorer 4 or Netscape Navigator 4.08. Older versions can create problems with accessing web sites.menu

How do I know that I'm using the right browser?

If you have recently purchased a new PC, it is likely to have the latest of one of the two most popular browsers: Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator. Otherwise, click on Help on the toolbar at the top of your browser. There will be an "About" option to check which version you have. menu

How do I upgrade my browser?

For Internet Explorer - on the Internet

Click on the free Downloads link on the Microsoft site at:

www.microsoft.com/ie.

For Internet Explorer - using a CD Rom

 Using your Windows CD Rom or any CD with the latest browser version on it

1 Insert CD

2 Select IE SETUP.EXE and follow the instructions.

This will update browser to Internet Explorer.

For Netscape Navigator - on the Internet

Click on the free Downloads link on the Netscape site at:

www.netscape.com/computing/download.

or select a CD as above.

How secure is a web site?

When passing sensitive information on the web, such as credit card details - make sure you can see the Gold Lock during the transaction. These web sites incorporate the latest encryption technology, 128-bit and greater. This means that your data is protected and cannot be viewed by third parties. menu

Getting the most out of the Internet

What is a Flash plug-in? 

Flash Player from Macromedia is a browser plug-in that allows you to view interactive content on web pages. To get the Flash plug-in, you can download it from:  www.macromedia.com

When I try to download Flash from Macromedia, I get security warnings from Microsoft Internet Explorer. What's going on?

On Microsoft Windows, when you attempt to download and install any ActiveX control in Internet Explorer 3.0 or higher, you are often presented with a dialogue box that asks if you would like to install the ActiveX control in question. One such ActiveX control is Flash Player, which enables Internet Explorer to display Flash content. The installation of Active controls takes place without you ever leaving your Web browser. The security dialogue box is presented to allow you to decide whether to install the ActiveX control and to inform you who created the control. Don't worry, if you're downloading Flash from Macromedia, they're trustworthy. menu

What is a cookie?

A cookie is a piece of information sent to your PC when you access a web site. When you return to that site, it recognizes your user name.  Cookies are generally used so that web sites can identify which page they should send to the user next.

If you find the web pages keep going back to the same page, ensure that cookies are accepted by your browser.

How do I enable cookies?

If you're using Internet Explorer version 4:

1 At toolbar select view

2 Select Internet Options

3 Select Advanced

4 and click on box Always accept cookies.

If you're using Internet Explorer version 5 or above:

1 Select tools

2 Select Internet options

3 Click on Security tab

4 Click on Internet Zone and select Custom Level

5 Find Allow cookies and select Enable option

6 Under Accept per session cookies select Enable option.

If you're using Netscape Navigator:

1 Select toolbar

2 Then Edit

3 Select Preferences

4 Click on Advanced and then Accept all cookies. menu

What is 128-bit encryption?

128-bit encryption is a secure form of encryption (Encryption is a way of making information secret.)  Due to the nature of the information being passed between you and many sites, encryption is used to ensure that your details cannot be viewed by third parties.

I have upgraded my Netscape browser but I'm still receiving the 128-bit encryption message.  What do I do now?

If you have upgraded your browser from an earlier release, the user profile used in that earlier version may have been carried over into the upgraded one.  This means it may not be reading the 128-bit encryption.  To correct this situation you need to change your user profile:

To change your user profile on a PC:

1 Start Menu

2 Click Netscape Communicator

3 Select Utilities

4 Click on User Profile manager

5 Finally, click on Create new profile.

To change your user profile on a Macintosh:

1 Double click on the hard disc icon

2 Click on Netscape Communicator

3 Select User profile manager

4 Finally, click on Create new profile.  menu

Internet Explorer users will find that their user profile will change automatically once they upgrade to the correct version.

What is a security certificate?

Every company that has a secure web site has a certificate issued by a certificate authority to let the Internet users know that the web site is genuine. Certificates can be issued by a companies like Verisign or GeoTrust. If a browser is not set to recognize Verisign certificates it may prevent the customer from accessing the web site. To correct this, you need to enable the certificate authority-Verisign:

For Internet Explorer version 4:

1 At the toolbar, select View

2 Select Internet Options

3 Click on Content, followed by Authorities

4 Scroll across and tick Verisign Class 3 and 4

5 Finally, click on OK.

For Internet Explorer version 5 and above:

1 At the toolbar or control panel

2 Select Internet Options

3 Click on Content, followed by Authorities

4 Scroll across and tick Verisign Class 3 and 4

5 Finally, click on OK.

For Netscape Navigator:

1 Select the Security menu

2 Click on Signers (located in the certificates box)

3 Scroll down to Verisign Class 3 primary CA

4 Select Edit, ensure that the top three boxes are enabled

5 Finally, click on OK.  menu

What do these common error messages mean?

You may receive error messages that are specific to a web site if your browser does not meet the requirements mentioned above or if you enter your security details incorrectly. If you get the following messages, it may mean you have a network problem and you should contact your network provider:

1 Internet Explorer cannot open site

2 cannot connect to server

3 the web site is unavailable  menu

Always check that the URL (Uniform Resource Locator - or simply, the address of a web site) you have entered is correct.

Guide to Downloading

If you're new to the Internet, or new to downloading, this guide can help.

How do I create a Download Folder?

Before you begin downloading I recommend that you create a NEW folder (or "directory") on your hard drive for temporary files. You could call it C:\MyDocuments\netstuff, for example.
Or, you could have a temporary folder on your desktop.

If you use Windows Explorer:

1 Open Windows Explorer

2 Click on C: drive

3  Select the "File" menu option

4 Select "New", then "Folder"

5 When the folder called "New Folder" is created, you can rename it "netstuff".

If you are still using Windows 3.1 File Manager:

1 In File Manager, click on your C: drive

2 Select the "File" menu option

3 Select "Create Directory"

4 Enter the word "netstuff" to name the directory

5 Finally, click on OK.

Downloading With Netscape

Click on a Download Link, then a "Save As" window will appear. In the "Save in" box, click on the pull-down list and click on the "netstuff" folder on your C: drive. The filename of the program you are downloading will appear in the "File name" box. To start downloading, click "Save". If Netscape shows you a message titled "Unknown File Type," click on "Save File."  The file will start to download. When the download window disappears,or the window asks you to close the file, the file has finished downloading.

Downloading with Internet Explorer

Click on a download link, Internet Explorer will ask you "Would you like to open this file or save it to your computer?"

1 Click on "Save"

2 Then a "Save As" window will appear.

3 In the "Save in" box, click on the pull-down list and click on the "netstuff" folder on your C: drive. The filename of the program you are downloading will appear in the "File name" box. To start downloading, click "Save". Watch as the file downloads. When the download windows disappears, or the window asks you to close the file, the file has finished downloading.  menu           

How can I improve Download Times?

Downloading may not be the final frontier. Nevertheless, it is one of the most interesting and occasionally frustrating frontiers on the Internet.  There is a ton of stuff out there. Still, pulling a file out of the ether-world and plopping it onto your computer can be exasperating, at least until you have a little bit of knowledge and the right software. Fortunately, you came to the right place to get both.  

The problems

Though downloading is many things, there are two things it isn't: magic or rocket science.  The chain of events is simple.  Clicking on a download link asks a server to feed the file to your computer.  The server is a computer, very much like your own, but more powerful, and the file you requested resides on its hard drive.  How quickly you receive the file depends on four things: the speed of your modem, how busy the server is, where the server is, and how much traffic is on the Internet.

Unfortunately, the server can deny access to any modem.  When it does, your browser will pop an error message "anonymous access denied" or "server returned extended information" are the most common.  They both mean the same thing: the server (i.e. the computer that contains the requested file) is too busy to process your request.  There is nothing wrong with your computer, there is no need to panic, just try again later.

Finally, you may have a fast modem, and a traffic-free server located down the street, but still, due to Net congestion, get  slow downloads.  In a way, the Internet resembles the highways to which it is often compared.  The Net has a fixed amount of bandwidth, similar to the highway's lanes: the more folk using the bandwidth, the slower the overall speed of traffic.  Accordingly, if you attempt to download during Internet peak hours, your file will creep along with the rest of the Internet congestion.   menu

Internet Explorer and Netscape Communicator

The advantage of your browser is its simplicity.  After all, its already installed on your hard drive, the interface is familiar, and a download is just a click away.  On the other hand, neither Internet Explorer nor Netscape allow you to schedule downloads, resume broken downloads, or hunt for the fastest download site.  In the long run it's better to learn the new download interface of a dedicated download utility (like those below) than struggle with unreliable browser downloads.

Get Right

An excellent download tool, GetRight can resume aborted downloads no matter what the reason for the break.  We've all started a large download, made a cup of tea (or whatever) and return hours later, only to find the download terminated mere kilobytes from its completion.  If you were downloading with Internet Explorer or Netscape, you'd have to start from scratch.  GetRight, however, enables users to start the download right where you left off.

GetRight also includes a download scheduler -- a valuable tool on today's clogged Internet arteries.  The scheduler dials into your ISP, downloads the file to a specified directory, and even turns off your computer once the download is complete.  Additionally, GetRight will search for speedier download sites for the selected file, allowing you to choose the quickest site.

Download GetRight 6.2a free trial. You'll get lots of reminders to buy, but it'll be worth it!

Click Here: GetRight

Go!Zilla

Go!Zilla is arguably the best downloading software available. It couples a clear, drag and drop interface, with excellent reliability, and more options than you can shake a modem at. As with GetRight, downloading a file with Go!Zilla is normally easy.  Occasionally, however, you will need to cut and paste download links into this download utility. When the program captures the link it growls and a big eye winks. If there is a problem with your download Tom Hanks will signal the fault with the now famous "Houston, we have a problem".

Go!Zilla offers everything you could want in a download utility: scheduled downloads, broken download resumption, ongoing download status display and quick file transfer.  Like GetRight,  Go!Zilla will seek the fastest download site for your file.  Unlike GetRight, it seeks that site automatically.  Moreover, you can enter a known filename into Go!Zilla and tell it to find a download location on the Net.  Hot stuff!

To Summarize, Go Zilla:

Go!Zilla
Best Downloaded With

Net Vampire version 4.0

Net Vampire boasts many of the same features as GetRight and Go!Zilla.  It schedules multiple downloads, supports multiple download locations, resumes broken downloads, monitors clicks in your browser, and sports a straightforward drag and drop interface and more.  

Net Vampire

by Alex Shovkoplyas

ShareWare.

Which downloading utility is best depends on what you need.  If you rarely download large files and find the Net congestion bearable in the middle of the working day or other peak times around the globe, then a browser may suffice.  On the other hand, if you frequently download large files, consider "investing" in one of the downloading utilities. menu 

What to do with EXE Files?

Very often programs are compressed into a self-extracting EXE files (the file extension is *EXE).  For example, the file name could be "bargain.exe".

Go to Windows Explorer (or file manager if you are still using Windows 3.1), find the file you have downloaded (for example, in C:\netstuff), and double-click on the file.  This will automatically run the installation program (usually setup.exe or install.exe).  Simply follow the steps to install the program.  Most of the time the program's installation program will create an icon which you can click to run the program.  You can find the icon on the Start Menu (if you are using Windows 95/98/NT) or above, or in program manager (if you are using Windows 3.1).

Sometimes the EXE file you downloaded does not contain an installation program.  In this case you should double-click on the file.  This will automatically uncompress the files into the same directory (for example, in C:\netstuff).  To run the program, go to C:\netstuff and click on the EXE program file (not the file that you downloaded). menu

What to do with ZIP Files?

A lot of files downloaded from the Internet are in ZIP format (the file extension is *ZIP).  For example, the file name could be "bargain.zip".  These are compressed files that contain many files.  ZIP files are popular because they are smaller, and therefore greatly reduce your download time. After you have downloaded a ZIP file you need to uncompress it. One of the most popular programs for unzipping files with is WinZip.

WinZip for Windows 95/98/NT or above

After you have downloaded and installed WinZip you are now ready to unzip the file.  Go to Windows Explorer, My Documents or DeskTop (or file manager if you are still using Windows 3.1), find the file you have downloaded (for example, in C:\netstuff), and double-click on the file.  This will automatically open WinZip.  The files displayed in WinZip are all the files that are contained in the Zip file.

To learn how to use WinZip:

1 Click "Help" on the main menu

2 Select "Brief Tutorial"

Or to get started right away you can click the "Wizard" button and follow the instructions (this will unzip all the files in  the ZIP file to a temporary folder, run the installation program, then erase the temporary files). menu

Some programs you may find useful, most free!

Below are a selection of programs to help your management and productivity. Some may have already been highlighted, but a second mention won't hurt, will it?

Eudora - www.eudora.com/
Heavy-duty management email program. Lite version is *free*.

Winzip - www.winzip.com/
Winzip compresses files to make them smaller for emailing,
copying onto floppy discs or CD. Lite version is *fr'ee*

WS FTP LE - www.wsftp.com/
This program uploads your web pages to your web host.
Lite version is *free*.

ICQ - www.icq.com/
This program is to interactively communicate with other
people. It's *free*.

Norton Anti-Virus Software -
www.symantec.com/
Arguably one of the best. Anti-virus is a must have.
Around $50.00

Web Design Program - There are many *free* web design
and graphics design programs on the internet, most of
which will do a great job. However, when you can afford it,
" Macromedia Dreamweaver Studio MX" is in my opinion,
one of the best.