Computer tips for IE..........

Press F-11 in any window to make that window very large, press F-11 again to return to the normal size.

Recover Gracefully From a Crash

Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 users know that crashes can happen, especially when you have multiple windows open or when you have several applications running at once. If IE 5 stops responding, be patient. Give it a few minutes to recover. If you can, save any files you have open.

If it becomes apparent that the problem is terminal, select Ctrl-Alt-Delete from your keyboard. Choose Internet Explorer from the Close Program dialog box that appears. Note that the name of the program you select may vary depending on the name of the page you have open. Click End Task to shut the program down, then restart your computer.



Hold That Sound

As you surf, you may come across some pages that launch unexpected background sounds. This can be an annoyance, especially if you're browsing late at night and don't want to wake up the whole house. Here's how to turn off sounds, at least temporarily. Select Tools, Internet Options, and click the Advanced tab. Scroll down to the Multimedia sections and deselect the check box labeled Play Sounds. Click the OK button to save changes.

Remove Backgrounds When Printing

To speed up printing of Web pages, and in some cases make them easier to read, tell Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 not to print background colors and images. Select Tools, Internet Options, and choose the Advanced tab. Under Printing, deselect Print Background Color And Images. Click OK to close the Internet Options dialog box and save your changes.

Take Out the Cache

Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 helps you browse more quickly by storing recent versions of Web pages you've already opened. The problem is, the cache eats up valuable hard drive space. If you don't mind a slight delay when you're browsing and want to recover more space, tell MSIE 5 to empty the cache each time you close the browser. Select Tools, Internet Options, and click the Advanced tab. Under Security, check Empty Temporary Internet Files Folder When Browser Is Closed. Click the OK button to save your changes.

Try, Try Again

Sometimes when you click a link, a page won't open. Among other reasons, it may be Net congestion or an overtaxed Web server. You may be able to get around the problem by right-clicking the link and choosing Open In New Window; or click the Esc key and reenter the address.

Delete Temporary Internet Files

Is your disk drive crammed with Web pages and downloads? Try deleting the disk cache for a fresh start. From Internet Explorer 5, click Tools, Internet Options. Click the Delete Files button, then click OK when the confirmation dialog box appears. The cache helps you browse faster by keeping local copies of the pages you visit, but it can bloat your hard drive in a hurry.

Run a Search

You can quickly run a keyword search right from Internet Explorer 5's Address bar. Just type a question mark, followed by the word you are searching for, like so:

? blacksmith

Then press the Enter key. If your search contains more than one word, you do not need to type an extra question mark. For example, just type:

? job opportunities

The results appear in the main browsing window.

What Happened?

Sometimes when you visit a recently updated Web site, you may still see old content. This is often true with news sites that change regularly. Your browser is hanging on to a previous version of the page--to make sure you see the most recent version, click F5 to refresh it.

Try the Repair Internet Explorer Tool

If you begin to notice strange things happening with IE5, the program's repair tool may help. For instance, if a menu command suddenly goes missing or the program crashes more often than usual, you may get some relief by following these steps.

To use the repair tool, choose Start, Settings, Control Panel. Double-click Add/Remove Programs. Click the Install/Uninstall tab (if it's not already selected). From the list of programs you see, choose Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 (the name may vary slightly based on your installation). Click the Add/Remove button. Choose the Repair Internet Explorer option. Click the OK button. Click OK once more when a confirmation box appears.

If you're still having problems, you may need to reinstall the program. Good luck!