Windows 98 Installation & Configuration Handbook

Previous chapterNext chapterContents


- 20 -

Configuring Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0


by Rob Tidrow

Reviewing Features of Microsoft Internet Explorer 4.0

Internet Explorer 4.0 is the newest release of Microsoft's popular World Wide Web browser. Among other new features, the primary difference between Internet Explorer 4.0 and previous releases of Internet Explorer is its integration with Windows 98. Internet Explorer 4.0 is part of the Windows 98 shell, enabling it to act as a Web browser to display Internet and intranet content as well as browse and work with local PC files. This means users no longer need to switch between applications when locating documents or files on the Internet, local network, or their own workstations. Previous versions of Internet Explorer, on the other hand, were available as Web browsers and did not offer local PC accessibility.

Some of the new features of Internet Explorer 4.0 include the following:

Configuring Internet Explorer 4.0

When you install Windows 98, Internet Explorer 4.0 is automatically installed. In most cases, you can begin using Internet Explorer as soon as you complete the Windows 98 installation.

You can, however, modify many Internet Explorer 4.0 options to meet your needs. To configure settings in Internet Explorer 4.0, launch it by double-clicking the Internet Explorer icon on the desktop or clicking the Launch Internet Explorer Browser toolbar button on the Quick Launch toolbar. You also can select Start, Programs, Internet Explorer, Internet Explorer. If you start Internet Explorer 4.0 without first connecting to the Internet, click the Stop button to stop it from attempting to connect to the default home page (http://home.microsoft.com). If you do not stop the connection process soon enough, the Connection Manager screen appears; you can click Work Offline to clear it from your screen.

Next, choose View, Internet Options from the Internet Explorer 4.0 menu bar. The Internet Options dialog box opens (see Figure 20.1). This dialog box includes six tabs: General, Security, Content, Connection, Programs, and Advanced.

FIG. 20.1 The Internet Options dialog box enables you to customize many of Internet Explorer 4.0's settings.

The following sections describe each of these tabs in more detail.

General Tab

The General tab is used to set multimedia, color, links, toolbar, and font settings. The following list explains each of these settings:


TIP: To change the URL in the Address line without entering a URL, close the Internet Options dialog box and display the Web page you want to use as the default starting page in Internet Explorer's browser window. Next, choose View, Internet Options, select the General tab, and choose Use Current. This step saves the current page's URL as the Address URL. To change back to the default setting, click the Use Default button. You also can opt to display a blank starting page by clicking the Use Blank button.


NOTE: Before deleting files from the Temporary Internet Files folder, weigh the benefit of keeping the cached files in the Temporary Internet Files folder. These files make returning to a site extremely fast; you don't need to wait on the entire page to download.

FIG. 20.2 You can change the amount of allotted space for your Temporary Internet Files folder by using the Settings dialog box.


TIP: If you do a lot of Web surfing, your History list will grow out of control. History list files are stored on your hard drive, so your hard drive will soon contain numerous (sometimes thousands of) files associated with Web links. If you find that your hard drive space is limited, clear the History list or open the \WINDOWS\HISTORY folder, select all the files in the History folder, and press Delete.

FIG. 20.3 Use the Colors dialog box to set text, background, and link colors.

FIG. 20.4 The Fonts dialog box controls the way Internet Explorer 4.0 displays text.

FIG. 20.5 Use the Accessibility dialog box to set how Internet Explorer handles custom formatting and style sheets.

Table 20.1  Options in the Accessibility Dialog Box

Option Description
Ignore Colors Specified on Web Pages Instructs Internet Explorer 4.0 to use your text and background color settings (see Colors button discussion earlier) instead of any colors specified by the Web page.
Ignore Font Styles Specified on Web Pages Instructs Internet Explorer 4.0 to use your font style settings (see Fonts button discussion earlier) instead of any fonts specified by the Web page.
Ignore Font Sizes Specified on Web Pages Instructs Internet Explorer 4.0 to use your font size setting (see Fonts button discussion earlier) instead of any font sizes specified by the Web page.
Format Documents Using My Style Sheet Instructs Internet Explorer 4.0 to use a local style sheet when displaying a Web page that supports style sheets. You must specify the file pathname to your local style sheet.

Click Apply to save your settings in the General tab.

Security Tab

The Security tab (see Figure 20.6) provides access to Internet Explorer security options, such as how Java applets run, how ActiveX controls are downloaded, how files are downloaded, and whether Active Scripting is enabled. The following describes each of the options on this page:

FIG. 20.6 Use the Security tab to set security zone settings.

FIG. 20.7 The Local Intranet Zone dialog box sets security zone options for intranet documents.

FIG. 20.8 You can enter specific URLs for Web sites that use the Trusted Sites Zone security settings.


NOTE: The Add Sites button is not available when you select the Internet Zone option.

FIG. 20.9 You can enter specific URLs for Web sites that use the Restricted Sites Zone security settings.

FIG. 20.10 The Security Settings dialog box provides control over potentially harmful actions, files, applications, and documents.

Table 20.2  Security Settings

Item Description
ActiveX Controls and Plugins Enables you to specify how Internet Explorer handles ActiveX controls. The settings you can control include how Internet Explorer scripts ActiveX controls, if ActiveX controls can run on your computer, whether signed or unsigned ActiveX controls can be downloaded to your computer, and how ActiveX initializes and scripts ActiveX controls that are not marked as safe.
Java Enables you to specify how Java Permissions are granted on your computer.
Scripting Controls how Active scripting and scripting of Java applets are handled by your computer. If you cannot get Active scripting to work, be sure the Enable or Prompt option is selected.
Downloads Controls how files and fonts are downloaded to your computer. By default, both of these settings are set to Disable, so you will be prompted when a Web site wants to upload a file or font to your system.
User Authentication Enables you to control logon settings. If you want to have Internet Explorer log on to a Web site automatically, for example, click the Automatic Logon with Current Username and Password option.
Miscellaneous Provides settings for controlling how nonencrypted form data is submitted, how applications and files in IFRAMEs are launched, and other options.


TIP: To reset the Security Settings back to their default, click the Reset button. From the Reset To drop-down list, you can select the default security level that you want the default to return to, including High, Medium, and Low settings.

Click Apply to save your settings in the Security tab.

Content Tab

The Content tab (see Figure 20.11) includes settings that let you set content ratings (similar to the Motion Picture Association's ratings for movies), activate the certificates feature, and set personal information.

The following sections briefly explain each area on the Content tab.

FIG. 20.11 The Content tab contains options to set up content ratings, certificates, and personal information.

Content Advisor  Choose the Enable button to display the Create Supervisor Password dialog box (see Figure 20.12). Enter a password in the Password field, and enter it again in the Confirm Password field. You use this password when you want to change the Content Advisor settings. Keep this password secret, and do not let children know it. Click OK to save the password and display the Content Advisor dialog box (see Figure 20.13).

FIG. 20.12 Use the Create Supervisor Password dialog box to create a password that you use when you want to change the Content Advisor settings.

FIG. 20.13 You establish ratings for the Content Advisor settings in the Content Advisor dialog box.


NOTE: For the Content Advisor settings to work on a Web site, that Web site must rate its page following the Recreational Software Advisory Council (RASC) rating service for the Internet. These ratings are based on the following categories: violence, language, sex, and nudity. If a site does not incorporate the RASC ratings in its pages, Internet Explorer 4.0 does not block users from these sites. You can learn more about RASC by clicking the More Info button on the Content Advisor dialog box, which sends you to the RASC s Web page at http://www.rsac.org/ratingsv01.html.

In the Ratings page of the Content Advisor dialog box, click an item in the Category box (such as Language) and set the Rating slider bar for that rating. The slider bar appears below the Category box when you click a category. You can set the Rating slider bar from Level 0 (inoffensive slang) to Level 4 (explicit or crude language). Set each of the four categories to your tastes.

Click the General tab (see Figure 20.14) to set the following options:

FIG. 20.14 The General tab includes user and supervisor content settings.

Click the Advanced tab to set different rating systems and rating bureau information (see Figure 20.15).

FIG. 20.15 You can set up different rating systems in the Advanced tab. Options in the Advanced tab are described in the following list:

Click OK to save your settings and return to the Content tab. After you set the ratings, the Enable Ratings button changes to the Disable Ratings button. You can turn off ratings by clicking this button and entering the supervisor password. You also can change the content rating settings by clicking the Settings button. Again, you must enter the supervisor password, and then the Content Advisor dialog box appears.

Certificates  Use this area on the Content tab to designate certificate settings for identifying you, sites, and publishers of sites. Certificates are used to authenticate you (Personal button), the site on the other end (Authorities button), and the publisher of the information on the page you are viewing (Publishers button). You must obtain certificates (usually by purchasing them or receiving them from sites) before you can set them up in this section.

Personal Information  The Personal Information area of the Content tab includes settings for the Microsoft Profile Assistant. Here, you can set a Windows 98 Address Book entry for yourself, including your name, address, email address, and other personal information that is shared with Web sites you visit that request personal information from their visitors. To set up your personal information, click the Edit Profile button to display your personal Properties page (see Figure 20.16).

FIG. 20.16 Your personal information can be shared with Web sites that prompt for user information.

Fill out the information requested on the following pages and click OK:

On the Content tab, click the Reset Sharing button to revoke all the permissions you granted to Web sites that use your personal information.

You also can set up Microsoft Wallet settings on the Content tab. Microsoft Wallet provides a secure way to conduct online shopping. Click the Addresses button to display the Address Options dialog box (see Figure 20.17) and to set up Microsoft Wallet addresses. Click Close to save your settings.

FIG. 20.17 Use the Address Options dialog box to specify an address that should appear in the Microsoft Wallet.

Click the Payments button to install the Microsoft - Credit Card extension. Click the Install button when you are prompted to continue. The Payment Options dialog box then appears (see Figure 20.18). Click the Add button to display the types of credit cards Microsoft Wallet supports, including Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. Select a credit card from this list to launch the Credit Card Information Wizard, which walks you through setting up information about the card you want to use with Microsoft Wallet. Click Close when you finish adding new credit cards to the Payment Options dialog box.

FIG. 20.18 The Payment Options dialog box includes settings for the credit cards Microsoft Wallet uses to handle online shopping.


TIP: To remove a credit card from the Payment Options dialog box, click the Methods button, select the credit card from the Select Payment Methods dialog box, and click OK.

Click Apply to save your settings in the Content tab.

Connection Tab

The Connection tab contains information on how Internet Explorer 4.0 connects to the Internet.

The Connection options are explained in the following sections.

Configuring Connection Settings  You can connect to the Internet using the Internet Connection Wizard. Click the Connect button to launch the wizard and to walk through setting up your Internet connection settings. Chapter 19, "Configuring an Internet Connection," describes the Connection Wizard in detail. If you want to change the settings of your dial-up Internet connection, select the Connect to the Internet Using a Modem option and click the Settings button on the Connection tab. The Dial-Up Settings dialog box appears (see Figure 20.19).

FIG. 20.19 Use the Dial-Up Settings dialog box to change your dial-up Internet connection settings.

If, however, you connect to the Internet via a LAN, select the Access the Internet Via a Local Area Network option. You should then consult your LAN administrator before making any changes to your Internet configuration.

Configuring Corporate Proxy Server Settings  Click the Access the Internet Using a Proxy Server option on the Connection tab if you connect to the Internet via a proxy server. If you use Internet Explorer 4.0 from home, you don't generally use this setting. You need to worry about proxy settings only when you connect to the Internet from work and use a direct network connection (usually via a local area network) to the Internet. The proxy server is used to decrease the chances of users on the outside illegally breaking into your company's server using the Internet. In this case, ask your network administrator for the proper proxy settings to fill in. Fill in the Address field with the URL of your proxy server. Fill in the Port field with the port number of the proxy server. Click the Advanced button to display the Proxy Settings dialog box (see Figure 20.20). In this dialog box, enter the URL and port numbers for the proxy servers that handle the following Internet protocols:

If the same proxy server handles all the preceding Internet protocols, fill in the HTTP settings and click the Use the Same Proxy Server For All Protocols option.

For Web addresses that you do not want Internet Explorer to use the specified proxy server, enter those addresses in the Exceptions area. Separate each address with semicolons.

Click OK to close the Proxy Settings dialog box.

FIG. 20.20 The Proxy Settings dialog box includes addresses for different Internet proxy servers.

Using the Automatic Configuration Settings  If the system administrator has created a file that automatically configures your copy of Internet Explorer to run on your corporate network (to access the Internet or intranet), click the Configure button on the Connection tab. Doing so displays the Automatic Configuration dialog box (see Figure 20.21).

FIG. 20.21 The Automatic Configuration dialog box enables you to specify a URL to the file that automatically configures your copy of Internet Explorer. In the URL field, enter the URL to the file that automatically configures Internet Explorer. You should ask your system administrator for the address of this file.

Click Apply to save your Connection settings.

Programs Tab

The Programs tab, shown in Figure 20.22, includes settings for your Internet mail, news, conference, calendar, and contact list programs. You also specify in this tab whether you want Internet Explorer 4.0 to verify that it is always the default Web browser configured on your system.

FIG. 20.22 The Programs tab enables you to set up programs to work with Internet Explorer 4.0.

The following options are available on the Programs tab:

Click Apply to save your Programs settings.

Advanced Tab

The Advanced tab (see Figure 20.23) includes several settings you can configure to change the behavior of Internet Explorer. These settings are covered in Table 20.3.

FIG. 20.23 Much of the way in which Internet Explorer looks and behaves is controlled by the Advanced tab settings.

Table 20.3  Advanced Tab Options

Option Description
Move System Caret with Focus/ Selection Changes Moves the system caret (an accessibility feature) when you change the focus or a selection is made.
Always Expand Alt Text for Images Specifies whether an image size is to expand to fit the alternate text area when you've turned off image display.
Notify When Downloads Complete Indicates in the status bar when a page is completely downloaded.
Disable Script Debugging Turns off script debugging so that errors in the script are not displayed when connecting to pages with script errors.
Show Channel Bar At Startup (if Active Desktop Is Off) Displays the Channel Bar on your desktop when you start Windows.
Launch Channels in Full Screen Window Displays channels in full-screen mode.
Launch Browser in Full Screen Windows Starts IE 4.0 in full-screen mode.
Use AutoComplete Automatically fills in the Internet address as you type a URL in the Address bar. The information filled in is based on URLs you've visited in the past.
Show Friendly URLs Displays the full URL in the status bar.
Use Smooth Scrolling Displays a page's content at a predefined speed when you use the scrolling bars to scroll through the page.
Enable Page Transitions Fades in a page you are connecting to, and fades out a page you are leaving.
Browse in a New Process Starts a new IE 4.0 window each time you start IE 4.0, even if another occurrence of IE is running. This feature is useful if you double-click a Web page in Explorer and want that page to appear in its own IE 4.0 browser window.
Enable Page Hit Counting Turns on a Web page's hit counter so that it tallies a page hit for every time you view the page. This feature works even when you are viewing the page offline.
Enable Scheduled Subscription Updates Turns on the subscription feature so that it automatically updates as scheduled.
Show Welcome Message Each Time I Log On Displays the IE 4.0 Welcome screen each time you start Windows.
Show Internet Explorer on the Desktop Displays a shortcut to IE 4.0 on your desktop. Shut down and restart Windows if you change this option.
Underline Links Shows hyperlinks with underline font. You can set this option to Always, Never, or Hover. Hover turns on underlining only when you hover the mouse pointer over the hyperlinked text.
Show Pictures Turns on picture support in IE 4.0. Turn off this option if you want to load Web pages without images embedded, speeding up your download time.
Play Animations Specifies that IE 4.0 plays animation files.
Play Videos Specifies that IE 4.0 plays supported video files.
Play Sounds Specifies that IE 4.0 plays supported sound files. This option does not turn off RealAudio sound support.
Smart Image Dithering Smoothes images when displayed in IE 4.0.
Enable Profile Assistant Turns on the Profile Assistant so that when you connect to a Web site that supports Profile Assistant information, you can enter information to share with the site.
PCT 1.0 Enables Private Communications Technology protocol to send and receive secure information. Some sites may not support PCT 1.0.
SSL 2.0 Enables Secure Sockets Layer Level 2 protocol to send and receive secure information. Some sites may not support SSL 2.0.
SSL 3.0 Enables Secure Sockets Layer Level 3 protocol to send and receive secure information. Some sites may not support SSL 3.0.
Delete Saved Pages When Browser Specifies the files stored in the Temporary Internet Closed
Files folder are deleted when you quit IE 4.0.
Do Not Save Encrypted Pages To Disk Specifies that IE 4.0 does not save encrypted pages to your disk.
Warn If Forms Submit Is Being Redirected Warns you that a form you submit is being sent to a Web site other than the one on which the form resides.
Warn If Changing Between Secure and Not Secure Mode When connected to a secure page, IE 4.0 displays a message telling you that the page to which you're connecting is not a secure page.
Check for Certificate Revocation IE 4.0 can check a certificate to see if it has been revoked before accepting the certificate and allowing you to connect to the site.
Warn About Invalid Site Certificates IE 4.0 can warn you if a site you're visiting does not have a valid site certificate.
Always Accept Cookies Specifies that IE 4.0 always accepts cookie files from sites. A cookie is a file on your computer that stores information about your identity and any properties you have set for a site. Not all sites use cookies, but many do to help track site activity, as well as store information about you so that the next time you return they will know your identity.
Prompt Before Accepting Cookies Specifies that IE 4.0 asks whether you want to receive cookie files sent to you.
Disable All Cookie Use Specifies that IE 4.0 does not download or upload cookie files when you connect to the Web.
Java Console Enabled Turns on the Java console. Shut down and restart your computer if you change this setting.
Java JIT Compiler Enabled Enables the built-in Java compiler in IE 4.0.
Java Logging Enabled Creates a log file that tracks all Java activity when you run IE 4.0. You may want to enable this option to help diagnose and locate problems with Java applets.
Print Background Colors and Images Specifies that a Web page prints with its background colors and images included. This option may slow down the printing process and may reduce the quality of the printout.
Autoscan Common Root Domains When IE 4.0 cannot locate a page you've indicated, this option specifies that IE 4.0 should search for a Web page using common root domains (such as .COM, .ORG, .EDU, and .GOV) to locate a page.
Search when URL Fails Specifies whether IE 4.0 should automatically search for a Web page with a URL similar to the one you've entered in the Web address field or clicked in a page if the current page cannot be located. You can choose one of three settings: Never Search, Always Ask, or Always Search.
Show Font Button Adds the Font button to the IE 4.0 toolbar. Select this option if you want to change font displays quickly in IE 4.0 when viewing a page.
Small Icons Switches IE 4.0's toolbar buttons to small icons. Enable this option to increase the viewing area of IE 4.0.
Use HTTP 1.1 Enables IE 4.0 to use HTTP 1.1 when connecting to Web sites. HTTP 1.0 is the transport protocol for most sites on the Web, but HTTP 1.1 includes several enhancements, which is prompting many sites to upgrade. Clear this option if you have problems connecting with some sites.
Use HTTP 1.1 Through Proxy Connections Enables IE 4.0 to connect to HTTP 1.1 Web site through a proxy server.


TIP: Click Restore Defaults to return all the options back to their default state when you installed Windows.

Click OK to save your Advanced settings and to return to the Internet Explorer main window.

Changing Toolbar Features

If you want to move toolbars on the Internet Explorer window, click and hold down the left mouse button on the toolbar to grab it. The mouse pointer changes to a four-sided arrow to indicate that you can move the toolbar in different directions. Next, drag the toolbar to its new location, such as above the menu bar or below another toolbar. You also can move it to the left or right of its current location. Release the mouse button when you have the toolbar in its new location.

You also can turn off toolbars by selecting View, Toolbars. Choosing this option displays a submenu of toolbar from which you can turn off, including Standard Buttons, Address Bar, Links, and Text Labels. These choices are also available on a context menu if you right-click a toolbar.


TIP: To turn off the display of toolbar button text labels, select View, Toolbars, Text Labels. Choosing this option shrinks the size of each toolbar to give you a little more browser window area. The Text Labels option does not affect the display of ToolTips, which appear above each toolbar button when you hover the mouse pointer over them. The ToolTips provide a brief explanation of a button's functionality.

Setting Thumbnail View

Internet Explorer provides a unique feature when viewing your favorite Web sites. Not only can you store a shortcut to a favorite Web site, but you also can store a thumbnail of a site. A thumbnail is a small image of a Web site.

To display thumbnail views in Internet Explorer, perform the following steps:

1. Select Favorite, Organize Favorites.

2.
Right-click in the Organize Favorites window.

3.
Select Properties from the context menu to display the Favorites Properties page (see Figure 20.24).

FIG. 20.24 The Favorites Properties page enables you to activate thumbnail view.

4. Check Enable Thumbnail View and click OK.

5.
Click Close to close the Organize Favorites window.

6.
Reopen the Organize Favorites window (select Favorites, Organize Favorites).

7.
In the Organize Favorites window, right-click and select View, Thumbnails. Your view should now look like the one in Figure 20.25.

FIG. 20.25 You can see thumbnail views of your favorite Web sites.

Setting Full-Screen Mode

For some Web sites, viewing a document in full-screen mode is a real advantage. Full-screen mode turns off all menu bars, desk icons, scrollbars, toolbars, and the status bar so that you can see more of a Web page. A floating toolbar of the Standard Buttons toolbar appears at the top of the full-screen mode.

Turn on full-screen mode by selecting View, Full Screen (or click the Full Screen toolbar button). When you want to switch back to regular screen mode, click the Full Screen toolbar button (the third from the right).

Setting Subscriptions and Schedules

IE 4 can be set to check Web sites automatically to see whether new content is available on them. You do so by setting schedules for Web sites you subscribe to. IE 4 can then check on the Web sites daily, weekly, or monthly, depending on when you want a particular site checked. After a site is subscribed to and content is downloaded to your desktop, you can view the site while connected to the Internet or while offline.

To set up a subscription and schedule to a Web site, use the following steps:

1. Display the Web page to which you want to subscribe. You need to be connected to the Internet or an intranet to view your page.

2.
Select Favorites, Add To Favorites.

3.
From the Add Favorite dialog box (see Figure 20.26), select from the following options:

FIG. 20.26 Use the Add Favorite dialog box to set up a subscription to a Web page.

4. Click Customize to start the Subscription Wizard (see Figure 20.27).

FIG. 20.27 The Subscription Wizard walks you through setting up a Web page subscription.

5. Select whether to receive an email message from the Web site to which you're subscribing when it changes.

6.
Click Next. Fill in any username or password information required by the Web site.

7.
Click Finish.

8.
On the Add Favorite dialog box, click OK.

To configure subscription schedules, select Favorites, Manage Subscriptions. The Subscriptions window then appears (see Figure 20.28). Right-click a Web page you want to modify, and choose Properties from the context menu. The Properties page for that Web page then appears (see Figure 20.29).

FIG. 20.28 You can view the schedule of your subscriptions in this window.

FIG. 20.29 The Subscription tab on the Properties page provides information about the subscribed-to Web page.

On the Subscription tab, you can click the Unsubscribe button if you want to remove the selected page from your subscription list.

If you want to change how IE 4 notifies you of a changed page, click the Receiving tab (see Figure 20.30) and set the Subscription Type and Notification options. They are similar to the options you selected in steps 3 through 5 in the preceding steps.

FIG. 20.30 The Receiving tab also includes the Login button, which enables you to modify username and password requirements for a page.

On the Schedule tab, set the schedule for how often the page should be updated. From the Scheduled drop-down list, select Daily, Monthly, or Weekly. Then click the Edit button to customize the schedule in the Custom Schedule dialog box. Make changes to when you want the update for the subscribed-to page to occur. Click OK to save your changes.

If you want to set up a new schedule for a subscription, click the New button on the Schedule tab and set up the new schedule.


TIP: To have IE 4 automatically connect to the Internet via modem to update a subscription, be sure to click the Dial As Needed If Connected Through a Modem option. This feature is handy if you plan to update your subscriptions on off-hours, such as late at night or on weekends, when you usually are not connected to the Internet.

The Manually option is used if you don't want to schedule a time to update a subscription. Rather, you want to update the subscription manually by using the Update Now button on the Schedule page, or by right-clicking a subscription in the Subscriptions window and selecting Update.

Finally, select the Don't Update This Subscription When I'm Using My Computer option if you don't want IE 4 to update a subscription if you're doing something else with your computer. This way, IE 4 does not interfere with your work.

Click OK to save your settings.


Previous chapterNext chapterContents


© Copyright, Macmillan Computer Publishing. All rights reserved.