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.5.Choose Always dial my default connection, as in Figure 5-20.page 88 Windows XP BibleFigure 5-20: Internet Explorer set up to connect automatically6.Click the OK button.From this point, you should be able to browse the Web at any time, just by opening your MicrosoftInternet Explorer program.More on browsing the Web in Chapter 6.SummaryTo connect to the Internet, you basically need two things: some type of modem and an account with anInternet service provider.This chapter has covered all the options and techniques required to getstarted.Here s a quick recap of the important points covered in this chapter:If you have an account with one of the large online services, such as AOL, CompuServe, MSN,or Prodigy, you already have Internet access.Go to that service and look for information aboutusing the Internet.You can find an Internet service provider in the New Connection Wizard, through your localnewspaper or Yellow Pages, or at the www.ispfinder.com Web site.Unless your ISP provides a disk to set up your Internet account automatically, you ll probablyneed to run the New Connection Wizard to set up your account (Start All ProgramsAccessories Communications New Connection Wizard).If you set up a dial-up account to connect to the Internet, use the connectoid icon on thedesktop or in the Network Connections window to connect to the Internet.If you have any problems making a connection with your ISP, see the troubleshooting sectionsin this chapter.Chapter 6: Browsing the World Wide WebThe Internet offers many services, including the wildly popular Word Wide Web (a.k.a.the Web).TheWeb provides an easy point-and-click interface to a vast amount of information, free software, technicalsupport, and just plain fun.Even if you haven t actually been on the Internet yet, you ve undoubtedlyseen Web site addresses those www.whatever.com things in ads, letterheads, or elsewhere.Inthis chapter, you ll learn how to get to those addresses and much more about using the Web.Getting on the WebGetting on to the World Wide Web is easy.The exact way you go about it, however, depends on yourInternet connection and your Internet service provider (ISP).If you work for a company that provides apermanent connection to the Internet, for example, you may have to log on to your company s networkand then start your Web browser.If you re going through one of the big online services, such asAmerica Online, CompuServe, or Prodigy, you ll probably need to start the browsing software thoseservices come with and then click a Connect to the Internet button.If you have a dial-up connection ofthe sort discussed in Chapter 5, you may need to open the connectoid to your ISP first.As a general rule, however, you probably can get right on to the World Wide Web by opening MicrosoftInternet Explorer.You can do this in three different ways.Use whichever method is most convenient:page 89 Windows XP BibleOpen the Internet Explorer icon on your desktop.Click the Launch Internet Explorer Browser icon in the Quick Launch toolbar.Choose Start ’! Internet Explorer.If an Internet Connection Wizard dialog box appears, read it carefully and follow its instructions to set upyour Internet connection.(You ll only need to do this step the first time you start your browser.)Most browsers, including Internet Explorer, automatically prompt you to connect to the Internet if you renot connected already.This means you can start your browser without bothering to connect first.If youare prompted to connect, just click the Connect button that appears.Your Web browser will start and connect to its default home page.That page will fill the large documentarea within Internet Explorer, as in the example shown in Figure 6-1.That figure shows the home pageat www.idg.com (the publishers of this book), although your default home page is likely to bewww.msn.com, the home page for the Microsoft Network.Figure 6-1: Internet Explorer, showing the Hungry Minds home pageDon t be alarmed if you end up at a completely different Web site.It s easy to change your default homepage.Choosing Your Own Home PageYou re not stuck with using the Internet Explorer default home page.In fact, you can specify any startingpage you want, use the page you re currently viewing, or start with a blank one.To do this, chooseTools ’! Internet Options from the Internet Explorer menu bar.Click the General tab.Next, fill in theAddress text box in the Home Page area with the address of your favorite starting Web page or click theUse Current button to select the current page you re browsing as your home page.Click the Use Defaultbutton to revert to Microsoft s site as the home page.Alternatively, click the Use Blank button to save afew seconds when you fire up Internet Explorer.If you do this, Explorer won t go looking for your homepage.Finally, click OK to save your changes.Visiting a Web SiteEvery Web site has its own unique address, or Uniform Resource Locator (URL).Most start withhttp://www (for Hypertext Transfer Protocol, World Wide Web).Most also end with a three-letterextension that tells you a bit about who owns the site.For example, commercial sites end in.com,educational institutions end in.edu, government sites end in.gov, and non-profit organizations end in.org.For example, my personal Web site s URL is http://www.coolnerds.com
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