Beginners &
Internet help Information |
| browsers | operating systems | net jargon | blogs | usenet newsgroups | ftp | telnet | e-mail | free e-mail | free internet access | computer viruses | search engines | chat | html | creating web pages |
I've put this beginner (newbie) section together to help you start out on your Internet journey without having to sort through all the other things. I hope this supplies you with enough helpful information so you can begin surfing the Internet with a clue, and without drowning in the information flood. (If I don't have what you need, try Newbie.org, or 5 Star Free Technical Support, or Tech Support Guy, or PC Support - all free help.) If you still can't find what you need, you may ask me. |
First, let's look through some beginner browsing information: |
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Browsing the Internet is also referred to as "surfing the net". Browsers are the software that allow you to view the files of, or "move about" the Internet... Thus the term "browsing". The browser I use is Microsoft's Internet Explorer. It is easy, giving a smooth e-journey, and will do just about everything, even the whistles and bells. I have
WindowsXP operating system and I use a mouse... but please consider my references to "highlight", "click", and "choose" as being however you wish to maneuver.) To look at a Web page, just choose the desired icon (small picture) or "link". Links are colored text, graphics, or pictures. Usually the brighter or darker colored text is for new links, and the duller or lighter colored text signifies you have been to that Web page before. (It all depends on the author of each individual Web page.) Links can be underlined, depending on your browser settings. When you highlight a link (or put your mouse pointer on it), the browser will display a URL (Uniform Resource Locator), which is a Web site's address, at the bottom of the browser screen. They usually begin with the "http://" (HyperText Transfer Protocol). -- I remembered it by thinking "Hurry To This Place" which is *NOT correct; just easy* (More URL protocols: "gopher://", "ftp://", "news://", "file://") When you follow a link, you can choose the "back" button of your browser's toolbar to return here. (Or right click the mouse and choose "back") You need to click "back" for each time you clicked on a link. If you get lost, you can type the URL in the text box, under the toolbar, where your browser says "Location:", "Go to:", "address:", or something similar; or choose "history" on the Explorer toolbar (on Explorer versions 4 and above, choose the small down arrow just to the right of the back button), then choose the URL, or page title. The URL for this web page is: http://www.snowhawk.com/newbie.html The easy way to shorten your return, is to "bookmark" the Web page. To do this for Explorer, you choose "favorites" from the top toolbar, then choose "add favorites". Any time you wish to return to a Web site you have added to your favorites, you can choose "favorites"; then choose the title of the page or URL. (The title of this Web page is "Beginners & Internet Help Information by snowhawk".) Recommend reading: |
More Browsing information: |
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MICROSOFT INTERNET EXPLORER HOME MS HELP & SUPPORT OPERA NETSCAPE HELP MOSAIC WEB BROWSER FAQ - answers to Frequently Asked ?s ABOUT THOSE "COOKIES" |
Operating Systems: |
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The program that controls all other parts of the computer. (The Big Wheel that turns all the little wheels :) See Operating Systems, or Operating System - Wikipedia for more info. OS/2: OS2.org OS2 ARCHIVES ARKAY - OS/2 Support BeOS: BeFOREVER BeOS TIP SERVER UNIX: UNIX GURU UNIVERSE UNIX - TUTORIALS, BY WEBREFERENCE UNIX FAQ'S (Frequently Asked Questions... & answers) ITtoolbox UNIX LINUX: LINUX LINUX HQ - latest kernel & patches SuSE MACINTOSH: The ULTIMATE MACINTOSH MacWORLD EVERYTHING MACINTOSH MACUPDATE: SOFTWARE & GAMES OPERA: THE OPERA BROWSER WINDOWS: (left click on your Windows 98 desktop, then press F1, MEGA HELP in the Troubleshooting Wizzard) INSTALLATION Bob Cerelli's WINDOWS PAGE - 95/98/2000/ME/XP/Vista WINDOWS VISTA HELP, Tutorials & Tricks COMPUTER HOPE - Vista WINDOWS XP TUTORIALS SUPERSITE FOR WINDOWS WINDOWS ME TUTORIALS WINDOWS 2000 TUTORIALS MS WINDOWS UPDATE WINDOWS ANNOYANCES - tips, troubleshooting, etc. WINDOWS FAMILY - MS WINDOWS HELP & TIPS TWEAK XP WIN XP TIPS WINDOWS LINKS - MY REFERENCE DESK WINDOWS YAHOO LINKS - ALL WINDOWS |
Say What? |
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Help with internet jargon and acronyms: NET LINGO GEEK.COM GLOSSARY WHATis BANDWIDTH: The amount of data transmitted through an Internet connection. Usually measured in bps (bits per second). For example, a modem running at 56k would transmit more data per second (higher bandwith) than a modem running at 28.8k, or 33.6k. Bandwidth - Test your computer CNet Bandwidth Meter BLOGS: (Web Logs) Personal Web page of thoughts and links much like an online journal or diary. STUDYING BLOGS GLOBE OF BLOGS BLOGS ZDNET USENET Newsgroups: Network of discussion groups. GOOGLE GROUPS USENET HOME PAGE USENET FAQ - about news groups USENET FAQs - list of usenet FAQ archives USENET DIRECTORY - list of newsgroups WORLD WIDE WEB RELATED NEWSGROUPS (Mailing Lists are included below in the E-mail section.) FTP (File Transfer Protocol): Sending or receiving files from another computer. FILE TRANSFER: MOVING FILES BETWEEN COMPUTERS FTP PLANET CUTE FTP TELNET: Process of logging on and using a remote system (usually a UNIX computer) from another computer. HYTELNET on the WWW INTERNET TIPS & FAQS: WWW FAQs - answers to Frequently Asked Questions LEARN THE NET NEWBIE GUIDE - Internet for beginners (Internet 101) GUIDE TO THE INTERNET FAQ ARCHIVES CORE RULES OF NETIQUETTE - Etiquette for the Internet FREE TECHNICAL SUPPORT - and Tutorials COMPUTER HELP, TECH SUPPORT & TIPS |
Here's the ISP |
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(Internet Service Provider) listing, named appropriately: The List You can search the list by area code, country code, or state. (Your Internet Service Provider is who's phone line your modem communicates with to connect you to the Internet. My ISP is Internet Complete! in Tulsa, Oklahoma.) |
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(Electronic Mail) Means by which messages, or letters, are sent and received from
one computer to another through the Internet. The e-mail address is usually composed of
the user's nickname with "@", then the ISP address. (sample yourname@somewhere.com)
It is also possible to attach files, and photos. I have used both Netscape's e-mail (way before AOL bought it), and Microsoft's Outlook Express. I liked them both. Outlook Express comes with the browsers, and on the Windows CD's. I was happy with Outlook, but when all the viruses began to target it, I switched to using Yahoo's free e-mail. They scan for viruses and block a lot of junk e-mail. I have also used Eudora Pro, and liked it, too; however, I felt it had many more "clicks" to manouver to get where I wanted... That was several years back, so of course, I'm sure it's all different now. It allows management of multiple e-mail accounts. You can download and try out Eudora Light. Here's a Help and Resource page. Newbie Guide to E-mail and the E-mail Guide are great resources. Netscape Unofficial FAQ, and Microsoft's Internet Guide & Web Tutorial are also informative. What AOL Users Don't Know About Email Links Urban Email Legends explains about all that forwarded email we get... and why you shouldn't forward all of it too. Mailing Lists: Discussion groups use mailing lists. Each person's e-mail message that is sent to the mailing list gets routed to every person who is a member of the particular list. (Including your own e-mail messages getting sent back to you, because you're on the list.) TILE.NET: E-MAIL LIST DIRECTORY - NEWS & FTP DIRECTORY L-SOFT, CATALIST, CATALOG OF LISTSERV MAILING LISTS FREE E-MAIL: Access through your browser; no e-mail program necessary. Some of the accounts offer free e-mail forwarding. YELLOWSTONE NET YAHOO - also offers free Web space HOTMAIL GO.COM HISPANIC ONLINE BIGFOOT - e-mail forwarding only JUNO - need their software FREE WEB SPACE: YAHOO/GEOCITIES HOMESTEAD FREE & NOT-SO-COSTLY INTERNET ACCESS: (These may have changed. FREE is disappearing fast.) NET ZERO - POP & Web, w/ads JUNO - w/ads |
About that VIRUS! |
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The only way to get a computer virus is to download an infected, executable file (like .EXE
or .COM) and then run it; or use an infected boot up disk. "A virus CAN NOT be
spread to your computer from merely opening your e-mail... but BEWARE of the attachment
files." -- And that WAS TRUE until someone dug a tunnel into Microsoft's E-mail
program. If you use Microsoft Outlook (or Outlook Express) with Internet Explorer, you
need to stay alert of the viruses that are popping up.
For more Microsoft virus information check their Security Advisor Bulletin.
You can signup for their free security bulletins if you want them e-mailed to you. Symantec offers Free online virus checks with their latest Norton Antivirus, and for all their virus information check out Symantec AntiVirus Research Center. You can subscribe to Symantec's SARC AntiVirus Newsletter which they e-mail to you with the real virus alerts. They also maintain a list of common virus hoaxes that constantly flood our mailboxes. Same for McAfee. You can sign up for virus notices, read their latest virus information, and check your pc for viruses free. I recommend you check a virus hoax list before passing on virus information. It's good to want to warn friends of virus dangers, but they should indeed be true warnings rather than more forwarded hoaxes. More Virus info: Virus List - All Threats, News, Glossary, Alerts, etc Truth About Computer Virus Myths & Hoaxes |
Seek, and ye shall find |
Searches can be tricky sometimes...Search engines, and directories, (also known as spyders, crawlers, and robots) are programs that get you listings of Web sites about your particular interest by submitting a word or phrase.I have a list of search engines and search directories with all their current information and preferences, that I believe covers all of the main areas. The number one of choice, Google (a search engine based on keywords), Ask.com (gives more realistic search results), and Yahoo (a search directory) are what I tend to use the most. Each search Website has a link (listed as options, preferences, or help) for choices in variations of settings, and procedures for that specific search engine. Some of them offer choices as to finding a whole phrase, all the words you enter, etc. You can get the search engine to find an exact phrase or name, grouping of words, even if they don't offer the choice by using quotation marks... (For example, "Michael Parks") -- otherwise, you will get all the pages in that search engine that have the word "Michael" or the word "parks" scattered throughout a page. There are more search engines, directories, including "people finder" directories, and reference sites at my Reference / Search Gateway. |
Chat |
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At my Virtual Chat gateway, there are several options to joining
in on Internet chat. At first there was only IRC (Internet Relay Chat),
Where people meet on channels to "chat" live, also referred to as "in real-time". There
are many "channels" of every topic you can think of from all over the world. IRC offers
DCC (Direct Client to Client) file transfers and chat. This by-passes the IRC servers,
connecting your server directly with the other person's server. - Excellent speed for file
transfers. [More IRC information.] On the lighter side, there is ICQ. You can hook up a headset, or use your microphone and speakers, and "talk" just as if you were on the phone, with a few time delays during the Internet prime times. I like it's options to transfer files, URL's, and have group chats with several friends. (Up to 6 people in a group chat I believe.) ICQ is the most popular of the chat/message options, outside of IRC. I've used both MS Messenger and Yahoo Messenger. MS Messenger has a very easy setup, connects quickly, and seems to have no lag. It also has the option to "talk" like on the telephone, with a little lag (time delays). Yahoo Messenger also connects quickly, with an easy setup. Yahoo Messenger provides for file transfers. It appears to copy the file onto Yahoo's server, which I find questionable. With all of the above, you can type a URL in the message box and the people you are chatting with can "click and go!" |
Ready for more? |
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You can browse through All Things Internet, or my collection of Internet related Links (includes links to the History of the Internet); and my Eclectic Gateway Main Menu or the Directory can take you just about anywhere. All of this information, and my eclectic links, are only what I prefer or have found helpful personally. I know there are many, many more options out there; and some may be better than what I have shown here... I just haven't found them yet. |
Surf On! |
[ ALL THINGS INTERNET | HOME | DIRECTORY ] too much? too little? too late? comments and suggestions to Snowi Send This Page To A Friend -oo0oo- Or to yourself so you don't lose it. =] |
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Copyright 1996-2008 by
Snowhawk
Page Title: Beginners & Internet Help Information by snowhawk URL: http://www.snowhawk.com/newbie.html |
hi Mom!
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