Using the Internet

    This chapter provides information about the Internet and the World Wide Web and tells you how to set up the America Online® Internet service so that you can send and receive e-mail and access other Internet resources.

Learning about the Internet

    The Internet is a worldwide network of computers linked together to provide information to people everywhere. The two most popular services on the Internet are e-mail and the World Wide Web. You can access this network by connecting your computer to a telephone, DSL (Digital Subscriber Line), or cable line and signing up with an Internet Service Provider (ISP).

    Cable and DSL modems, a connection known as broadband, use your TV cable or special telephone lines to connect to your ISP and access the Internet. Cable and DSL modems connect to your computer through an Ethernet jack and provide a faster connection speed than if you use a standard telephone modem.

    Important

    To locate the Ethernet jack on your computer, see Checking Out Your Gateway Computer.

      If you want to access the Internet you need:

    A modem - a device that connects your computer to other computers or servers using a telephone, DSL, or cable line.
    An Internet Service Provider - a company that provides access to the Internet through an ISP server. When you connect to an ISP, the ISP server lets you access the Internet and your e-mail messages.
    A Web browser - a program that displays information from the World Wide Web.
    An e-mail program - a program that lets you create, send, and receive e-mail messages over the Internet.

    Setting up an Internet account

      Before you can view the information on the World Wide Web, you need to set up an Internet account with an Internet Service Provider (ISP). If you have chosen America Online as an ISP, follow these instructions to set up and connect to your account. To set up a different ISP service or to transfer an existing account to this computer, contact the ISP directly.

      If you set up an account with America Online, an Internet e-mail address is created for you. After completing the setup, you are ready to access the Internet.

    To set up an Internet account with America Online:

      1. Click Start, All Programs, then click America Online.

      2. Follow the on-screen instructions. After setting up your account, you can connect to the Internet and access your e-mail services.

         

    Accessing your Internet account

    To connect to your America Online Internet account:

      1. Click Start, All Programs, then click America Online.

      2. Complete the member name and password information, then click Connect. The computer dials the Internet account telephone number.

         

      If you are using a service other than America Online, check with your ISP for the correct procedure for connecting.

      After connecting, the Web browser window opens. For information about the Web and the Web browser, see Using the World Wide Web.

    To disconnect from your America Online Internet account:

    Click X in the top-right corner of the America Online window. Your computer disconnects from the Internet.

      Important

      Make sure that your computer disconnects correctly from your Internet account. If you do not have an "unlimited hours" ISP account, you may have to pay for the time that you are connected, even if you are not at the computer.

           

        If you are using a service other than America Online, check with your ISP for the correct procedure for disconnecting.

        Help and Support

        For general information about using Internet accounts in Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.

        Type the keyword ISP in the HelpSpot Search box, then click the arrow.

        Using the World Wide Web

          The World Wide Web is a multimedia window to the Internet that gives you access to millions of information sources.

          Information on the Web comes to you on Web pages, which are electronic documents that you view using a Web page display program called a browser. You can use any of the commercially available Web browsers, like Microsoft Internet Explorer, which comes installed on your new computer.

          Web pages can contain text, animations, music, and other multimedia features.

          A group of related Web pages is called a Web site. You can access Web sites to shop, track investments, read the news, download programs, and much more.

          You can explore a Web site or visit other Web sites by clicking areas on a Web page called links or hyperlinks. A link may be colored or underlined text, a picture, or an animated image. You can identify a link by moving the mouse pointer over it. If the pointer changes to a hand, the item is a link.

          To learn more about using the Web browser features, click Help in the menu bar.

        Connecting to a Web site

          After you set up an account with an Internet Service Provider (ISP) such as America Online, you can access the many information sources on the World Wide Web.

        To connect to a Web site:

          1. Connect to your Internet account. After the computer connects, a default opening page or welcome screen opens.

          2. To go to a different Web site, type the address (called a URL for "Universal Resource Locator") in the browser address bar (for example www.gateway.com), then click GO on the browser address bar.
            - OR -
            On the current Web page, click a link to a Web site.
            The Web browser locates the server computer on the Internet, downloads (transfers) data to your computer, and displays the page on the site that you requested.

             

          Help and Support

          For more information about connecting to a Web site in Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.

          Type the keyword connecting to Web site in the HelpSpot Search box, then click the arrow.

            Sometimes Web pages display slowly. The speed that a Web page displays on your screen depends on the complexity of the Web page and other Internet conditions. Additionally, the speed of your connection will determine how fast Web pages display.

          Downloading files

            Downloading is the process of transferring files from a computer on the Internet to your computer.

            To protect your computer against viruses, make sure that you scan the files you download. For more information, see Protecting your computer from viruses.

          To download files or programs from a Web site:

            1. Connect to your Internet account.

            2. In the address bar, type the address of the Web site that contains the file or program you want to download, then click GO on the browser address bar.
              - OR -
              Click a link on a Web page to navigate to the Web site containing the file that you want to download.

            1. Create or locate the folder where you want to store the file on your computer.

            2. Click the link on the Web page for the file that you want to download.

            3. Follow the on-screen instructions for saving the file in the folder that you want.
              A copy of the file is downloaded to your computer. The time that it takes to transfer the file to your computer depends on file size and Internet conditions.

            1. Open the folder that you created.

            2. Install or view the downloaded file by double-clicking it. If applicable, follow the instructions provided on the Web site to run or install the program.

               

            Help and Support

            For more information about downloading files in Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.

            Type the keyword downloading files in the HelpSpot Search box, then click the arrow.

            Using e-mail

              E-mail (electronic mail) lets you send messages to anyone who has an Internet connection and e-mail address. E-mail is usually a free service of your Internet account.

              The Internet never closes, so you can send e-mail messages at any time. Your e-mail messages arrive at most e-mail addresses in minutes.

              An e-mail address consists of a user name, the @ symbol, and the Internet domain name of the Internet Service Provider (ISP) or company that "hosts" that user. Your e-mail address is assigned when you sign up for an account with an ISP. For example, a person with an account with America Online might have an e-mail address that is similar to this one:

            Sending e-mail

            To send e-mail using America Online:

              1. Connect to your America Online account.

              2. Click Write.

              3. Type the e-mail address of the recipient you want to send e-mail to in the Send To box.

              4. Type the subject of your e-mail in the Subject box.

              5. Type the e-mail message.

              6. When finished, click Send Now. Your e-mail is sent over the Internet to the e-mail address you specified.

                 

            Checking your e-mail

            To check your e-mail using America Online:

              1. Connect to your America Online account.

              2. Click Read.

              3. Double-click the message you want to read.

                 

              For more information about managing and organizing your e-mail messages, see the online help in your e-mail program.

              Help and Support

              For general information about using e-mail in Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.

              Type the keyword e-mail in the HelpSpot Search box, then click the arrow.