Browser Notes

This site was designed to be viewed at 1024 x 768 monitor resolution.

Whether you are using Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator or Communicator, your browser will cache (store) visited web pages and images.  This makes your browsing session more pleasant.  When you return to a previously loaded page, the page seems to reload almost instantly.  This happens because the data has been cached in your Temporary Internet Files folder and system memory.  However, there is a "downside" to this feature.

Many people often wonder why their computers begin to run slowly after they have had them for a while.  There are two causes for this.

1. Full Temporary Internet File - Many computer owners do not know how or forget to perform regular system maintenance.  If you browse the Internet, sooner or later your Temporary Internet file is going to get full.  This will cause you to experience slow page loads and a bogged-down system in general.  Fortunately, there is way for you to control this situation.
   
   Delete your Temporary Internet files - manually or automatically.
   
   Here are some tips.
   For Internet Explorer users, select Tools then Internet Options from your Menu Bar.  Under the General Tab, select Delete Files and click OK.  If you want to be more thorough, check the Delete Offline Content box first and then click OK.  This is performing the task manually.
   
   If you wish the process to be done automatically, select Tools then Internet Options from your Menu Bar and click the Advanced Tab.  Scroll down through the check list until you get to "Empty Temporary Internet files when the browser is closed" and check the box.  Click OK.
   
   For Netscape users, from the Menu Bar select Edit then Preferences.  Click the + sign next to the Advanced section to see the word "Cache".  Click on Cache and click both the Clear Memory Cache and Clear Disk Cache buttons.  Now your computer will be cleared out.
   
   

2. Fragmented Hard Drive - All files and directories on a computer's hard drive become fragmented over time.  How quickly and to what extent they become fragmented depends upon usage.  If you use your computer only a few hours per week, defragmenting your hard drive twice monthly should keep your system running quickly.  If you use your computer daily, you should defragment your hard drive at least once every week.  In truth, daily users should "defrag" every day.  A severely fragmented hard drive will wear out prematurely because the read heads are forced to scan the disk constantly looking for all the parts of a given file.  This will slow system performance dramatically.  When you multi-task with your computer, you compound the problem.
   
   Please consult your system manufacturer's Owner's Manual for details on how to perform Disk Defragmentation operations.

Special Note:  Since the technology of the Internet is constantly expanding, it is a good idea to download the latest version of your favorite browser.  If you intend to do any online purchasing or the relaying of sensitive personal information, it is strongly recommended that you download the versions that have 128-bit encryption for maximum security.

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