I get so frustrated when I use the Internet, it is so slow. Are there any ways of speeding it up I use Internet Explorer.

Asks jellybean

A. Your Internet browser can certainly be speeded up, it was probably set at a certain level when installed on your computer, but you can change this. Some tips for faster surfing using the Internet Explorer browser include the following:

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Bookmarks/Favourites

This is one of the fastest shortcuts you can use on the Internet as it allows you to store all your favourite addresses and all you have to do is select your site from the pull down menu. On Internet Explorer this service is called favourites (and on Netscape it is bookmarks).

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Create a new home page

If you don't like the home page your browser selects for you, you can change it to your favourite page, which cuts down on time when you first connect to the Internet. To do this you simply go to your favourite page and when it is open select TOOLS from the top pull down menu, then INTERNET OPTIONS, then under HOME PAGE, click on USE CURRENT and then click on OK.

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Blank home page

Alternatively, you can have a completely blank home page, which downloads even faster than your favourite one above. Again choose TOOLS, INTERNET OPTIONS, GENERAL, HOME PAGE, USE BLANK, APPLY.

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Open multiple pages at once

It is quicker to open a new page as a new window than it is to close down one page and open another afterwards. If you are using a Mac this is done by clicking on a web page and not letting go of the mouse, a pull-down menu will appear on the screen, choose open page in a new window. If you use a PC use the right click option on your mouse and you'll be given the option of opening a link as a new window. However, don't go mad. Try to avoid having more than about 6 to 8 pages open at once, as you can get lost and it will take up too much memory on your computer and it can have the adverse effect of slowing your computer right down.

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Close other applications

If you have other applications open e.g. Microsoft Word, Photoshop etc you are using up valuable computer memory you can be using for Internet surfing, so try to close down applications you are not using while surfing.

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Disable cookies

A cookie is a bit of information sent to the hard drive of your computer once you have opened a web page, it helps identify you as a user the next time you visit that website. Some websites will not work without cookies, but a lot of them are completely irrelevant. To disable a cookie go to the TOOLS menu, then INTERNET OPTIONS, click on SECURITY, then choose CUSTOMISE. You will then be offered three options for cookies: disable, enable and prompt. Obviously use disable if you want to get rid of them. Prompt will offer you the option to choose or decline a cookie when you are online, for example on a banking site a cookie would be useful, but it can slow you down as you are offered them all the time once you choose prompt.

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Cache capacity

Your computer's temporary memory is called a cache - and it will store information on web pages you have visited recently and when you download them again they will be opened very quickly. If you use this facility a lot you can create more memory for the cache or if you don't visit the same pages regularly you can give it less memory - each way it will help you to surf more quickly. To give your cache more power choose TOOLS, then INTERNET OPTIONS, then GENERAL menu, click on TEMPORARY INTERNET FILES and click on SETTINGS. Up the settings for more memory or decrease it if you do not wish to utilise the option.

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Shut down pop-ups

Sites will have a page pop-up before you get to the home page, these often take a while to download, so just close them before they even open to save time.

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Do not type the full address

Most browsers will now find a page for you now without having to recognise the WWW at the beginning or the .com at the end, so just type the word.

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Avoid lunchtimes

Lots of office workers can only use the Internet in their lunch break when they are not officially working, so traffic can become quite dense and the whole system can slow down. If this is not a vital time for you to do your surfing in, avoid it for faster Internet use.

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Go text only

If you need to find information quickly you can view web pages as text only files - that ignore images, video clips etc. - and the pages download very quickly. To view a page in text only format go to TOOLS, INTERNET OPTIONS, click on ADVANCED menu, then MULITMEDIA. You will be given the option to disable sound, pictures, animation etc.

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Use web rings

Web rings or loops are sites that are linked together by subject e.g. decorating, cycling etc. Yahoo has a great directory of these and points you in the right direction. You move on from site to site by clicking the web ring logo on the web page.

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Following links

If you want to follow a link hyper linked on a web page - but still want to keep your existing page open�- hold down the SHIFT key when you click on the link and a new window will open. Your existing page will be underneath.

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Q. Can you recommend any websites that offer good Internet surfing tips

A. If you want help with Internet Explorer and want to keep up to date with shortcuts and tips on surfing check out http://www.windows-help.net If you use Netscape and need help or tips with this browser check out http://home.netscape.com/browsers/using.

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By Karen Anderson