Windows 7 / Getting Started

Choosing search providers

If you already have a favorite search engine, you can use it as your default search provider. If you have several favorites, you can add them all and make any one the default provider. In case you're new to all this, I give you some advice on search providers to try. Here are the steps to follow to choose search providers:

  1. Click the arrow on the Search box and choose Find More Providers. A Web page opens showing names of several search engines and searchable Web sites.
  2. Click a provider name (such as Google) and click Add to Internet Explorer.
  3. Repeat Step 2 for each provider you want to use. If you don't have any preferences, here are some examples:
    • AOL, Ask.com, Google, Lycos.com, MSN, and Yahoo! are all general-purposes sites that cover most of the World Wide Web.
    • About.com, www.cnet.com, and Microsoft.com are good resources for computer information.
    • Wikipedia.org is a great online encyclopedia for information about virtually any topic, although accuracy isn't guaranteed because anyone can edit an entry.
    • Amazon, BestBuy.com, eBay, Overstock.com, Shopzilla, Target, and Wal-Mart are all shopping-related sites.
    • Monster is for job searching, ESPN for sports, USA Today for news.

When you've finished making selections, click the arrow on the Search box again. This time, all the search providers you've chosen appear.

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In this tutorial:

  1. Using Windows 7 Internet Explorer
  2. Understanding How the Web Works
  3. Examples of Top-Level Domains and URLs of Web Sites
  4. Windows Explorer Versus Internet Explorer
  5. Using Internet Explorer
  6. Browsing to a Web site
  7. Using AutoComplete
  8. Using Back, Forward, and History buttons
  9. Magnifying a page
  10. Panes and toolbars
  11. Full-screen viewing
  12. Change your default home page
  13. Using Tabs
  14. Using Quick Tabs
  15. Creating multiple home page tabs
  16. Rearranging and removing home page tabs
  17. Personalizing tabbed browsing
  18. Shortcut keys for tabs
  19. Using Web Slices
  20. Using Accelerators
  21. Using RSS Feeds
  22. Optional settings for RSS feeds
  23. Using the RSS Feed Headlines gadget
  24. Managing Favorite Sites
  25. Adding tab groups to Favorites
  26. Starting Your Favorites Collection
  27. Organizing Favorites
  28. Importing and exporting Favorites
  29. Blocking Pop-Ups
  30. Using the Information bar
  31. When pop-ups still get through
  32. Using the SmartScreen Filter
  33. How the SmartScreen Filter works
  34. Getting the most from the SmartScreen Filter
  35. Deleting the Browser History
  36. Clearing AutoComplete entries
  37. Configuring AutoComplete
  38. Understanding cookies
  39. Deleting cookies
  40. Adjusting cookie privacy settings
  41. Looking at cookies and privacy policies
  42. Understanding temporary Internet files
  43. Clearing temporary Internet files
  44. Temporary Internet files settings
  45. A note on certificates
  46. Using Internet Security Zones
  47. Printing Web Pages
  48. Using Print Preview
  49. Saving Web Pages
  50. Copying content from Web pages
  51. Downloading pictures and videos
  52. Making Internet Explorer Your Default Browser
  53. Searching the Web
  54. Choosing search providers
  55. Choosing a default provider
  56. Searching from the Search box
  57. Searching from the address bar
  58. Getting More with Add-ons
  59. Managing add-ons
  60. Internet Explorer Help and Troubleshooting