Windows 7 / Getting Started

Using Internet Explorer

As mentioned, Internet Explorer is the Web browser that comes with Windows 7. There's no rule that says you must use that Web browser. But you certainly can, because it should work with any Internet account with any ISP.

You start Internet Explorer as you do any other program. If Internet Explorer is configured as your default (preferred) Web browser, click the Internet Explorer icon on the taskbar just to the right of the Start menu. Or, click Start → All Programs → Internet Explorer.

When Internet Explorer opens, you're taken to your default home page. That's just the fancy name for the first Web page you see when you open your Web browser. As discussed later in this tutorial, you can choose any page you like as your default home page.

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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