ABOUT THE CD The CD that comes with this book contains a wide variety of software helpers for getting on the Internet and making your visits to cyberspace more pleasant. The CD amounts to a virtual tool kit of programs that enhances your web browser. The included programs enable you to use files downloaded from the Net, view multimedia files more easily, and add features to your browser. In addition, the CD provides hyperlinks for every site reviewed in this book (see the upcoming "Using the Directory Links" section for details), which should save you hours of manually typing URLs. Read on to find out everything you need to know about the CD. SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS Before you install the CD, make sure that your system meets the following system requirements. If your computer doesn't meet the minimum requirements, you may have trouble using the programs on the CD. * A 486 or faster PC running Windows 3.1 or Windows 95 or 98, or any Macintosh with a 68030 processor or better running System 7.5 or higher. * At least 8MB total RAM installed in your computer (16MB recommended). * A CD-ROM drive--double-speed (2x) or faster. * A sound card with speakers. * A monitor capable of displaying at least 256 colors or grayscale. * An Internet connection--a 14.4 Kbps or faster modem (some programs may need a faster modem to do things such as playing audio and video directly from the Internet) or network access. WHAT DO I DO FIRST WITH THE CD? Knowing what to do first with the CD depends on what kind of operating system you're running. Read on. . . . To start the CD using Windows 95 or 98, follow these steps: 1. Insert the CD (label side up) into your computer's CD-ROM drive. 2. Select Run under the Start menu. 3. Type D:\SETUP.EXE. I'm assuming that your CD-ROM drive is labeled as the D drive in your computer. If not, replace the "D" with whatever letter designates your CD-ROM drive. The first thing that you see is the IDG license agreement. 4. Accept the terms of the IDG license agreement. To start the CD using Windows 3.1, follow these steps: 1. Insert the CD in your CD-ROM drive. 2. In the Program Manager, choose File-->Run. 3. In the Run dialog box, type D:/SETUP.EXE. Substitute your actual CD-ROM drive letter if it's something other than D. 4. Click OK. 5. Accept the terms of the IDG license agreement. After following the instructions that relate to your computer, a window appears called Internet Directory For Dummies. That window is the installation shell for the CD. It's harder to crack than a peanut shell but not as pretty as a sea shell. The purpose of the installation shell is to install programs from the CD to your hard drive. Installing any single program could hardly be simpler: 1. Click one of the four CD sections. 2. Click one of the programs. 3. Click the Install button for that program. USING THE DIRECTORY LINKS For your convenience, I've placed all the URLs that are listed in this book on a couple of Directory Links pages that you can open in your web browser. Any site reviewed in this book is just a mouse click away. To use these links pages, follow these steps: 1. With the CD in your drive, launch your web browser. 2. If you have Microsoft Internet Explorer, chose File-->Open. If you have Netscape Navigator, choose File-->Open File. An Open dialog box appears 3. Select the HOME.HTM file. If you're using Windows, type D:\HOME.HTM. (If your CD-ROM drive isn't D:\, please be sure to use the correct letter for your drive.) 4. When the home page opens, you can begin browsing the links pages. Select a Part by clicking on the Part title on the left side of the page. You can then move through the selected Part using internal jumps that will take you from section to section. Clicking on the Part title will always take you back to the top of the page. Clicking on a link will open a second browser window. The second window allows you to browse the web site without ever losing track of the Links pages from the CD. You can always just bring the Directory Links pages back to the top of your desktop and select another Link. Selecting additional links will change the web site in the second browser window, so you don't have to worry about having more than two browser windows open at one time. WHAT ELSE IS ON THE CD? After you get the CD up and running (see "What Do I Do First with the CD?" section of this appendix), the following programs present themselves for your examination and installation. As the following sections indicate, the CD is divided into four sections. INTERNET TOOLS The Internet Tools portion of the CD features a large selection of software programs that get you onto the Net and get you busy doing things more productively. * Dreamweaver (Windows 95/98 and Mac): Dreamweaver from Macromedia is a visual HTML editor that still enables you to have plenty of control over your HTML code. That means that if you don't want to learn HTML, you can still make Web pages, but if you're a bit of a control freak or want to do real Webmaster stuff like work with Dynamic HTML, this tool will still do the job for you. * Eudora Light (Windows 3.1/95/98 and Mac): One of the leading e-mail programs, Eudora Light is absolutely free, and you can use it as long as you want without registering. You should realize that both popular web browsers--Netscape Navigator and Microsoft Internet Explorer--have e-mail programs attached to them. However, many netizens swear by Eudora, the big sibling of Eudora Light. (Eudora is a commercial program that you have to pay for; it's not free like the Light version.) So trying Eudora Light is a good way to determine if Eudora is an alternative you'd like to use. * Free Agent (Windows 3.1/95/98): Free Agent is a popular Usenet newsgroup program that enables you to read and participate in the electronic bulletin boards of the Usenet. Both Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator provide Usenet functionality, so consider Free Agent an alternative if you use one of those web browsers. * Homesite (Windows 95/98): Homesite from Allaire is an excellent program that enables you to create and edit HTML, the markup language for making web pages. If you're feeling brave about editing HTML yourself, this program makes it much easier to get started. * Internet Coach (Windows 3.1/95/98): This software teaches you about the Internet without actually logging onto the Net. Graphic and informational files give you an idea of what the Internet looks like and how it works. * Internet Explorer 4.01(Windows 3.1/95/98 and Mac): This application is a powerful web browser. It's also free, which makes it a true bargain. * MindSpring Internet Access (Windows 3.1/95/98 and Mac): MindSpring is a complete Internet service provider (ISP) package that you can use to get on the Internet for the first time, or as an alternative to whatever service you're currently using. This software installs Internet Explorer. If you prefer Navigator, don't worry, you're not burning your bridges behind you. (Though you may be burning your britches--that'll teach you to sit on the stove while reading this book.) You can install the Netscape software right from this CD, and it will work just grand with MindSpring. After you're signed on, one of the first places you may want to check out is the MindSpring Web site at www.mindspring.com/. You need a credit card to sign up for MindSpring Internet Access. Important note: If you already have an Internet service provider, please note that MindSpring Internet Access software makes changes to your computer's current Internet configuration and may replace your current settings. These changes may stop you from being able to access the Internet through your current provider. * Net Nanny (Windows 3.1/95/98): Designed primarily for parents, Net Nanny monitors and blocks Internet content that may be objectionable or inappropriate for young viewers. Net Nanny also blocks certain functions within your computer, if you want it to, establishing a more private and secure computer environment. * Netscape Communicator (Windows 3.1/95/98 and Mac): Communicator is actually a free suite of programs that includes e-mail, online conferencing, and an HTML editor, as well as the popular web browser, Netscape Navigator. * WebWhacker (Windows 3.1/95/98 and Mac): WebWhacker enables you to save Web pages (the text, graphics, and HTML links) directly to your hard disk so that you can quickly open and view the pages with your web browser while offline. The program copy included on this CD is a demo copy that expires after you've used it for a little while. Follow the instructions in the program for purchasing a permanent copy. * WS_FTP LE (Windows 3.1/95/98): How's that for an easy-to-remember program name? Quick, without looking, what's it called? You looked. Anyway, ol' what's-it-called is very useful for transferring Web pages that you create to your Internet server. If that's a meaningless sentence, you probably aren't creating Web pages, or are doing so through America Online or CompuServe, each of which provides different FTP software. MULTIMEDIA TOOLS The programs in this portion of the CD give you enhanced multimedia functionality, either online or offline. Here are the goodies: * Adobe Acrobat Reader (Windows 3.1/95/98 and Mac): Web pages can look great, but some publishers are unhappy at having to change the original page layout of publications to conform to HTML design requirements. (HTML is the language that all Web pages are written in.) To get around HTML, some publishers use the Adobe Acrobat format instead, which preserves all the fancy layout characteristics of the original publication--formatting that would be lost in the translation to HTML. The Adobe Acrobat Reader enables you to view Acrobat documents in all their original glory. * Paint Shop Pro (Windows 3.1/95/98): With Paint Shop Pro, a graphic viewer and software art program, you can view downloaded picture files and then alter them beyond all recognition with several special effects. It's a very cool program for playing around or attempting serious computer artistry. * Shockwave (Windows 3.1/95/98 and Mac): Shockwave enables you to view streaming multimedia over the Web--you can watch movies, listen to CD quality audio, and even play games. Shockwave is one of the most popular formats for multimedia on the Web. After you've installed Shockwave, check out the Shockwave Web site, at shockrave.macromedia.com, to see what all the fuss is about. * VDOLive Player (Windows 3.1/95/98 and Mac): VDOLive Player is a web browser plug-in that streams video files so that you can watch them right away when logged into a Web site-- you don't have to wait until they're completely downloaded before they start playing. * VivoActive Player (Windows 3.1/95/98 and Mac): Another video streaming plug-in (see the preceding description of VDOLive Player), VivoActive also saves download time by playing video files as soon as you click them. The two plug-ins (VDOLive and VivoActive) aren't interchangeable or compatible. Some Web pages use one; some use the other. It's a good idea to install both. UTILITIES The programs in the Utilities portion of the CD aren't Internet-related but are very useful for general computer tasks. Here's what the CD gives you: * CleanSweep (Windows 3.1/95/98): Like Complete Program Deleter described later, CleanSweep gets rid of all the system files associated with any program that you're deleting from your hard drive. * ClipMate (Windows 3.1/95/98): ClipMate replaces the standard Windows clipboard--the built-in utility that stores text or graphics that you cut or copy from a program. Whereas the regular clipboard is a simple utility that saves only one thing at a time, ClipMate saves several bits of text or graphics, enabling you to access a list of cuts (or copies) for future pasting. * Complete Program Deleter (Windows 3.1/95/98): Veteran users of the Windows 3.1 operating system can tell you that deleting a program from your hard drive is no simple matter. Many programs place files all over your hard drive, in many different directories. Complete Program Deleter scours your system, rounds up all the scattered files associated with the program that you want to get rid of, and plucks them off. * ThunderBYTE (Windows 3.1/95/98): ThunderBYTE detects and eliminates viruses. A computer virus is a tiny bit of software code created to wreak havoc in unsuspecting systems. The truth is, viruses are relatively rare, and you may never encounter one. (I never have, and I've practically lived on the Internet for years.) Nevertheless, ThunderBYTE makes your Web surfing safer. * WinZip 6.3 (Windows 3.1/95/98): WinZip is a Windows decompressor for downloaded ZIP files. Almost all large files available on the Internet for downloading are compressed in the ZIP format, and WinZip is an indispensable part of any netizen's tool kit. Use WinZip to decompress downloaded files, after which they can be used. FUN STUFF Fun Stuff is . . . what's the word . . . oh, fun! A couple of programs are included that you may get a kick out of: * ACT! (Windows 95/98): Act! is what organized people call a Personal Information Manager, or, if you don't have time for that--a PIM. It gives you a calendar, address book, and reminder service in an easy-to-understand single program. * MVP Backgammon (Windows 3.1/95/98): Backgammon with style! MVP Backgammon pits you against the computer, disguised as one of several opponents. If you register for the official version, you get more opponents and lots of fancy graphics. * MVP Euchre (Windows 3.1/95/98): This version of the game enables you to pick from six characters at either beginning or intermediate skill levels to be your partner and opponents, or get on a network and play against your friends. * MVP Spades (Windows 3.1/95/98): Like Euchre, with Spades you get to pick a partner and your opponents from six virtual players. In addition to the fun and challenging game play, the graphics and easy controls make the MVP games a great way to sharpen your skills for the next family get-together. HOW SHAREWARE WORKS Installing shareware, such as WinZip or paint Shop Pro, on your computer carries a few responsibilities you should be aware of. Shareware programs are not free. Shareware is commercial software that you try out at no charge and then pay for if you decide to keep it. You can use a shareware program for a certain time period without paying for it in order to decide whether you like it enough to use it in the future. This time period is called an evaluation period, and you don't have to pay for this evaluation period. The shareware distribution system is run on a code of honesty to everyone's advantage. Software authors can distribute their products inexpensively online, and customers can browse shareware products by the thousands right from home and try them at no cost. After you've evaluated the software and the way it works, decide whether you want to keep it. If you decide you don't need it or don't like it, you should delete it from your computer. If you decide you do like it, you must register your copy of the software. You can find instructions for registering shareware software, including the registration fee, in the shareware software files. Payment for shareware programs is based on the honor system. Incidentally, besides making you an honorable person, registering the software entitles you to upgrades, information, and other goodies from the software company. IF YOU'VE GOT PROBLEMS (OF THE CD KIND) I tried my best to compile programs that work on most computers with the minimum system requirements. Unfortunately, your computer may differ, and some programs may not work properly for some reason. The two likeliest problems are that you don't have enough memory (RAM) for the programs you want to use, or you have other programs running that are affecting installation or running of a program. If you get error messages such as "Not Enough Memory" or "Setup Cannot Continue," try one or more of these methods and then try using the software again: * Turn off any antivirus software that you have on your computer. Installers sometimes do some of the things that viruses do (but without hurting your computer), and your computer may get hysterical, assuming that it's under attack by a virus. * Close all running programs, including the CD interface. The more programs you run, the less memory is available to other programs. Installers also typically update files and programs. So if you keep other programs running, installation may not work properly. You can install any program on the CD through the CD directory. * Have your local computer store add more RAM to your computer. Of course, adding memory costs money. However, if you have a Windows 95 or 98 PC, adding more memory can really help the speed of your computer and enable you to run more programs at the same time. If you still have trouble with installing the items from the CD, please call the IDG Books Worldwide Customer Service phone number: 800-762-2974 (outside the United States: 317- 596-5430).