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Chapter 5: Windows Basics
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Using the Internet
This chapter provides information about the Internet and 
the World Wide Web. Read this chapter to learn how to:

Set up and access an Internet account using 
America Online®


Connect to a Web site using a browser

Download files from the Internet

Send and receive e-mail using America Online 
						

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Chapter 6: Using the Internet
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Learning about the Internet
The Internet is a worldwide network of computers linked together to provide 
information to people everywhere. The two most popular services on the 
Internet are e-mail and the World Wide Web. You can access this network by 
connecting your computer to a telephone, DSL (Digital Subscriber Line), or 
cable line and signing up with an Internet service provider (ISP).
Cable and DSL modems, a connection known as broadband, use your TV cable 
or special telephone lines to connect to your ISP and access the Internet. Cable 
and DSL modems connect to your computer through an Ethernet jack and 
provide a faster connection speed than a standard telephone modem.
ImportantFor the location of your modem jack, see “Left side” on 
page 3. For the location of your Ethernet jacks, see “Left 
side” on page 3 and “Back” on page 22.
Your computer 
connects to the 
Internet through 
an ISP.ISP Servers 
let you connect to 
the Internet and 
access your e-mail 
messages. Internet Servers 
store information so other 
computers can access it 
from the Internet. 
						

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Setting up an Internet account
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If you want to access the Internet you need:

A modem – a device that connects your computer to other computers or 
servers using a telephone, DSL, or cable line.

An Internet service provider – a company that provides access to the 
Internet through an ISP server. When you connect to an ISP, the ISP server 
lets you access the Internet and your e-mail messages.

A Web browser – a program that displays information from the World Wide 
We b .

An e-mail program – a program that lets you create, send, and receive 
e-mail messages over the Internet.
Setting up an Internet account
Before you can view the information on the World Wide Web, you need to set 
up an Internet account with an Internet service provider (ISP). If you have 
chosen America Online as an ISP, follow these instructions to set up and connect 
to your account. To set up a different ISP service or to transfer an existing 
account to this computer, contact the ISP directly.
If you set up an account with America Online, an Internet e-mail address is 
created for you. After completing the setup, you are ready to access the Internet.
To set up an Internet account with America Online:
1Click Start, All Programs, then click America Online.
2Follow the on-screen instructions. After setting up your account, you can 
connect to the Internet and access your e-mail services. 
						

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Chapter 6: Using the Internet
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Accessing your Internet account
To connect to your America Online Internet account:
1Click Start, All Programs, then click America Online.
2Complete the member name and password information, then click 
Connect. Your computer dials the Internet account telephone number. After 
connecting, the We l c o m e window opens.
If you are using a service other than America Online, check with your ISP for 
the correct procedure for connecting.
To disconnect from your America Online Internet account:

Click X in the top-right corner of the America Online window. Your 
computer disconnects from the Internet.
If you are using a service other than America Online, check with your ISP for 
the correct procedure for disconnecting.
ImportantMake sure that your computer disconnects correctly from 
your Internet account. If you do not have an “unlimited 
hours” ISP account, you may have to pay for the time that 
you are connected, even if you are not at your computer.
Help and 
SupportFor general information about using Internet accounts in 
Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword ISP in the HelpSpot Search box 
, then click the arrow. 
						

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Using the World Wide Web
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Using the World Wide Web
The World Wide Web is a multimedia window to the Internet that gives you 
access to millions of information sources.
Information on the Web comes to you on We b  p a g e s, which are electronic 
documents that you view using a Web page display program called a browser. 
You can use any of the commercially available Web browsers, like Microsoft 
Internet Explorer (which comes installed on your new computer), Netscape 
Navigator, or the browser built into America Online.
Web pages can contain text, animations, music, and other multimedia features. 
A group of related Web pages is called a We b  s i t e. You can access Web sites to 
shop, track investments, read the news, download programs, and much more.
You can explore a Web site or visit other Web sites by clicking areas on a Web 
page called links or hyperlinks. A link may be colored or underlined text, a 
picture, or an animated image. You can identify a link by moving the mouse 
pointer over it. If the pointer changes to a hand, the item is a link.
To learn more about using the Web browser features, click 
Help in the menu bar.
Web
pageLink
Linked Web
page 
						

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Chapter 6: Using the Internet
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Connecting to a Web site
After you set up an account with an Internet service provider (ISP) such as 
America Online, you can access the many information sources on the World 
Wide Web.
To connect to a Web site:
1Connect to your Internet account. After your computer connects, a default 
opening page or welcome screen opens.
2To go to a different Web site, type the address (called a URL for “Universal 
Resource Locator”) in the browser address bar (for example 
www.gateway.com), then click 
GO on the browser address bar.
- OR - 
On the current Web page, click a link to a Web site.
The Web browser locates the server computer on the Internet, downloads 
(transfers) data to your computer, and displays the page on the site that 
you requested.
Sometimes Web pages display slowly. The speed that a Web page displays on 
your screen depends on the complexity of the Web page and other Internet 
conditions. Additionally, the speed of your connection will determine how fast 
Web pages display.
Help and 
SupportFor more information about connecting to a Web site in 
Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword connecting to Web site in the 
HelpSpot Search box  , then click 
the arrow. 
						

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Using the World Wide Web
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Downloading files
Downloading is the process of transferring files from a computer on the Internet 
to your computer.
To protect your computer against viruses, make sure that you scan the files you 
download. For more information, see “Protecting your computer from viruses” 
on page 214.
To download files or programs from a Web site:
1Connect to your Internet account.
2In the address bar, type the address of the Web site that contains the file 
or program you want to download, then click 
GO on the browser address 
bar.
- OR -
Click a link on a Web page to navigate to the Web site containing the file 
that you want to download.
3Create or locate the folder where you want to store the file on your 
computer. For more information, see “Working with files and folders” on 
page 64.
4Click the link on the Web page for the file that you want to download.
5Follow the on-screen instructions for saving the file in the folder that you 
want. A copy of the file is downloaded to your computer. The time that 
it takes to transfer the file to your computer depends on file size and 
Internet conditions.
6Open the folder that you created.
7Install or view the downloaded file by double-clicking it. If applicable, 
follow the instructions provided on the Web site to run or install the 
program.
Help and 
SupportFor more information about downloading files in 
Windows XP, click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword downloading files in the HelpSpot 
Search box  , then click the arrow. 
						

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Using e-mail
E-mail (electronic mail) lets you send messages to anyone who has an Internet 
connection and e-mail address. E-mail is usually a free service of your Internet 
account.
The Internet never closes, so you can send e-mail messages at any time. Your 
e-mail messages arrive at most e-mail addresses in minutes.
An e-mail address consists of a user name, the @ symbol, and the Internet domain 
name of the Internet service provider (ISP) or company that “hosts” that user. 
Your e-mail address is assigned when you sign up for an account with an ISP. 
For example, a person with an account with America Online might have an 
e-mail address that is similar to this one:
Sending e-mail
To send e-mail using America Online:
1Connect to your America Online account.
2Click Write.
3Type the e-mail address of the recipient you want to send e-mail to in the 
Send To box.
4Type the subject of your e-mail in the Subject box.
5Type the e-mail message.
6When finished, click Send Now. Your e-mail is sent over the Internet to the 
e-mail address you specified.
[email protected]
User name Internet domain name 
						

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Using e-mail
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Checking your e-mail
To check your e-mail using America Online:
1Connect to your America Online account.
2Click Read.
3Double-click the message you want to read.
For more information about managing and organizing your e-mail messages, 
see the online help in your e-mail program.
Help and 
SupportFor general information about using e-mail in Windows XP, 
click Start, then click Help and Support.
Type the keyword e-mail in the HelpSpot Search box 
, then click the arrow.