How-To Close a Browser Window

Today’s How-to Guide for the Computer Beginner is going to cover:  How-to Close a browser window

If you look at the top right hand side of your web browser?  You will see something similar to this:

One way to close a web browser window is clicking on the “x”.  Your browser windows should close. 




The second way is look to the top, and find the menu bar. You should see ‘file’ (click on it), and as I have pictured you can go all the way to the bottom to ‘exit’.  You would click again on EXIT this time.  This also would close your browser window.











Those two choices maybe the ones you use the most.  Now we will look at different circumstances you may run into as well.

Newer web browsers allow you to open more than one tab in your browser window.  In my picture below I have three tabs open.  I have one for Google, One for Yahoo, and the third is for Bing.

Now I have decided I’m finished with all these web pages, and wish to exit them.  I would click on the X like I did above on the browser window.   

In this circumstance I would be receiving a warning. 

This message is from Mozilla Foxfire.  Its warning me that I’m not only closing the browser window that I’m viewing but closing all the tabs I had opened in this browser window. 

I have two choices.  I can click ‘close tabs’ or ‘cancel’. 

If I click ‘close tabs’ all three: Google, Yahoo, and Bing will close all at once. 
If that is what I want to do – GREAT!

What if I forgot that I had three tabs open, and I just wanted to close ‘google’ alone?  I would click the cancel option.  The browser window would look just like it was before I clicked the X menu option. 

Okay, so how to you close just the one tab for google?


If you glance at each tab you have open in your browser window you will notice another X for close.  It may not be ‘red’ this time, but it will close the tab.  Notice that all the tabs have this X handy for you to use.


If you don’t like these reminders you can remove the X by clicking in the box next to message, “Warn me when I attempt to close multiple tabs’.


This is a similar message that you would receive from Internet Explore (IE).

I can either close the current tab I’m viewing, or close them all.




As you can see in IE you also have the option of just closing one tab like we did in Firefox above.


Another circumstance you may run into is wanting to close browser windows that have been minimized, and are in your taskbar.  Closing these Browser windows in Windows 7 is a bit different, and we will show that to you last.

This is scenario I have Mozilla Firefox sites minimized, and I have them pictured below.


When I hover (don’t click) like in our picture you will see that I have three browser windows minimized on my task bar.


If you look closely at my foxfire logo in the task bar you will see a down arrow.  If you see this down arrow it means I have MORE than one browser window minimized .   If I had just ONE window minimized no arrow would be present.


If we click once on our browser icon in the task bar you will see a preview titles to remind you of what web pages you choose to place there.


Without clicking you can again hover over to get more information, and if you wish to bring the browser window back up on your desktop then you would click on it.  This at times is referred to as restore the window.

What if I wanted to get exit the window,  because I decided I won’t use it again?



While you are hovering over it – right click once.

You have a ‘restore’ choice which would open up the window on your desktop, or you have the close option.  In our case?  Click the CLOSE!






Here is a picture of another task bar, and you can see the person has a number of different programs open at once.  Restoring those back to the desktop would be a matter of just clicking on one of the rectangles on this task bar.  If they wanted to close them?  Right click, and hit close just like we did above.

Windows 7 (Seven) changed up the task bar even more, and how to handle the web browser windows.



When you hover over the IE (internet explorer) icon as pictured?  You can actually see the page title and a screenshot of the different browser windows you have minimized.  Move your mouse over a thumbnail image (again no clicking) to preview the window full screen, and click it to go open the window.


Notice the browser window icon this time.  There is no arrow like in the past, but it reminds me separate sheets of paper.  If you look real close you will see three sheets, and these represent the three choices.


What if you decide you wish to close the window in the task bar? 

We will again hover over (remember that means no clicking yet) the IE (Internet Explorer) icon pictured.  Then you need to right click on your mouse.  Notice the picture.  You have the option to click on ‘close window’.  You would click on that choice to close the web browser.


Remember the tabs above?
When you hoover all your windows will show as we mentioned.  We want to get rid of bing this time.  Move your mouse over the bing window, and a red X will appear.  Click that read X, and it will close.

If you haven’t noticed closing programs works much the same way.

If something is not clear on our How-To Guide for the Computer Beginner on How to close the browser?  Please feel free to leave a comment or question in the spot supplied for you.

Don’t forget to leave your email to subscribe to future lessons.  They will be emailed directed to you.

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What is a web browser? Browser window?

When I speak to my friends about computers I sometime forget they may not know the basic terms, since  they are a computer beginner after all.

I get these confused looks and questions like:

What a browser?
What is a web browser?

What is a browser window?

I think to myself, “Oh boy!  I guess that would help huh?”  Dahhhhh to me!

Today’s How-to Guide for the Computer Beginner is, “What is a browser or Web Browser?”  We will also touch on Browser windows.

What is a Browser?  What is a web browser?

Browser is a short name for web browser.   YEP!  They are the same thing.

A web browser is basically a software application (or program) that allows you to get onto the internet, and view web pages.

I have chosen three popular web browsers, and have shown pictures of their icons.


  You may have seen this on your desktop, and this is a web browser called Internet Explorer.  It is also called, IE for short.



This is another popular web Brower.  Its called Mozilla Foxfire.  It also has a nickname, “FoxFire” for short.



Lastly, this is called Google Chrome, or just Chrome for short.


At this point and time these three seem to be the most talked about.  There are others.    If you wish to open a browser?  You would click on one of icons, and normally you would have one similar to ones I have picture above. 

You had to click one of these (IE, Foxfire, Chrome) icons to get to our How-To Guide for the Computer beginner page that you are viewing now.

Normally, the next question I’m asked is which one is better.  Honestly?  You will get as many opinions as there are web browsers.  I think it is more personal preference.  Internet Explorer (IE) was my first browser, and now I tend to use Mozilla Foxfire.   I actually have them both on my desktop now. 

For whatever reason there are certain websites I can view better in one browser better than the other. 

When you hear people speak about browser compatibility?  That is one of the aspects they are talking about.  There will be some website you come to, and they will tell you right away to view this in IE, Foxfire, or Chrome.  They are telling you their website is compatible with that web browser.

Another example, would be say you pick IE and it has a heck of time loading in order to see the words and pictures – or just outright refuses to show anything.  I would turn around and open this page in Firefox, and it loads right away. 

Keep in mind:  When you have never been to a website before?  Its normal for the page to take while to load so you can see it.


Other times certain parts of the webpage will never be seen in one web browser, but you can see everything on another.  Lets look at an example of what I’m talking about.

These two pictures are an example of two different web browsers viewing the same web page. 

As you can tell browser number one is more compatible to view this web page than the second one.  The second browser is missing huge chucks of information.

What is a browser window?

When you click one of the icons above?  You are launched into a browser window.    Matter of fact you are viewing our blog in a browser window.

In beginner terms? A browser window is a tool used to view websites on the internet. It acts as a "window" to the world wide web. (otherwise known as the internet).

So when you open your browser by clicking on one of the icons I mentioned?  You will be viewing the internet through a browser window.


Make sense?

I hope you understood my How-To Guide For the Computer beginner today on Web Browser, and Browser windows.

If you have comments or question please feel free to leave a comment in our section provided.

Also don’t forget to leave your email in our subscription to have future lessons sent directly to your email.

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Internet Explorer Delete Browsing History Menu

Today’s How-To Guide for the Computer Beginner we will go into more detail about Internet Explorer’s:

Delete Browsing History Tab.

Keep in mind at times people do shorten the name Internet Explorer. 

Most people will refer to this as IE. 

It is basically just the initials of

Internet Explorer.

If you come across IE9.  It means Internet Explorer Version 9.   The number represents the version of IE or Internet Explorer.

So Today’s lesson could also be termed as, “

IE delete browsing history’

tab.

We have touched on the Delete Browsing History tab in a previous article about the computer cache (pronounced CASH).

I wanted to go down the list for each section so you were comfortable knowing what each section of the delete browsing history does.

1. On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.





The Internet Options box should open to the General tab.

The top section is the home page.

The Second - Browsing History section is what we will be dealing with today.






I have been also asked how to:

delete browsing history on exit

Notice in the Browsing History section you have a box you can check mark above.  This will delete your internet history automatically.  The internet history is basically the url’s that you have visited.  Computer Hope as options for older browsers. 


Back to the Browsing History section:
If you hit the ‘delete’ button your Delete Browsing History menu will come up.

At the Top of the menu you will notice is its called, Delete Browsing History.

Lets break this menu down by section.  If you want to ‘choose’ a section? 

Click on the square next to the title in order to make an “check mark” there.  See my example below where I checked “Preserve favorites website data” under the delete browsing history menu.

Preserve Favorites Website Data

If you have saved any websites as your favorites? Option one will save the cache and the cookies, etc on those sites. 

This cache option allows you to leave those sites alone.  It’s a nice feature they have added to Internet Explorer 9.

What is your favorites?

This is the section of your web browser at the top that allows you to save favorite websites – LIKE THIS ONE! (giggles)

Try it!  Click on “Favorites”, and then click to “Add to Favorites”.

We will go into the Favorites Section more later.


I will give you an example of a favorite that I go to regularly.  I have boards that I go to that have discussions about faith.  If I click the preserve favorite website data, because my faith board is under my ‘favorites’ section that I have pictured above?  It will load the page faster, and remember my login information.

So:

is to ensure that this data is not deleted, a check mark must be placed next to the Preserve Favorites website data option. 

Temporary Internet Files

The second option in this menu deals with Temporary Internet Files.   IE9 stores images from the websites and media files of Web pages that you have visited in an effort to reduce load time on your next visit to that page.

Since you have already saved your favorite websites you will delete all the images, etc from other websites that you have visited, and will free up some space by deleting the temporary files. 

We all go traveling around the internet, and each page is pretty much saved.  You don’t need them all, and this basically throws out the trash.

Cookies

Tech FAQ’s Describes web cookies:

A browser cookie is a small piece of information sent by a web server to a web browser to be stored for future use. The data in the browser cookie will be sent back to the web server whenever the browser reconnects to the web site.
Cookies are commonly used to store user preference information, such as web site options. Cookies are also used to store shopping cart contents. The most security-relevant use of browser cookies is when they are used to store authentication data, such as user names and passwords.

I normally check this one myself

History

The fourth section of the Delete Browsing History menu deals with History. IE9 records and stores a list of all websites that you visit.

The others sections dealt with data, cookies, images, files, etc.  This basically deals with the URL addresses stored.

Download History

Any time you download a file through your browser, IE9 keeps a record of it including its filename as well as the date and time which it was downloaded.

Keep in mind this does NOT delete the download itself.  Just the list.  Some people prefer to keep this, and others don’t.

Form Data

The sixth option deals with Form data. Any time you enter information into a form on a website, IE9 stores some of that data. 

Pictured here I was going to comment on a blog or website.  The first field asked me for my name.  I typed in H, and the form data that was saved in Internet Explorer Browser came up with Hannah Thomas.  It retrieved this from a comment box I had filled out on another site. 

Although this can be very convenient, it can also become an obvious privacy issue.

Passwords

The seventh option deals with Passwords. When entering a password on a Web page for something such as your email login, IE9 will usually ask if you would like for the password to be remembered.



If you choose for the password to be remembered, it will be stored by the browser and then prepopulated the next time you visit that Web page.  It basically fills in the blanks next time you visit the website.

I will admit some sites I will allow this, and others I won’t.  My example again is a faith board I go to often.  I will save the password in the browser.  If I’m paying a bill online?  I don’t want that type of information in the browser.


I personally don’t checkmark this section for deletion, but it can be useful for others.  If you wish all your saved passwords to be deleted you would check this section.

ActiveX Filtering and Tracking Protection Data

The eighth and final option deals with InPrivate Filtering data. This data is stored as a result of the InPrivate Filtering feature, which detects where websites may be automatically sharing details about your visit.

An example of this would be code that could tell a site owner about other sites that you have recently visited.

Online Tech Tips has a good article on InPrivate Filtering data worth checking out.  It goes into more detail. 

When you have made your selections you will click the delete button at the very bottom of the Delete Browsing History menu.  If you want to get out of this menu?  Click cancel.

With older versions of Internet Explorer:

From the Tools menu in the upper right, select Internet Options.

1. Under "Browsing history", click Delete... .
2. To delete your cache, click Delete files... . To delete your cookies, click Delete cookies... .
   To delete your history, click Delete history... .
3. Click Close, and then click OK to exit.

I hope today’s How-To Guide for the Computer Beginner on the Delete Browsing History Menu was helpful. 

If you have any questions please feel free to leave a comment.

Don’t forget to subscribe by leaving your email address in the section provided so you don’t miss out on future lessons!

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What Version of Internet Explorer do I have?

From time to time people need to know what version of internet explorer they are using, but don't know where to look.

At the top of your internet explorer browser window (you are reading this site in a browser window) you may see a question mark (blue arrow) or you need go to the left edge of the browser screen to find the button that looks similar to two arrows '>>' (red arrow). You are looking for your help button in your internet explorer browser. HIT the help button!


You then normally have some options under the help section, and you are looking for 'About Internet Explorer'. Click your 'about internet explorer' button, and a window similiar to the one below should open.



What Internet Explorer Version do you have? Hmmmm. Looks like we have version 6.0 pictured above!

what version of internet explorer do I have, what version of internet explorer am I using,

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How-To Change The Font Size On Your Computer Monitor

Ever wanted to change the font size so it was bigger (or smaller) than what is being displayed on your monitor? NO PROBLEM!

Click here if you looking for the article to change your font size in your web browser!

Learning How-To Change your font size on your computer will be a pretty easy thing to do for even a computer beginner. 

Its nice to know you can make the fonts bigger or even make the fonts smaller  We basically will change the DPI or Dots per inch!


We will start with some older operating systems, and then move on to the newer ones.

Changing your desktop font size in Windows 98

Find an empty place on your desktop, and click on it.
Right click in an empty place and select Properties

1)  Select the Appearance tab.
Under Appearance you have a Scheme selection and an Item selection.

2) You can change your icons under Item Select Icon if you wish by using the drop down box. 

3)  As you can see for number 3 in the picture the font name is Tahoma, and the Font size is 10.  This is basically the font property section.

   
To increase your font size you would pick a number GREATER than 10, or in your case GREATER than the number that your Display properties is showing. 

If you wish to decrease the font size or make the font smaller you would use a number LOWER than 10.

If you find that you prefer a different font you can change that at this time as well.  If you are looking for readability you may wish to play with the font sizes and types to choose one that works best for you.





Changing Your Desktop Font Size in Windows XP

Right-click an open area of the Windows Desktop and then click "Properties" to open the "Display Properties" window.

Click the "Appearance" tab.

In the drop down list labeled "Font Size", select the desired size.

Click "OK" to save the change and exit the "Display Properties" window.




There are three font sizes to choose from, these being, "Normal", "Large Fonts" and "Extra Large Fonts". As the name implies, "Normal" is the Windows XP default size. To return to the default font size, follow the procedure outlined above and choose "Normal" in the "Font Size" list.

The change will alter the font display in Windows title bars, dialogs and menus. It will not normally alter the font in documents such as word processor files or web pages.

To increase font size on Vista computer:

Unless you are signed in as the administrator on the computer Vista may not allow you to do this. You will need to disable the UAC or User Access Control First.

First we go the the Vista Control Panel.

Start Button to Control Panel brings you to the above screen

Click: Appearance and Personalization
Then Click: Personalization





LOOK to the left and you should see a section called 'adjust font size'.  It is circled in red for you.








You can click the larger DPI option at this point! Then look to the bottom, and click apply!

Most of the time you must click OKAY as well .

You will have to restart your machine to make sure it takes!

Notice at bottom there is a grey button for ‘CUSTOM DPI’ that you can use for other choices.

Custom DPI Setting for changing FONT size on your computer



Keep in mind that 100% is your normal screen size, and you go up from there!

ALSO you will need to click that yellow highlighted area to avoid the screen being blurry due larger screen size. The text and other items on the screen might appear blurry in some programs that are not designed for high–DPI display in Windows Vista. That section will help you in that!

The change can be applied only after a system restart. Close all the running applications, save your open documents and then press on Restart Now. After a reboot, the font size will be changed.

Learning How-To Change the Font Size on Your Computer Monitor does for the eyes! (giggles)  I hope My How-To lesson was easy to understand.  If something is not clear?  Feel free to leave a comment!

Want to Increase Font Size in your browser now?

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