GOING ON LINE, HOOKING UP TO THE INTERNET: Depending on your computer, the operating system, hard drive space, and amount of memory in it, you *may* or may not have troubles getting on line. MSN will be sending you a CD containing "MSN 9", a browser, that some feel is 'bloated', slow and takes up too much space on some computers, or MSN 9 can be downloaded while on line. There are OTHER browsers, much faster than MSN 9, like: Firefox and Opera, so if you choose NOT to use MSN 9, this concerns you: From: http://www.userservices.net/template/faq/windows/DUN/XP/xpdunwizard.html . Click the "Start button." . Click on "Control Panel." . Click on "Network and Internet Connections" to get to the XP Connection Wizard. . Click on "Network Connections." . Click on "Create New Connection" in the "Network Tasks" box on the left. Click the "Next" button. . Select "Connect to the Internet." Click "Next." . Select "Set up my connection manually." Click "Next." . Select "Connect using a dial-up modem." Click "Next." . Type in your isp name. Click "Next". . Type in the phone number to the computer you are dialing. . Generally, you want to choose the Anyone's Use selection then click Next. . Enter your user name and password. Click "Next." . Click Finish and you are ready to connect to the Internet. Also on this page you will find links to info on just *about* everything concerning computers. Space here prohibits me to actually include *everything* there is to know, so running a Google search, you will find a few million more..... It has been said that going on line unprotected, it only takes about 10 minutes until you have been bit by a worm, virus, trojan or have your machine turned into a zombie. With PROPER PROTECTION you can keep the bad stuff out and enjoy the use of your computer. A new machine usually has trial software installed to protect you for a month or so. A used machine is another story. You would need access to borrow or to buy the proper program to protect you, so that you can download your own, preferred software. The key word of course is PROTECTION, you will NEED a firewall, an anti-virus program and anti-spyware, even 2 or 3 of them. You *could* buy these, but you can also get free versions, to protect you: 6 Steps to protect your new PC: http://www.microsoft.com/smallbusiness/resources/technology/security/6_steps_to_help_secure_your_brand_new_pc.mspx http://www.komando.com/kolumns_show.asp?showID=9381 http://www.komando.com/bestshareware.asp Windows Updates: http://www.komando.com/tips_show.asp?showID=9057 http://update.microsoft.com/ Outfitting a new computer: http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/update/newcomputer.mspx Free bundle of protection from Google: http://pack.google.com/pack_installer_required.html BEST Freeware Utilities: http://www.techsupportalert.com/best_46_free_utilities.htm HOW TO USE XP: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/default.mspx KIM'S DOWNLOAD RECS.: http://www.komando.com/bestshareware.asp AARP TIPS: http://www.aarp.org/learntech/computers/howto/ GOOD PC NEWBIE STUFF: http://home.comcast.net/~entreken/computer.htm http://www.newbie.org/ HELP & PC TIPS by Email: http://www.komando.com/newsletter.asp http://www.worldstart.com/comptips.htm (These are emails you receive daily, sometimes several times daily, depending on what you sign up for). Info From A to Z: http://dawn.thot.net/cd/content.html Many MANY Links: http://www.freelink.org/computer Courses On CDs: http://www.newbieclub.com/?buntah Tons, I say: TONS OF GREAT STUFF HERE: http://www.auldfart.co.uk/ KIM'S SPEED UP PCs: http://www.komando.com/printer_friendly.asp?cf=http://www.komando.com:80/kolumns_show.asp?showID=8154 BASICS FOR SENIORS & OTHERS: ABC's of Computing: http://members.aol.com/shobansen3/ABC/ Basics of Computing for People Over 50: http://members.aol.com/shobansen3/index.html Internet Basics for Seniors: http://members.aol.com/shobansen4/ Many Related links: http://members.aol.com/shobansen3/links.html 73,600,000 Other Computer Basic Links: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=Computer+basics&btnG=Google+Search And for your funny bone: DUMB PC STORIES: http://www.rinkworks.com/stupid/ I couldn't possibly list every concievable page on the care and feeding of computers, but those will give you a good start I think. Google is a great search engine, there are magazines that offer tons of info, even online searches for past issues covering what your looking for. I would also suggest you pick out a few computer news groups, drop in every day, read and learn. After a fairly short time, you can be a whiz in your own right! NOW YOU ARE READY! NO? Need more? OK, go to the next page!