Sometimes PC's arrive from the factory with default settings that are not optimal for viewing the Internet. (I am not sure if this applies to MAC's or not) As a result images may be mottled, web windows may run off your screen, you may be missing out on all the exciting JAVA technology and more! In a nut-shell, the web may not look nearly as good to you as it does to others.

Following are several settings that you might need to tweak. Its easy to do, and guaranteed to make the web look better.
 

• the AOL browser graphics compression option:

The AOL browser's default setting allows for image compression which makes images load faster on a page, but also sometimes renders them with a "mottled" or fuzzy look. You want to disable that image compression.
1. Open AOL, you do not need to sign on.
2. Click on the MY AOL icon at the top of the screen.
3. Then click PREFERENCES in the drop-down box.
4. Now click on WWW. This will open the AOL Internet Properties screen.
5. Click on the tab at the top entitled WEB GRAPHICS.
6. If you see a check in the little box beside "use compressed graphics", remove this check by clicking on the little box.
7. Now click on OK at the bottom of the screen to apply the new setting.
8. You will have to reset this option anytime you update or reload your version of AOL.
9. You may have to reboot your computer for the new setting to take affect.

 
• the color and screen resolution settings:

You will want the "color" and "screen area" to be set for the highest resolution that your monitor will allow. Check your owner's manual and if your monitor will support, then raise the settings.
1. Click on the START button.
2. Choose SETTINGS, then CONTROL PANEL.
3. Click on the DISPLAY icon to open the DISPLAY PROPERTIES window.
4. Click on the SETTINGS tab at the top.
• COLOR:

Click on the little arrow to the right of the color choices. A drop down box will list the choices of resolution starting with "16 colors and going as high as maybe "true color-32 bit". Click on the highest your monitor will allow.
• SCREEN AREA:

A little sliding arrow goes from "less" to "more". If your monitor will allow, you will want to choose "800X600 pixels"....just slide the arrow to the right til you get there.
5. Now click on OK at the bottom of the window to apply the new settings, and follow any instructions that may popup including allowing your computer to reboot itself.

 
• the JAVA enabler setting:

Unless certain settings are enabled, you will not be able to see JAVA applets or JAVA script on a web site. You will miss out on a lot of cool new technology. The popular "Lake" image is an example. The water in the lake actually swirls and moves with ripples as if it were real.
1. Click on the START button.
2. Choose SETTINGS, then CONTROL PANEL
3. Click on the INTERNET OPTIONS icon to open the INTERNET PROPERTIES screen (note that this is a different screen from the one we used above to set the AOL graphics compression option, although it looks very similar).
4. Click on the ADVANCED tab at the top.
5. Now scroll down to the JAVA section and make sure you have a check in each of the boxes in that section.
6. Now click on OK at the bottom of the window to apply the new settings. You may have to reboot your computer for the new settings to take affect.

ladybug

 
 
 
 

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