Problems Getting Around in the Astronomy Class Web Site

The school computers all have Netscape 4.x and Internet Explorer 5.0 installed on them. At present I do NOT recommend you upgrade your Netscape browser to the 6.0 version because of its instability and the drain it puts on your computer resources. (I love Netscape 4.X, but 6.0 should have a "Mr Yuk" sticker on it.)

What follows are some things to check or do:

• Check your web browser version
• How to upgrade your web browser
• Enable javascript. Usually, Javascript (not Java!) is already enabled.
• Clean out your web browser's cache
• If you have done the previous items, and you are still having problems, then exit out of your web browser and start it up again (or start up a different web browser).
• If you have done all of the previous items, exit the browser again, log off your internet connection, log back in (dial in) again, and start the browser up again.
• If you still have problems even after doing the previous step, reboot the computer and try it again (this is pretty drastic!). If that still does not work, come use the school's computers. There are plenty in the computer commons (bottom floor of the library). You can also try the computer(s) in a local city library branch. You can also call your astronomy instructor (395-4526) or send him email. However, he will ask you to do the things on this page first!

How to find out your web browser version

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• For Netscape: In the "Help" menu, select the "About Communicator" option. At the top of the page displayed, it should say something like "Netscape Communicator #.#", where the #.# is the version number. If the first # is not ``4'', then you should upgrade (but not to 6.0!). The upgrade is free.

• For Internet Explorer: In the "Help" menu, select the "About Internet Explorer" option. A window will appear with a big title something like "Microsoft Internet Explorer #", where # is the version number. Below that you'll see in smaller type, something like "Version: #.##.####.####". If the first # is not ``5'', then you should upgrade. The upgrade is free. If the first # is ``4'', it is supposed to be okay BUT I have not been able to find an old Internet Explorer 4.0 browser to verify it.

How to upgrade your web browser

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• For Netscape:
  1. Go to the Netscape 4.7 archive site and choose the 4.75 version for your particular operating system (Win95/98/NT or Macintosh or Unix).
  2. Click the download link next to the particular one you want.
  3. Remember where it will save the large archive (in what directory and the filename).
  4. After it finishes downloading (it can take a while over a modem!), double-click on the archive file IF it does not start the installation process automatically.
  5. Usually, you should choose the default options in the installation process.

  I recommend that you do NOT upgrade to Netscape 6.0 at the present time. It is buggy, unstable, and a computer resource hog. Hopefully, version 6.1 will be up to the past Netscape standards.

• For Internet Explorer:
  1. Go to the Microsoft Download Center and choose "Internet Explorer 5.5 SP1 and Internet Tools" in the Product Name drop-down menu. Also choose your particular operating system in the Operating System drop-down menu.
  2. Click the "Find It" button.
  3. In the next webpage that appears, first select the "Internet Explorer 5.5 SP1 and Internet Tools" link. It will take you to the download page. Make a hardcopy of the instructions on your computer's printer and follow them exactly!
  4. After you've downloaded the Internet Explorer 5.5, download the "Internet Explorer Security Update". Again, make a hardcopy of the instruction on your computer's printer and follow them exactly!

• For AOL:
  1. Go to the AOL homepage and click on the "try AOL 6.0" links or the big AOL logo below the "Not a member yet?" box on the page or the "download AOL 6.0" link in the Member Services area at the bottom of the AOL homepage.

How to enable Javascript

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• For Netscape:
  1. Choose the "Preferences" option under the "Edit" menu.
  2. In the Preferences window, select the word "Advanced" in the left Category list.
  3. If there is no checkmark in the "Enable Javascript" box, click the box. You can also check the Javascript boxes for the mail and news if you would like, but they are not necessary for web browsing.
  4. Reload the astronomy homepage.

• For Internet Explorer:
  1. Choose the "Internet Options" item in the "Tools" menu.
  2. Click on the "Security" tab in Internet Options window.
  3. If the "Internet" (globe) is not highlighted, click on the globe picture. It will give you the security setting for browsing the internet. All of the standard settings allow Javascript (but not necessarily Java). Only IF the security level says "Custom", do the following steps:
     1. Click on the "Custom Level" button.
     2. In the Security Settings window that appears, scroll down to where it says "Scripting".
     3. Look in the "Active scripting" part of the Scripting area. The circle next to the word "Enable" should be filled. If not, click in the circle.
     4. Click "OK" in the Security Settings window.
  4. If you changed the security setting or changed anything by selecting the Custom Level button, click the "Apply" button.
  5. Click "OK" in the Internet Options window.
  6. Reload the astronomy homepage.

• For AOL: ?? Those of you who are proficient in AOL can help me fill in the steps---contact me! I have totally deleted AOL from all of my computers.

How to clear out your web browser's cache

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You also want to be sure to have fresh copies of the class homepage and class calendar because I continually update those pages. Click the "Check for update" link to be sure you have the most recent copy.

Usually, you can force your web browser to get a fresh copy from the server by holding down the "Shift" key while you click on the web browser's "Reload" or "Refresh" button. If you still have the old copy or damaged copy, then you will need to clear out your web browser's cache area. Here is how to clear your web browser's cache file so that you are sure to be viewing the up-to-date version of a web page.

• For Netscape:
  1. Choose the "Preferences" option under the "Edit" menu.
  2. In the Preferences window, if there is a plus sign (+) next to the word "Advanced" in the left Category list, click on the plus sign. That will expand the Advanced menu list. Right under "Advanced" you will see "Cache". Click on "Cache".
  3. Click the "Clear Disk Cache" and the "Clear Memory Cache" buttons. Also, check to see if the circles next to "Once per session" or "Every time" at the bottom of the window have a dot in them. If not, click on the circle! The "Once per session" means that it will check the server only the first time you access the page after you brought up Netscape.
  4. Click the "OK" button.
  5. Reload the web page.

• For Internet Explorer:
  1. Choose the "Internet Options" item in the "Tools" menu.
  2. Under the "General" tab, you will see "Temporary Internet files". Click the "Delete Files" button. Click the "Delete all offline content" box in the "Delete Files" window that pops up before you click the ``OK'' button.
  3. Click the "Settings" button in the ``Temporary Internet files'' area. If the circle by ``Never'' is filled in, select one of the other circles. Usually, ``Automatically'' is fine. Click the ``OK'' button in the Settings window.
  4. Click the ``OK'' button in the Internet Options window.
  5. Reload the web page.

• For AOL: ?? Those of you who are proficient in AOL can help me fill in the steps---contact me! I have totally deleted AOL from all of my computers.

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last updated 29 June 2001