Computer Technology Tip

Toolbars

Last month I wrote about reducing the number of programs that start up with your computer. This month follows that theme only it is narrower in scope. It involves only your Web browser, typically Internet Explorer, and the various installed toolbars.

There are well over a dozen popular toolbars that are available for download or come as part of other programs that are installed on your computer. To name a few there is the Yahoo toolbar, AOL toolbar, MSN toolbar, Comcast toolbar, and of course the very popular Google toolbar. Basically these toolbars are convenient entry points for searching the Internet for almost anything you can think of plus a myriad of other buttons that whisk you off to specialized locations. They occupy a location in Internet Explorer near the top of the window you are viewing. I've seen computers that have at least three of these toolbars installed. This reduces the ability of Internet Explorer to display the full height of the Web page. Although you can move the vertical scroll bar to the right of the window to see the full page, it requires you to manipulate the mouse more than you should. This of course is user preference but it can be annoying too.

The problem with multiple toolbars is that they have their own behind-the-scene agenda. Many of them offer anti-phishing, anti-spam, anti-spyware, and a pop-up blocker. This built-in protection scheme often conflicts with your own installed security software.

My advice is to uninstall all toolbars. To do this click Start, click Control Panel, click Add or Remove Programs, click the toolbar you want to remove, then click on Change/Remove or Remove. For Vista users, in the Control Panel under Programs, click Uninstall a Program, click the unneeded toolbar, then click Uninstall. I can hear you now - "I really use my toolbar". I understand, however Internet Explorer can be configured to use any search engine you wish without using a toolbar. Open Internet Explorer and click the tiny down arrow under the "X" in the upper right corner of the window. Click Find More Providers. Under Web Search are the popular search engine providers. Google is the preferred choice. Click Google if it is not installed and click the Add Provider button in the pop-up window. By clicking that same down arrow again you should now see Google has been added. To make Google the default search engine for Internet Explorer click that down arrow again and click Change Search Defaults. Next click Google and click Set Default and OK the window. You should now see Google in the grayed out search field of Internet Explorer. Type a search request in this field then click the magnifying icon next to the search field and you will automatically be taken to Google. The first ten search results will show in the opening window.

If you insist on having a toolbar make sure only one is installed to avoid conflicts. Look for where the Preferences or Options are in the toolbar and turn off or disable all the extra and unneeded security functions it offers. The Comcast toolbar can be a troublesome toolbar so that one should be uninstalled as described earlier.

I find the pop-up blocker built into Windows to be more than adequate. To use Window's pop-up blocker open Internet Explorer, click on Tools, move to Pop-Up Blocker and turn it on if necessary. Also under Tools is a Phishing Filter. If your security software provides this function do not use Internet Explorer's Phishing Filter.

The basic rule is to not run your computer with multiple security programs of the same type at the same time. Only one anti-virus, anti-spyware, anti-spam, phishing filter, or pop-up blocker should be operational at a given time.

More information about this and other subjects can be obtained if you attend our monthly PC Club meetings. They are held on the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM upstairs in Winfield Hall.

Don Trauger

To get answers to your questions about computers, please come to the PC Club meeting. The computer club meets the second Tuesday of each month at 7:00 PM in Winfield Hall.

On this website Calendar has a week's view of activities and events similar to the month's guide.