Weirdness with the Web: 3 stubborn Internet problems you can fix
Published: June 6, 2006
In general, PC problems can be pretty annoying. But perhaps nothing's more irritating then dealing with PC problems when you're trying to surf the World Wide Web. In this article, you'll learn to cure your PC's weirdness with the Web.
These solutions deal specifically with Microsoft Windows XP, but you'll find these tips generally work for all versions of Windows from 95/98/ME to NT/2000/XP.
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You get annoying pop-ups when you surf the Internet
Maybe this sounds familiar? You're surfing the Internet and access a Web page. Suddenly, you're bombarded with a slew of blinking pop-up advertisements all over your screen. Sometimes there are so many, you can't even see the original Web page you wanted to view.
Adware (a form of spyware) causes these pop-ups. Adware is software that displays Web-based advertisements. Adware often installs onto your PC without you realizing it. For example, simply clicking on a hyperlink can load adware onto your PC.
Not only are pop-ups annoying, but they use system resources, thus slowing your PC down. The following solutions provide methods for both blocking and removing adware from your PC.
Solution #1: Install anti-spyware software
The best way to keep pop-ups off your PC is to install and run some anti-spyware software. Available for free, the following are all great products that remove spyware off your PC:
When running any of these programs, make sure you check for updates. (These programs all have some "Check for Updates" functionality.)
If after running any one of the programs you still find pop-ups coming up, try installing and running all of these programs. One of these programs may catch certain types of spyware better than the others. Between all four programs, you should be able to catch any spyware that may find its way onto your PC.
Solution #2: Block pop-ups with Internet Explorer
Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) contains a pop-up blocker for Internet Explorer. Installing this service pack will prevent many pop-ups from bombarding you as you view Web pages. Learn about Windows XP SP2 and what you need to know to install it.
To change the pop-up blocker settings
1. | On the Tools menu in Internet Explorer, point to Pop-up Blocker, and click Pop-up Blocker Settings.  Access the Pop-up Blocker Settings dialog box |
2. | In the Address of Web site to allow box, type the addresses of the Web sites for which you'd like to allow pop-ups. Then, click Add. |
3. | You can increase (or decrease) the pop-up filter level using the Filter Level box. |
4. | Once you've made the appropriate changes to the pop-up blocker, click Close. |
Here are two notes to keep in mind with the Pop-up Blocker:
| • | Hold down the CTRL key while a pop-up opens to temporarily disable the Pop-up Blocker. (This allows you to see a blocked pop-up.) |
| • | The Pop-up blocker will not block pop-up windows containing confirmation details (such as confirming an online order you've just made). |
You receive error messages on the Web pages you view
How many times have you been surfing the World Wide Web and received some strange error message.
Error message from a Web page
The good news is that this message isn't caused by anything that's wrong with your PC. The error is with the Web page you're viewing. The Web designer who created the Web page made an error in the JavaScript—the programming language used to automate certain areas of a Web page.
You can't fix the Web page. The best you can do is contact someone at the Web site and let them know the page has errors. However, you can prevent this message box from being displayed. Unless you're a Web designer working with JavaScript, you have no reason to see if Web pages have errors.
Solution: Turn off JavaScript Error Messages
1. | On the Tools menu in Internet Explorer, point to Internet Options. The Internet Options dialog box is displayed. |
2. | Select the Advanced tab. |
3. | Scroll down the list. Click to select the Disable Script Debugging (Internet Explorer) check box.  Turn off the disable script debugging functionality |
4. | Press OK. |
You won't see these error messages again. This doesn't turn off the JavaScript—only the error messages that are displayed when there's a problem with JavaScript on a Web page.
The text on Web pages is too small to read
Some Web designers love to torture the public by putting up Web pages with small text. Or, perhaps that's just my excuse for my aging eyes. Thankfully, Internet Explorer contains a useful setting to change Web page text on the fly.
Solution #1: Make the text larger on a single Web page
To enlarge the text on the Web page you're currently viewing
1. | On the View menu in Internet Explorer, point to Text Size, and then click Larger.  Enlarge the text on a single Web page |
2. | If the text still seems small, go to the View menu, point to Text Size, and then click Largest. |
This choice works only on a page-by-page basis. The solution enlarges the text only on the page you're currently viewing. The next Web page you go to will have the text back to the original size.
If you're finding all Web pages difficult to read, you may want to change your monitor settings. Check out the next solution for more information on this.
Solution #2: Bump up your monitor display size
To increase your screen resolution
1. | 1. On the Start menu, click Control Panel. |
2. | 2. In Control Panel, double-click Display. The Display Properties dialog box appears. |
3. | 3. Click the Settings tab. Adjust the Screen resolution slider to one of the following screen settings (see Figure 5): | • | 800 x 600 | | • | 1024 x 768 | | • | 1280 x 1024 |
 Adjust your screen resolution |
4. | 4. Click Apply. The Display Properties dialog box remains open, in case you need to tweak your screen resolution some more. When you're satisfied, click OK. |
Where to find more help
If you're having trouble with these or other PC problems — check out the Microsoft technical communities. There, you'll find Microsoft experts to help you find answers to your PC problems. At the least, they'll help you realize that you're not the only one who has a "trouble PC" now and then
 | Chris Tull
Chris Tull is a freelance writer and designer based out of the Dallas/Fort Worth area. He is the author of Web Designer's Guide to Adobe Photoshop (Wordware, 2006).
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