This area is designed as a guide for race fans who are new to the Internet and home computers. We hope to answer some of the questions you may have as well as help you make your world wide web surfing experiences more enjoyable. This orientation is for Windows 95/98 users only.

Quick jump to your area of interest by using the handy menu just below.

1. Web Browser Choices
2. Monitor Resolution
3. Monitor Color Settings
4. Compressed Graphics
5. Downloading and Installing Programs
6. Changing Font Sizes - Beware

Browser Choices The first issue we will address is browsers. There are two main browsers to choose from, Netscape and Internet Explorer. Although the differences between the two are subtle, there is one very important factor in choosing a browser. And that is choosing the latest version of that browser. For viewing the Internet, we recommend at least a version 4.0 edition of Netscape or Internet Explorer. Many new features that we use here on CATCHFENCE.com are only viewable by 4.0 browsers. Older browsers can still see the content of our website, but they won't get the overall experience the way we designed it. To check which browser version you are running, simply click on the "Help" menu at the top, and select "About" from the drop down list. A window will pop up telling you which version you are currently running. If you are not running a 4.0 or higher browser, they are available for download FREE of charge via the following websites:
To download Internet Explorer, click here (recommended)
To download Netscape, click here

Monitor Resolution Settings Another major part of your internet experience is your monitor resolution settings. If you have ever visited a site where you have to scroll from side to side to read the content, then you are probably running your monitor with a low resolution setting of 640 pixels by 480 pixels. Many of todays top websites (including CATCHFENCE.com) are designed to be viewed at ANY resolution. However, you will find more and more sites being designed for what is now the home computer standard resolution of 800 pixels by 600 pixels. We highly recommend setting your monitor at the 800 x 600 resolution to get the most out of your web surfing experience. If you do not know how to set your monitor resolution, click here for instructions.

Monitor Color Settings Something that goes right along with your monitor resolution (and can be changed using the same steps) is the number of colors your monitor is set to display at. If you have ever visited websites, and said, "boy this site uses some UGLY colors", then it is likely you are viewing the web with your monitor set at 256 colors instead the 16 million that your monitor is capable of displaying. We recommend that you set your monitor to at least "High Color 16 bit" although "True Color 24 bit" would be preferable. If you do not know how to set your monitors color range, click here for instructions. (NOTE: There may be some programs, (namely games) that will only run in 256 color mode, so you may need to switch your color settings back in order to run those programs. But as you will see, changing your color resolution only takes a few moments.)

Compressed Graphics Next we address "compressed graphics". This is for folks that are new to AOL (America Online). Your AOL software came with certain settings when you installed the program on your computer. These settings are NOT recommended for surfing the Internet. These settings are designed for speed and ease of use inside of AOL, not the world wide web. To learn more about compressed graphics, click here.

Downloading and installing programs One of the first things an internet rookie will have to learn how to do is to download software programs off the internet and either access or install them on the hard drive of their home computer. Although this seems like a daunting task at first, it really isn't. And once you have done it a couple of times and have felt the joy of accomplishment by installing new programs on your computer, you will be downloading to your hearts content! Be careful though, downloading everything you come across has a tendency to fill up your hard drive in a hurry. For step by step instructions on how to download and install software on your computer, click here.