Web Browser Information

In order to get the full benefit of this and many other web sites, you may need to upgrade your browser software. The fact that you have come to this page is a good indication that your browser is out of date, and that you are missing a great deal of functionality that could make your time online more worthwhile

Be sure to check the link at the bottom of this page for information on an exciting NEW web browser for Windows 95!

Before doing anything else, make sure that you are using all the features of the browser software you do have. If you are using Netscape Navigator 2.0 or higher or Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 or higher, be sure that you have both Java and JavaScript enabled (this website only relies on JavaScript, but many others need Java). To find out if you have Java and JavaScript enabled if you already have one of the listed browsers, go to the "Edit . . . Preferences" menu and select "Languages". (Netscape 2.X and 3.X users, select "Options . . . Network Preferences . . . Languages".

If you decide that you do need to upgrade your browser, there are several ways to go about it, depending on your hardware and how much time and money you are willing to spend. Your Internet Service Provider may offer you free upgrades; check your ISP's home page. You can download the software free via these links to Netscape and Microsoft -- both websites provide instructions on which version you need, and how to download. As a general rule you should get the highest version number that your hardware will support -- currently both Navigator and Explorer are in release 4.X. With a 28.8 KBPS dial-up connection, you can expect at least an hour download time, often more if you download the latest "suite" of software including e-mail, etc. You can also order the software on CD-ROM at nominal cost, if you prefer to avoid the nuisance of a lengthy download. Whichever way you obtain the software, be sure to read the "Read Me" file before you start installing. If you upgrade to a later version of the same browser (e.g., Netscape 2.X to Netscape 3.X), your bookmarks and user preferences will usually be automatically preserved in the newer version.

If your internet connection is through America Online, the built-in browser is JavaScript-enabled only in the 32-bit Windows 95 version of the AOL 3.0 software. However, if your computer has sufficient RAM (usually at least 16 MB, and you may need to turn on virtual memory), you can use Navigator or Explorer with your AOL connection. (If memory is a problem, check out the new Opera browser for Windows 95 -- follow the link below for information.) Simply startup AOL and sign on as usual -- once you are connected, launch Navigator, Explorer, or Opera. You need version 3+ of the AOL software to make this work; it's a free download on AOL -- if you need to upgrade, just go to the keyword "upgrade" and follow the instructions from there. AOL's built-in browser has limited features (including lack of support for Java), so this procedure may be worth the trouble.

Unfortunately, we are neither qualified nor staffed to provide technical assistance if you have browser problems. If your law firm has a systems administrator or computer "guru" start there. Many problems can be solved by going to your browser's help menu. Your Internet Service Provider may also be able to help -- you can usually find their telephone number somewhere in the browser help index.