The Internet Control Panel is one of the Control Panels that is used to set up your connection to the internet. It is used to set preferences that internet applications are able to access if they are programed to do so, which most are. It saves you from having to re-enter the information into many different programs. Most of the options were set when you ran the Internet Setup Assistant but you may need to make additional settings or make changes if you change your ISP, e-mail address or you would like to change your default e-mail client or browser.

In the Personal window you enter your name, e-mail address and your organization. You can add "Other Information" that will appear in a profile that you allow access to, called a "finger". Mostly used by Universities and corporations. You also can create a "signature" which will appear at the bottom of each of your e-mails and newgroup messages. Generally, e-mail programs give you more signature options so you might want to look there if you want to make good use of that feature.

In the E-mail window you set your e-mail settings. You can select how you would like to be notified when you have received e-mail. This is also where you set your default e-mail application that will open when you click on an e-mail link in an application like your web browser.

In the Web window you choose:

your default "Home Page", the page which your web browser will open when first started, and default "Search Page".

the folder that internet downloads will be saved to.

the colors that you would like links to be. I would be careful about changing the background color as if you choose the same or similar color that a website's text is you won't see the text.

your default web browser. This will be the browser that opens to display a link that you click on in other applications.

In the News window you set your news server and your default News application.

Then there is the Advanced window which you may not see at first but if you choose User Mode from the Edit menu and choose Advanced you will have access to these options. Most of them you won't need to adjust but if you do, here they are.

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