Installing/Upgrading Your Browser

What are browser "versions" and why do they matter?
Each browser has a number called a "version" associated with it (Referred to as 4.x, 5.x, etc.). The number to the left of the decimal refers to the major release number of the browser. The number to the right of the decimal refers to the minor release number. The major release number is only incremented if there are significant changes in functionality or in the user interface, while the minor release number usually is incremented for bug fixes. For example, when Netscape made major changes in the interface and functionality of version 3.x, the new release was called 4.0, but it had a few problems. Netscape fixed those problems and called the new fixed release version 4.01. The next release fixed a few more problems and was called 4.02. All three of these are referred to in general as the "4.x" version.

The most important thing to remember is that higher version numbers are almost always better, since they represent the one with the most bug fixes and the newest functionality.

How can I tell what version of browser I am using?
Follow the steps below to determine what version of browser you are using.

Internet Explorer
From the "Help" menu, choose "About Internet Explorer"
Netscape
From the "Help" menu, choose "About Communicator" or "About Netscape"

What if I am using Netscape 3.x or Internet Explorer 3.x?
We strongly recommend that you upgrade to a current browser. Many improvements have been made in the browsers since version 3.x. As a result, we do not address problems with either Netscape 3.x or Internet Explorer 3.x in our FAQ.

What browser do you recommend?
We recommend that you use the latest browser from either Netscape or Microsoft Internet Explorer. Currently this is version 7.x for Netscape and 6.x for Internet Explorer.

Why should I upgrade?
Whether or not to upgrade is ultimately your choice. However, there are some compelling reasons to choose the newest version.

1. Each new version fixes errors and problems that were found in the previous version. Getting the latest browser gives you the latest fixes to known problems.
2. Both Netscape and Microsoft are constantly making their browsers easier to use and more powerful at the same time.
3. With each new version, new technology is supported. If you use an old browser, you will probably miss out on new features that web developers include in their site.
4. They are free. The current versions of both Netscape and Internet Explorer are available for download at no charge.

How can I download a new browser?
You can get Internet Explorer from Microsoft.

You can get Netscape from Netscape.

Both sites provide detailed instructions for downloading and installing their products. If you have any problems, please contact either Microsoft or Netscape.

How can AOL users use Netscape or Internet Explorer?
AOL currently uses its own version of Internet Explorer 5.x. You can, however, use Internet Explorer or Netscape. Simply follow the instructions below.

Logon to AOL. From the Help menu, choose "Online Support" and then "Software & Tools". Select "Step-by-Step Assistance" and then "Using non-AOL Programs". Click "Continue". It will ask you, "Do you want to use Netscape or other non-AOL programs on AOL?" Click "Yes". Follow the instructions listed. You can use Netscape or Internet Explorer on AOL if you're using the latest version of AOL. Please note that you must install Netscape or Internet Explorer before you can use them.

Locating Lost Pages

Why do I suddenly get an error when I use my bookmark?
We are constantly updating our site to make it easier to find the increasing amount of information available at guardianinvestor.com. We are adding, removing, renaming, and relocating pages daily. As a result, the page you bookmarked may have been moved or deleted. If the information on the page was outdated or no longer relevant, the page was probably removed. However, the page could have simply been moved to a better location.

How can I find a page that has been moved or renamed?
Go to our home page or our site map. From there you should be able to retrace the path you took to find the page the first time. Once you locate the lost page, bookmark it again for next time.

Browser Issues

How come I am not seeing updated content and/or updated pages?
Internet Explorer Version 6
The Temporary Internet Files folder is the location on your hard disk where Web pages and files (such as graphics) are stored as you view them. This speeds up the display of pages you frequently visit or have already seen, because Internet Explorer can open them from your hard disk instead of from the site's web server. For those with a dial-up connection, using cached pages can increase the speed that pages load, but if a site changes a page, you will not be able to see it correctly because your browser settings are retrieving the page from your hard drive, not the site's web server where the newest page resides.

Proper access to updated Web resources relies heavily on your browser settings being such that you are always requesting the newest page on any given web server as you view the internet. Using cache pages can present a variety of anomalies, such as a non-responsive browser, graphics that appear distorted or missing, or links that do not work properly.

Please set your Internet browser defaults according to the instructions below to ensure you are always viewing the most updated page the site has to offer.

• In Internet Explorer, go to the top menu bar and select "Tools"
• Then choose "Internet Options..."
• "Internet Options" has 7 tabs for settings: General, Security, Privacy, Content, Connections, Programs and Advanced.
• Make sure you are on the tab called "General" (typically this comes up as the default screen)
• General has three areas for settings: Home page, Temporary Internet Files and History.
• Under "Temporary Internet Files" click the button labeled "Settings"
  
  
• At the top of the "settings" menu, look at the top of this for "Check for newer versions of stored pages:"
• Select the radio button for the first choice on the list, "Every visit to the page"
  
  
• At the bottom of this screen, click the button labeled "Ok"
• You will be back on the tab labeled "general." At the bottom of this screen, click on "Apply"
• Close and reopen your browser to be sure changes are in effect.

How can I get to the GIS web site more quickly next time?
There are two ways to get to guardianinvestor.com more quickly. The first is to bookmark guardianinvestor.com. This allows your browser to remember a site and let you easily return to what you've bookmarked. The second way is to make guardianinvestor.com your home page. This will make our web site come up automatically whenever you start your browser. You can also return to your home page at any time by clicking the "Home" icon in the toolbar.

How can I bookmark this site?
The steps to add a bookmark depend on what browser you are using, but first you should return to the home page of this site.

After you bookmark a site, you can return to it at any time by following these directions.

How can I make guardianinvestor.com my home page?
The steps to set your home page depend on what browser you are using.

How can I print a page?
Use the Print button on the toolbar.

When I print, I only get a blank page. What's wrong?
Microsoft's Internet Explorer 3.02 (also used as an AOL browser) will have difficulty printing some secure pages. The problem is that the page never finishes loading. You can tell that the page is always loading because the logo in the upper right hand corner is always animated. If you click the "Stop" button on the toolbar, you can print 10% of the page. The only real solution is to upgrade to a newer browser.

How can I view PDFs?
To view pdfs you will need to install Adobe Acrobat Reader. For additional information access Using Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Why does Adobe Acrobat display blank PDF pages in Netscape Communicator 4.5 and 4.7?
Netscape Navigator 4.5 and 4.7 uses Secure Socket Layer (SSL) differently than the earlier versions of Navigator, and Adobe viewers cannot display PDF files correctly in these versions. To see if a PDF is being served vie SSL, check the window labeled "Netsite" at the top of your Netscape browser. If the URL in the window begins with "https://," then document is being served via Netscape's HTTPS protocol, which deliver documents via SSL.

What is my cache and how can I clear it?
The cache is a collection of web pages and images that your browser keeps for quick reference. When you visit guardianinvestor.com, your browser stores all the images in the toolbars, our logo, and all the other items on the page in a special directory on your computer. The next time you visit guardianinvestor.com, your browser will use the images it stored instead of getting them off of the website. This makes the pages load significantly faster the second time you visit a site.

However, if the information on the web page changes frequently, your browser may not access the updated information because it is looking at the older copy in the cache. Emptying your cache will cause your browser to get a new copy of all the web pages you have visited.

Below are the instructions for clearing your cache based on what browser you are using.

How can I update the information in my browser?
If the information in your browser seems old, it could be that you are not seeing the latest changes to the website. You simply need to tell your browser to get a new copy of the web page you are viewing.

Below are the instructions for reloading a web page based on what browser you are using.