The default page is the web page that appears each time you start your browser on the Internet. Internet Explorer usually sets your default page to a Microsoft site, like Bing or Live. Quite often, people will use Yahoo, Google or another search engine for their default page; businesses and other organizations will usually have it set to their web site or intranet. On my personal computer, my default page is my personal web page.

To change your default page in Internet Explorer, there are several options depending on your version.

In Explorer 9, go to the page you want to use as default, then click the “down” arrow key by the “Home” icon (looks like a house) and choose the option to change the home page. Then, choose whether you want to use it only as the default on the first tab, on the current tab or all tabs.

In the various versions of Internet Explorer, just click “Tools” on the command bar. If it is not showing, right-click in the area where the bars are displayed and click the command bar, then choose “Internet Options” and then type or paste the address of the page you want to use for your home page into the box. If you are already on the page that you want to use, then just click “Current.” Then, click “OK” to close it.

If the menu bar appears, you can follow the steps in the last paragraph by choosing “Tools” in the Menu bar.

Send your questions to Dwight Watt at dwight@dwightwatt.com. He teaches at a technical college in northwest Georgia and does consulting work for businesses and individuals. His website is www.dwightwatt.com.