Q. What is a Web Page?

A. Web pages are what make up the World Wide Web. These documents are written in HTML (hypertext markup language) and are translated by your Web browser. Web pages can either be static or dynamic. Static pages show the same content each time they are viewed. Dynamic pages have content that can change each time they are accessed. These pages are typically written in scripting languages such as PHP, Perl, ASP, or JSP. The scripts in the pages run functions on the server that return things like the date and time, and database information. All the information is returned as HTML code, so when the page gets to your browser, all the bowser has to do is translate the HTML.

Please note that a Web page is not the same thing as a Web site. A Web site is a collection of pages. A Web page is an individual HTML document. This is a good distinction to know, as most techies have little tolerance for people who mix up the two terms.

Q.What is DirectX and why do I need it?
A.In very general terms, DirectX is an interface between programs (applications and games) and the drivers that run your graphics, sound and other computer hardware.When an application or game is written for DirectX, the programmer does not have to worry about exactly which sound card or graphics adapter might be installed in the end-user's machine. DirectX takes care of that for him.DirectX plays a role in many functions, including 3D rendering, video playback, still and motion capture, TV Viewing applications, joystick and mouse interfaces, networking for multiplayer games and lots more.As a result, most Windows 98 and Windows 95 users should consider DirectX as a REQUIREMENT. Without it, you are missing out on a huge amount of compatibility and functionality.

Q. How can I tell which version of DirectX is currently installed?
A. Recent versions of DirectX include a tool called "DXDiag", which will display the version of DirectX on the system.Click START - RUN, type DXDIAG and click OK
When the DirectX Diagnostic Tool appears, read the DirectX version information near the bottom of the display.Microsoft maintains a website for DirectX information and downloads.

Visit http://www.microsoft.com/directx

To go directly to the "Home User Downloads" section of the Microsoft DirectX site, follow this link:

http://www.microsoft.com/directx/homeuser/downloads

You may be routed to the "Windows Update" site to actually obtain the required files.Windows 98 and Windows 2000 users may wish to launch "Windows Update" from the Start menu.