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What are 'Add Ons' and what are they for?

Windows 8 Keeps offering me a menu to choose add-ons or ignore. What are these add-ons and if I choose them and change my mind afterwards, how do I get rid of them. Child's language please. I'm not computer literate. Many thanks in advance.

Update:

Brian. Fantastic answer and I've had a look at the little cog thing and the add-ons I've already got appear to be concerned with things I do on the computer (Skype etc). There don't appear to be any I don't want/recognise so I'll leave well alone. However, every time I turn on my laptop, I ALWAYS get this little message at the bottom which appears to come from Windows suggesting I either 'turn off' Add-ons or choose them with two 'buttons' to press for choice. It says it will help my browsing but I've always just X'd this little thing and not made any choice either way in case I was loading viruses etc. As it's from Windows do you think I should press the choose button?

Update 2:

Brian. Fantastic answer and I've had a look at the little cog thing and the add-ons I've already got appear to be concerned with things I do on the computer (Skype etc). There don't appear to be any I don't want/recognise so I'll leave well alone. However, every time I turn on my laptop, I ALWAYS get this little message at the bottom which appears to come from Windows suggesting I either 'turn off' Add-ons or choose them with two 'buttons' to press for choice. It says it will help my browsing but I've always just X'd this little thing and not made any choice either way in case I was loading viruses etc. As it's from Windows do you think I should press the choose button?

Update 3:

Brian. Fantastic answer and I've had a look at the little cog thing and the add-ons I've already got appear to be concerned with things I do on the computer (Skype etc). There don't appear to be any I don't want/recognise so I'll leave well alone. However, every time I turn on my laptop, I ALWAYS get this little message at the bottom which appears to come from Windows suggesting I either 'turn off' Add-ons or choose them with two 'buttons' to press for choice. It says it will help my browsing but I've always just X'd this little thing and not made any choice either way in case I was loading viruses etc. As it's from Windows do you think I should press the choose button?

6 Answers

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  • 8 years ago
    Favorite Answer

    hi chris

    add-ons( also known as plug-ins and extensions ) are browser features that allow specific internet applications to run ... these can range from broadband speed checkers to online games that use java

    however you can disable them by going to tools ( the small cog like icon at the top right of the internet explorer browser screen ) and then select "manage add-ons ".. you can then either disable or enable the add-ons you want and the ones you don't want,and you can also see how faster your browser will start with these add-ons disabled !

    in firefox you need to select the orange firefox start button ( top left ) and then select "add-ons" and then select the "plug-ins" and disable any plugins or addons you don't want

    for google chrome click the settings icon ( top right ) and then select "options" and then select the "extensions" option which again will allow you to disable or enable your add-ons/extensions

    some add-ons and extensions can actually cause problems ... for example they can stop flash player from working correctly ( required for youtube and facebook apps ) so if you do experience problems with online browser based applications try disabling some add-ons and this may help

    I hope this helps chris .. any questions let me know

    good luck mate !

  • 4 years ago

    NoScript upload-on =brill additionally guidance the unique selections toolbar became designed to offer the person greater administration over the pages seen, and to allow the means browser to apply mozilla with greater advantageous ease and performance than ever formerly. The PrefBar 3 takes this thought to an entire new point; alongside with the primary determination checkboxes, the hot version is composed of utility buttons, person agent spoofing, internet links, and greater, served on a completely customizable toolbar with a factor of white rice. it relatively is even obtainable to apply PrefBar to create "macro buttons" to run just about any code you decide on..

  • 8 years ago

    Add ons (sometimes also called plugins) are small utilities you can add to a web browser or other program, they offer various extra features for that already existing program or browser.

    Example: Adobe Flash Player is an add on for web browsers.

  • 8 years ago

    you need addons to browse properly through the internet like streaming videos ,loading web pages properly,listening online music etc.etc.so when your browser offer to add an add-on,first check for what purpose you have asked to install the add-on like for streaming videos etc.dont install any add-on because unneccessary addons are somtimes very difficult to uninstall.install proper addon which is required for browsing the web correctly and properly.best of luck...cheers!!!!!

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  • Anonymous
    8 years ago

    Flash ,java,google toolbar all those stuff that adds on to browsers.

  • 8 years ago

    Here's what Microsoft has to say about add-ons.

    http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-vista/h...

    - Dominic

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