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General discussion

Making IE the default browser

Dec 3, 2004 4:13AM PST

I mainly use Firefox. But sometimes I need or want to use IE6. I have IE set up to check to see if it is the default browser. It used to obey my command, but today it has started to thumb its nose at me. I recall the thing call FixIE, I think that's the name, has something about remedying the failure of IE to ask if I want it as default. Do I need to use that now or is there some more simple way that might work? grandpaw

Discussion is locked

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Re: Making IE the default browser
Dec 3, 2004 4:47AM PST

Have you looked at Tools, Internet Options, Programs, and put a check in the box: "Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser"?

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Yes, I have it checked
Dec 4, 2004 4:16AM PST

grandpaw

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This might help. . .
Dec 3, 2004 4:50AM PST
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Re: This might help. . .
Dec 4, 2004 4:19AM PST

That website calls for a pretty extensive reprograming and I am leery of doing that just now because I don't know all of the ramifications. Before do anything extensive, I want to be sure there is not something simpler that will just get IE to ask the question about being the default when I am in Firefox and click IE to switch browsers. grandpaw

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Re: Making IE the default browser
Dec 3, 2004 6:36AM PST

Have you tried ....

Control Panel - Network and Internet Connections - Set up or change ... - "Internet Properties".

Once there click "programs" and then the button to set web settings to IE default.

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Re: Making IE the default browser
Dec 4, 2004 4:15AM PST

keyhoti, while I have two icons in Control Panel, one for Network Connections and one for Internet Options, when I go to Properties in Internet Options>Programs, I have Reset Web Settings button which, when I click on it, asks if I want to reset my web settngs to their orignial internet explorer defaults. This Properties dialog box is the one where I have checked "Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser. I am leery of saying Yes because I don't know what all the ramifications are of doing so. Since IE was regularly asking if I want it as the default, and still does when I boot up after making Firefox my default, I am wondering if there is a more simpl way of getting that scenario back, perhaps by use of System Restore. grandpaw

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Re: Making IE the default browser
Dec 4, 2004 4:32AM PST

If you put a check mark in the box that says "Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser", then when you open IE, you will get a message asking to make it the default browser. The next time you open your other browser, it will ask if you want to make it your default browser. Just pick yes or no depending on what you want.

I'm not sure why it is important since you can open and use either browser as you want. The only time my default browser opens automatically is when I click on a link or update a program that needs a web page. IE has problems and if you are going to use it, make sure your antivirus, spyware programs and firewall are up-to-date.

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Re: Making IE the default browser
Dec 4, 2004 7:04AM PST

Hi grandpaw (hope that makes you feel warm and fuzzy lol, i.e. your very entertaining stuff when you lost your desktop!)

I have a possibility for you, considering it is hardly a good idea to want Firefox as your default and, somehow, IE too.

I'm not sure this will work, partly because I know nothing about Firefox, but I assume it allows for "favourites"?

If so, then next time you are in Firefox try accessing IE from "all programs" from "start".

If it comes up, then add it to your favourites in Firefox.

This may not work at all - obviously I can't try it because I run IE anyway, albeit with ninemsn as my default browser - but I doubt it can do any harm and it might just solve that old conundrum about "having your cake and eating it too" ... then us two old buggers can go out in a blaze of glory.

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Can't grasp the problem..
Dec 4, 2004 8:27AM PST

Grandpaw, just put a link to IE on your Desktop. And also a link to Firefox. Start the one you want. If you want the other one, just click the icon, and start it up.
You can run both at the same time. Well, not exactally, but both can be running at the same time.
Unless I'm missing something, this should be very simple.

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Re: Can't grasp the problem..
Dec 4, 2004 7:20PM PST

I'm glad to read someone else doesn't understand the problem either.

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Grasp This
Jan 25, 2005 7:49PM PST

Well I've grasped the problem. Maybe Grandpaw does what I do. I have numerous icons on my desktop such as CNN, FoxNews, etc. that when I click on the icon it takes me directly to that website via Internet Explorer. Otherwise I would have to open up Internet Explorer and then type in the address of those particular websites manually.

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Rebel, No Need To Type In The Address Manually...
Jan 26, 2005 12:15AM PST

It's your choice on whether to keep lots of separate icons on your desktop, but it's not necessary in order to have quick acess to various sites. You can always save "Favorites" in Internet Explorer OR Firefox..Open the webpage from any location the first time. Once you're at the site, click on "Favorites" in the upper left corner, choose "Add To Favorites". From then on, simply open Internet Explorer, click on "Favorites", then choose the site you want to visit.

You can now delete all those unsightly internet shortcut icons on your desktop so you can view a beautiful desktop background of your choice. I am familiar with some XP users that choose to remove ALL icons from their desktop.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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Me ''three''.
Dec 4, 2004 9:23PM PST

1. 12/03 grandpaw7 - I mainly use Firefox. But sometimes I need or want to use IE6. I have IE set up to check to see if it is the default browser. It used to obey my command, but today it has started to thumb its nose at me. I recall the thing call FixIE, I think that's the name, has something about remedying the failure of IE to ask if I want it as default.

a. What is the full meaning of the statement, "It used to obey my command, but today it has started to thumb its nose at me."

b. No. IEFix doesn't address the problem of asking.

2. 12/04 Coryphaeus - Have you looked at Tools, Internet Options, Programs, and put a check in the box: "Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser"?

12/04 grandpaw7 - Yes, I have it checked

12/03 keyhoti - Control Panel - Network and Internet Connections - Set up or change ... - "Internet Properties". Once there click "programs" and then the button to set web settings to IE default.

12/04 grandpa7 - I have Reset Web Settings button which, when I click on it, asks if I want to reset my web settngs to their orignial internet explorer defaults. This Properties dialog box is the one where I have checked "Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser. I am leery of saying Yes because I don't know what all the ramifications are of doing so.

a. Clicking Tools, Internet Options, Programs, and then click Reset Web settings resets the default Internet Explorer settings for home and search pages and prompt to make IE the default browser but only if another browser has been installed after IE and that browser has changed them.

b. From what I can determine so far from the posting, IE does still ask.

Since IE was regularly asking if I want it as the default, and still does when I boot up after making Firefox my default, I am wondering if there is a more simpl way of getting that scenario back, perhaps by use of System Restore.

c. What scenario?

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Problem solved, I think
Dec 5, 2004 1:40AM PST

The bottom line is that I unchecked and then rechecked having IE ask the default question, and it seems to be back doing its job (by which I mean that it is now asking the default question when I have been using Firefox and click on my IE6 desktop icon). That is what used to happen when things worked fine, so I?ll assume it will continue to happen. If it doesn?t, I?ll run IEFIX which says it will solve the problem of IE6 not asking the default question when it is programmed to do so.

However, it took me so much time to type the stuff below, before I got IE to once again ask the default question, and since I tried to respond to the posts questioning what my problem was, I?ll leave it for anyone interested in reading it.

Gee, I hate to put so much reading material here, but I don?t know how else to explain myself.

It used to be that I had both icons on my desktop and had both asking the default question. Things worked great that way. When I clicked on Firefox, and made it my default, it remained my default until I clicked on IE6 and made it my default. And vice versa.

But recently, IE6 quit asking the default question. As a result, when I was using Firefox and clicked on IE6 to use it, Firefox remained my default. When I clicked on IE6, I got its homepage. But I could browse using IE6 only by entering a URL in the address box at the top. If I entered a URL in the address box at the bottom, or if I clicked on a website icon on my desktop, Firefox would kick in and bring up the URL. I could not get IE6 to be my default.

I then unchecked the default question in both browsers. However, the result was no different. If I was using Firefox and clicked on IE6 to use it, I could still browse with IE6 only by entering a URL in the address box at the top. If I entered the URL in the address box at the bottom, or if I clicked on a website icon on my desktop, Firefox took over as my browser.

My problem was that, when IE6 quit asking the default question, I could not get it to browse for me except by entering a URL in the address box at the top. Since things had worked so well when IE6 did ask the default question, I simply wanted to see what I could do to make IE6 start asking the default question once again.

What I meant by ?Since IE was regularly asking if I want it as the default, and still does when I boot up after making Firefox my default, I am wondering if there is a more simple way of getting that scenario back?: The scenario I refer to was the scenario of IE asking the default question when I have been using Firefox and then click on my IE desktop icon.

Glb says: ?If you put a check mark in the box that says "Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser", then when you open IE, you will get a message asking to make it the default browser. The next time you open your other browser, it will ask if you want to make it your default browser. Just pick yes or no depending on what you want.? When I open IE, it used to ask the default question, as glb says. But the problem was that IE quit asking the question, just as though I had unchecked the box calling for it to do so, even though in fact the box was checked.


I was concerned about Coryphaeus? suggestion because it didn?t seem like I should have to do anything extensive to get IE6 to follow the instruction I had given it to ask the default question.

What I meant by ?I have IE set up to check to see if it is the default browser. It used to obey my command, but today it has started to thumb its nose at me?: The command I refer to is my programming IE6 to ask the default question, thus "commanding" it to do so. "Thumb its nose at me" refers the fact that IE quit doing what I had programmed it to do. Perhaps in this day and age kids don't put their thumb to their nose to indicate they are not going to do what another kid asks them to do.

When I said that ?I recall the thing call FixIE, I think that's the name, has something about remedying the failure of IE to ask if I want it as default? I should have said IEFIX. IEFIX says that a problem it can solve is when "internet explorer does [NOT] prompt for the default browser even though the prompt is enabled in internet options". At the bottom of the page it says to "click here" if IE does NOT prompt for the default browser, so the word "not" was simply left out in the prior sentence.

Now, it?s my naptime. grandpaw

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Re: Problem solved, I think
Dec 5, 2004 3:57AM PST

Hi Grandpaw,

Hope you enjoyed your nap. I have one every afternoon.

Do you mind if I say, "I wonder if you are reading too much into this "default" business"?

You do? Ahh well. Sorry. But I wonder if you're reading too much into this "Default" business, Happy

Windows is a wonderful thing. No really, I mean it. For all its minor faults, when we have it running well, it is truly marvelous. And I have learned from these forums and others that when it is not running well, it is usually saying something like, "Hey you, you've messed me up. Come and fix it!". Meaning more often than not it is us who make the errors, not Windows.

It is wonderful in so many ways, and many of them are subtle. For instance, I have 3 different players on my desktop. Not the players themselves, just the shortcuts to the main programs. They will play my music, or my videos. They are Windows Media Player, and Creative PlayCenter for music, and Windows Media Player, (again), Zoom Player, and DivX Player for my videos.

The subtlety is how I can use them to play files. EG, I want to play Pink Floyd's music track, "Another Brick in the Wall". I can either;

1] Find the file in Windows Explorer and double click it, or
2] Open up WMP or Creative PlayCenter, go to File > Open, navigate to where the track is, highlight it and click Play, (Or Open), or
3] In Windows Explorer, I can "Drag" the file across the screen, out of Windows Explorer, and "drop" it into the player shortcut on my desktop. The player will open like magic, playing my track. Did you know you could do that? or
4] If my player is already open, I can drag the file out of Windows Explorer, and drop it into the player window, or,
5] If the player is open but minimised to an icon on the taskbar at the bottom, I can drag the file out of Windows Explorer, and onto the taskbar icon. I don't let go but hold onto it. Then the player will open up from the taskbar, and then I can release the mouse, and the track will play.

If the track has a shortcut on my desktop, scrap Windows Explorer, I can just drag the desktop shortcut.

"All very interesting", I hear you say, "but what is your point?" you might continue.

My point is that Windows can do things, the same things, in many different ways. Take my browsers. I have 3 browsers. IE6, Netscape 7.1 and Firefox.

I don't have url shortcuts on my desktop, but I have done in the past. If I wanted to open a url, (a web page for people who read this and perhaps don't know what a url is), I would double click it, and my default browser would open it. Usually that was Netscape. But very often, I didn't want it open in Netscape. So, I would open up IE, and "drag" the url shortcut into the IE window, and the web page would open up.

I could have both browsers open, and both minimised to the taskbar. I could thyen choose which browser to drag the shortcut to. I would drag it to the minimised icon on the toolbar, wait a second for the browser I chose to open up, then release the mouse inside the open window.

One thing Windows doesn't do for browsers. I cannot drag a url shortcut to a browser shortcut icon on the desktop. It doesn't always work.

So what am I saying? As long as all my browsers work, I am not too bothered which one is the default browser. I'm in charge, not Windows and I choose which browser I want to use when I want it.

Is there any reason that you cannot think along the same lines Grandpaw? You don't have to bother with which browser is your default browser. You could set Firefox as the default in preference to IE because of IE's known security weaknesses, and then just forget about it. If you do want to use IE, just use it. Open it up, and drag the url into the open window.

Now, if you're saying that IE is now not working properly, that's a different matter, and perhaps you might need IEFIX. But are you sure its the browser and not your own concern about "which is default and which isn't"?

Let me know what you think?

Mark

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Same here..
Dec 5, 2004 4:29AM PST

I believe IE is my default browser, since I have not made any other the default.
But when making changes to my website, I usually run Opera, Firefox, and IE at the same time, and switch around to check results of changes. No problems in switching between browsers, but getting all to agree on a website presentation is a PITA. Near impossible to get them all identical, but you can get them very close. But that's just a rant..

Anyway, some years back I had Netscape also. When I used it, not as default, it would give me a message that " Netscape is not your default browser for Internet shortcuts.". DOH! Other than that, it worked ok.
So just suggesting that you set the browser you use most often as Default, and use the others as need be. Can't say there couldn't be some problem, just that I have never had one Happy

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Re: Same here..
Dec 6, 2004 3:18AM PST

Ray, if I have Firefox as my permanent default browser, and then open IE6, IE6 will browse for me only if I enter a URL in the IE6 address box, or open an IE6 Favorite.

If I have IE6 open and Firefox closed, and I enter a URL in the taskbar address box, the URL opens in Firefox. And if I go to my Desktop and click on a website, it opens in Firefox.

So, in order to have IE6 do all my browsing when I have opened it, I need to make it my default.

It has been quite simple for me to switch back and forth when I had both browsers asking the default question. No problems at all. It was when IE6 quite asking the default question, even though it was programmed to ask it, that I had problems getting IE6 to do all my browsing.

Now, both browsers are asking the default question, and things are hunky-dory. I couldn't ask for a more simple way to get what I want.

What I did was to reprogram IE6 to ask the default question, and now it does that. Problem solved.

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Re: Same here..
Dec 6, 2004 5:43AM PST

Apparently you use your desktop in ways I don't. I've never had web page shortcuts located on my desktop. In fact, I have very little located on my desktop since I don't like the clutter. I guess if you want to launch a specific browser from a desktop shortcut, then having it set as your default would be important. I just find that an odd way of accessing the internet. But you know what they say, whatever floats your boat.

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Thanks, Mark, and here's the deal
Dec 6, 2004 3:10AM PST

I'll need to take some time to digest your post and I am sure learn from it. Thanks.

As to the default browser business, right now, I have programmed both browsers NOT to ask the default question.

When I booted up just now, Firefox opened its homepage. (I don't know why it was Firefox rather than IE6.) I then closed Firefox and opened IE6. I then entered Google in the address box in the taskbar as the bottom. And Google then opened in Firefox.

I then again closed Firefox and again opened IE6. I then minimized IE6 got my desktop, and clicked on my Google icon. Google again opened in Firefox.

My routine is to boot up, and then use my desktop icons to open several websites that I want to check. As it stands now, they all open in Firefox even though I have closed Firefox and opened IE6.

When I have IE6 open, I can enter Google in the IE6 address box and Google will open in IE6. Or I can go to my Favorites folder and open a favorite and it will open in IE6. But when I click on IE6, I like for it to do all my browsing regardless of how I enter a URL, whether from my desktop, or from the taskbar address box, or some other way. I can get IE6 to do that only if I have made it my default browser by having it ask the default question and answering "yes".

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Here's the deal
Dec 6, 2004 9:40PM PST

I think with a little experimentation and some more lost time figuring out how the business of default browser(s) works when using more than one is fully explained in the article "[Q177054." If you keep your ear to the ground so to speak, you'll see that when things change, the Protocols for file associations have to change along with it -- if not, then "double-clicking" simply does not work. I have not had more than one browser at a time nor do I want too, but perhaps if you use a certain browser as the default, check the settings described in the article. Use another browser as the default, check those settings and see what if anything has changes for the associations.

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Re: Here's the deal
Dec 7, 2004 12:19AM PST

Cursorcowboy, having both browsers ask the default question worked like a charm for several weeks after I started switching that way, until IE6 quit asking the question. I have fixed that now and the switching is again working like a charm. It once again takes me about three seconds to switch browsers using my method, a method provided by IE6 and Firefox to facilitate switching. I think that if I practice I can shave off a half second or so.

My reason for posting was not because the way I was switching was problemsome. Indeed, it's about the easiet thing I do on my computer. I posted because IE6 quit asking the default question and I wanted to know how I could restore IE6 to asking the question. No one paid any attention to that and instead focused on my "obsession" with sticking with a "complicated" method that takes all of three or four seconds to do the job.

I was able to get IE6 to again ask the question by unchecking and then rechecking the "yes", an operation which which took perhaps four seconds. If that hadn't worked, I would have used IEFix, which, contrary to what you said, is designed to solve the default problem.

grandpaw

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That was just ''where'' the features are.
Dec 7, 2004 5:25AM PST
IEFix, which, contrary to what you said, is designed to solve the default problem

True that it's part of that operation, but not only for that purpose. Since the entire process is to reconfigure the IE browser to its at basic default most likely.

Thanks.
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I have similar issues
Jan 23, 2005 4:19AM PST

I am having similar problems... I think.

I use Firefox very happily, but there are times when you want a link or action to take place in IE AUTOMATICALLY. For instance, I am having difficulty signing into MSN Messenger today, and I want to click on the link that checks the messenger service status. that link doesnt seem to work in Firefox, and It isnt draggable to IE.... thus, it would be handy to switch back to IE default, but I cant seem to find an option to do so anymore. Its one of those things that dont ocurr to you when everything is working fine, and sounds strange to others, until they run into the same problem.

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tannji, Here Is What I Do
Jan 23, 2005 7:53AM PST

I am running 98SE. In the quick launch area I have a shortcut to IE and one Firefox. (I have no preference).
When I want to switch back and forth I open one and then when I open the other the first one is minimized on the task bar and vice versa. This makes it easy to switch back and forth without waiting for them to re-open.
So, I am sitting here looking at this site on IE and meanwhile Firefox is right behind this window ready to open on a moments notice. I can even take a peek at portions by dragging this window smaller to see what is behind it.
I could have the shortcuts on my desktop but I keep a few of my favoritest (I just coined that word) shortcuts in the quick launch area so I can get to them without going back to the desktop. Guess that is why they call it the quick launch area.
To use an oft used term, hope this helps.

DC

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Re: Problem solved, I think
Dec 5, 2004 4:31AM PST

"But the problem was that IE quit asking the question, just as though I had unchecked the box calling for it to do so, even though in fact the box was checked."

You don't need a browser set as your default to use it. Having a browser set as the default browser has very little to do with your ability to use the internet. I think you have attached too much importance to this. My suggestion would be don't worry about it and enjoy.

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Re: Problem solved, I think
Dec 6, 2004 3:22AM PST

I was happy when both broswers were asking the default question. I became sad when IE6 quit doing that, even though it was programmed to do it. Now, it is once again doing it and I am so happy I could fly. Of course, it could be the wine. grandpaw

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Im just thickheaded I guess..
Dec 6, 2004 4:12AM PST

IE is set as my default I suppose, since if I click on a a web shortcut on my Desktop, it opens in IE.
Yet if I run Opera, Firefox, and IE, all at the same time, then whatever browser I click on will open, and any links will open within that browser. Does not switch to a different browser to open any links. No browser asks to be Default anymore. Can't get things to happen as you have described them.
Anyway, interesting problem, and glad you got it to work the way you wanted. No, a little wine wouldn't hurt Happy

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Re: Problem solved, I think
Dec 6, 2004 4:19AM PST

Grand paw,

Just tried something,

Went to the desktop and created a new shortcut. In the first window of the wizard I browsed to Program Files -> Internet Explorer -> selected iexplore.exe clicked OK. Added http://www.google.com

I now have "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe" http://www.google.com in the Location of item box -> click next -> typed Google -> clicked finish. I now have an icon on my desktop going to Google using IE w/IE icon.

Might be a lot of work but you can set FireFox as default browser and have a bunch of IE shortcuts.

Bill
.

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Re: Making IE the default browser
Dec 6, 2004 7:59AM PST

Hi grandpaw,

It occurs to me that you are addicted to trying to find complex solutions to possibly easy "problems".

You confess to having an "errant finger" and some 60 icons on your desktop ... so no wonder that you have trouble with your PC.

BUT I am not putting you down.

Your posts generate a lot of discussion and, therefore, a lot of information which ppl can sift as they want to.

And you have a great sense of humour.

Incidentally: How old are you? I am 61, going on about six years old.

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Re: Making IE the default browser
Dec 6, 2004 8:06AM PST

Blimey, that old?? Happy

Mark
Aged 53 & 3/4