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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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My dog can do it with his eyes closed
Dec 6, 2004 9:56PM PST

No, not that. I'm talking about using my method of switching browsers.

Hi,keyhoti2, I'm 75, going on 95.

Let?s take a look at how my method works, a method, incidentally, which is endorsed by Firefox and IE6.

I hope you?re well-rested because this is a pretty arduous undertaking; in fact, only a few hardy souls have been able to come through it unscathed. I am one of them, although my friends claim I?ve been acting rather peculiarly since I started using it.

Now, we?re using Firefox and we want to switch to IE6.

First, compose yourself and then see if you can successfully click on the IE6 desktop icon. This may take two or three attempts.

Then, and I admit this is the really difficult part, in fact, you may want to rest a little before trying it, you gird your loins and try mightily to click on the "yes" in the default question box on your screen.

If you have successfully gone through both of these steps, you should congratulate yourself. Let me know and I?ll send you a certificate honoring your efforts.

What I do at this point is to take it easy for a while, just sitting there watching my screen saver. Gee, what a looker she is!

Now, since we?re dealing here with computers, you may encounter the kind of problem that I did. IE6 may quit providing you with the default question; I like to say it quit obeying your command, but some folks think that is too high-faluting. If so, don?t take your problem to the CNET forum because the folks there are deathly afraid of this method and will advise you to avoid it like the plague.

Instead, after futilely asking the forum for a solution, I found that I could fix the problem by first unchecking and then rechecking the default forum question in IE6. If that doesn't work, IEFix says it can fix the problem.

Frankly, I think this process is easier than first grade math, but that may be because I failed that course.

But I have to go now. I am wanting to switch from Firefox to IE6 and I only have about an hour to complete the operation. So, I summon all my powers of concentration and see what happens. Frankly, I am a little scared.

grandpaw

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Re: My dog can do it with his eyes closed
Dec 7, 2004 2:23AM PST

Grandpaw, I noticed something in the first post. You are
trying to have two defaults. By definition, default means one. Just make Firefox the default( I prefer Mozilla myself). When you want to use Internet Explorer( for whatever bizarre reason), open it from the Programs list. If you use it often enough, put a shortcut on the desktop.I have my firewall set so that it has to ask me any time IE6 wants to access the internet. I only use it when I have to, but some programs do need it. But, don't try to make both your default, it will proably just screw up the settings. I also have Netscape(mostly for the weather) and use it the same way. Works great. Good luck. chuck

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Re: My dog can do it with his eyes closed
Dec 7, 2004 3:53AM PST

Thanks, Chuck.

Chuck, IE6 has a program that allows you to change your default browser from Firefox (or Netscape or whatever) to IE6. Firefox also has such a program. I am simply using those two programs. I am using them precisely the way they were designed to be used, and they are working fine now.

Bear in mind that when you have one as the default browser and want to change to the other, you open the other and you get a message telling you that it is not currently your default browser, and asking if you want to change to make it your default browser. By definition you can have only one default browser, so that when you click to make IE6 your default, Firefox automatically ceases to be your default, and vice versa.

It turns out that both IE6 and Firefox knew what they were doing when they provided this feature, and I am proud to be one of the users of it, even though, for some unknown reason, it has a lot of enemies, possibly people who, despite their guru status, simply don't understand this feature.

http://www.ehow.com/how_11815_change-computers-default.html

" Changing from Netscape to Microsoft Internet Explorer

Steps:
1. Open Microsoft Internet Explorer.

2. Pull down the Tools menu and select Internet Options.

3. Select the Programs tab.

4. Click the box next to "Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser" and click OK

5. Close Internet Explorer.

6. Reopen Internet Explorer. A window will appear asking whether you'd like Internet Explorer to be your default browser.

7. Click "Yes" to change your default browser to internet explorer."

I'll repeat that last sentence more loudly for the hard of hearing: "CLICK "YES" TO CHANGE YOUR DEFAULT BROWSER FROM NETSCAPE TO INTERNET EXPLORER."

grandpaw

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Re: My dog can do it with his eyes closed
Dec 8, 2004 1:30AM PST

Granpaw, all browsers do this. I choose no to "Make "whatever" your defalt browser" and choose a variation of "Don't ask me again". I leave Mozilla as my default and open the others as necessary, as I said. Yes, you can change your default everytime you open a browser, but for the life of me, I can't see a reasonable reason to do it
your way. If it makes you happy, that's all that matters on your computer. chuck

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Why don't we leave it at "it makes me happy"?
Dec 8, 2004 4:14AM PST

I am unofficially closing this thread due to the lack of relevant input. Geez, I coulda spent this time playing with my grandkids. grandpaw

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This WORKS
Mar 17, 2005 5:48AM PST

I tried every thing short of reinstalling IE. I don't have time for that... Crunch time.

But this little app actually worked:

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/defaultbrowser.htm

I hope this helps someone else.

//I love computers.... when they work.

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fixing ie
Jan 25, 2006 9:41AM PST

I broke ie when I uninstalled Download Accelerator Plus. Even reinstalling windows xp did not fix it, so I reinstalled DAP which got it working but it wouldn't ask to be default anymore. With msn toolbar, ie has tabbed browsing and I prefer using it to firefox. Unchecking and rechecking the box for ie to ask to be default did not help. Finally, thanks to your thread, I found this link that got me back: http://www.winxptutor.com/iedefault.htm