First, you may want to check out Switching to Mozilla Firefox on the Mozilla web site. There is even a video there for new users to view!
Now, unlike Grif I have had Firefox set as my Default Browser on my XP installation for a very long time, now. I simply allowed the IE link in the Start menu to stay there. By leaving the IE links in the various places where they were place by default, when I want to use IE for something (like manual updates or whatever) I can. That icon has special properties that are very useful and one really doesn't want to lose those, anyway.
Moreover, there are many, many Add-ons that you may find useful for your purposes. You can find them in two ways. Those who do not already have Firefox installed on their computer can visit Add-ons for Firefox. Once you have Firefox installed on your computer, simple go to Tools > Add-ons > Get Add-ons at the top of the window that comes up. If you want to go to the Add-ons for Firefox Page to search for add-ons that you don't know the name of simply click on "Browse all add-ons" which is located within that window that comes up, as well.
Some of the most useful Add-ons that I have found that you may want to check out follow. The first is called Unsorted Bookmarks Folder Menu. This adds the Unsorted Bookmarks Folder to the Bookmarks menu and is very handy in helping you sort your Bookmarks within Firefox. To further help you with your 'Favorites' there is PlainOldFavorites. It adds a link in the Firefox Navigation bar that leads directly to your IE Favorites. I've found that migrating my favorites all around my computer (and the web) is not exactly the best thing for me to do within my scope of computer usage. PlainOldFavorites allows me to place my saved links to web pages in my IE Favorites folder on my computer and have access to them from both IE and Firefox.
deskCut adds the ability to Firefox to save a link on your desktop (or anywhere else of your choosing, for that matter) in the exact same way that IE already does with its right-click 'Create Shortcut' function.
In addition, to handling shortcuts to your favorite web pages in the various places you still want to be able to utilize, you will like want to continue on with being able to hear the same sounds that your computer makes as you use the internet with IE. Firefox has an Add-on for that, too. It's called Navigational Sounds.
There are other Add-ons that I have found to be good to have or are just plain handy for various tasks that are mostly just not available for IE. Some examples of these are:
- BetterPrivacy >Handles Flash Cookies, technically called LSOs, for you. These cookies invade a users privacy by tracking your every move across the internet for various reasons including targeted advertising and re-instating regular cookies after a user has deleted them. If, like me, you hate those sort of things this is one Add-on you may definitely want.
- ColorfulTabs >Makes each of your Tabs a different color according to how you Configure it so that when you have more than one tab open they are more easily discernible.
- CookieSafe >This allows you to conveniently handle plain old regular cookies with more precision from the Firefox Task Bar.
- Extension List Dumper >Allows you to conveniently make a list of all your Add-ons for future use in case you need to re-install them. I created this list of add-ons with this tool and added my own explanations to them.
- Flagfox >Puts the Flag of the country where the website you are viewing is hosted from. When you click that Flag you get all sorts of interesting info about that site. This info can be very useful at times.
- NoScript >Gives you very powerful ways to control what Java scripts are allowed to do on your computer and how they do it. Java scripts have in recent years been increasingly used to spread malware and they can also track where you go on the internet for the purpose of targeted advertising. While this add-on is quite 'noisy' in that it requires constant attention while using the internet it is a 'must have' for the safety and/or privacy conscious computer user. After you take a bit of time to get used to it while learning how to tweak and/or use it for maximum efficiency you may come to swear by it, too.
- PDF Download >Is an on-line service that converts most web pages to a PDF with clickable links to save on your computer for future reference.
- pdfit >Works similar to the Print Screen capability of your Operating System (ie: Windows, Mac, Linux) but creates a PDF or Bitmap of any web page you want to save on your computer, again, for future reference. I use this if I run across a page that PDF Download can't convert for me (usually a site one must log in to or one with flash content). A PDF made with pdfit has no embedded clickable links, though. That's why I have both web page converters.
- WOT >Is an invaluable tool that is another 'must have' for all who use the internet. It helps you stay away from web pages that have been reported to contain various malware and other unsavory content. You can even sign up/in to make comments about your own experiences with that particular page if you feel compelled to do so. Although user comments are not used by WOT to rate pages, they can be of some assistance in helping you decide if you actually want to visit a page or not. you can even get WOT for other browsers including IE here[/url.">http://www.mywot.com/en/download]here[/url.
While checking out new add-ons to "build your own browser" so to speak, keep in mind that the more add-ons you install on any browser, the slower it may run depending upon what hardware you have to run your OS and other software on. But that is a subject for other places and times. Since you are running Windows 7 your hardware should be capable of handling things to your satisfaction.
I hope that all of this information does not create information overload for and therefore confuse you and possibly run you off. You can use this info in pieces if or when you see fit. I have simply laid it out here for you to come back to as you are ready. I hope it helps you to build your Firefox browser a little more quickly to your own liking. That is one of the best and can be the most fun things about Firefox!
Happy Firefox browsing! 