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General discussion

Unable to set Mozilla as default

Mar 19, 2004 3:47AM PST

By default,I mean that when I boot my PC and connect to the Internet, I would like Mozilla to open instead of IE 6.0 first. I have tried any combination of settings stated at this site and more,with no luck.
http://www.depts.drew.edu/cns/support/docs/default_mozilla/

Maybe there is some association between IE 6.0 and my AT&T Dial-Up connection or maybe a Registry entry that I don't know about it.

I have Windows XP Home and I am not sure if Pack 1 is installed simply because soon after I installed the Pack 1,I restored my system to a previuos restore date.

Any other idea helpful or not,shall be appreciated.

Discussion is locked

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Re:Unable to set Mozilla as default
Mar 19, 2004 4:41AM PST

The 'default browser', as I understand the concept, is the program started if you click on a hyperlink for a website. According to the file-type screen (in Windows 95/9Cool that's rundll32.exe shdocvw.dll,OpenURL %l, and I assume the dll knows what to run from the item in the registry that defines the 'default browser' you can set in IE and in Mozilla.

But I've never seen a browser (IE or Mozilla for that matter) starting automatically triggered by a dial-up connection. It doesn't make sense. It's quite possible you intend to use the connection to check your mail (with Outlook Express for example) or just want to go to ICQ or MSN to have a good talk with your friends, or want to run Mediaplayer to listen to some Internet radio.

The other way around, yes: you can set IE to dial automatically if it is started without a connection. And of course, you can put IE in the startup group (or Mozilla, or in fact any program or browser or document or web-address).
And you can put the dial-up connection in your startup group if you want to connect automatically at boot time (but then maybe you'de better take dsl or cable connection).

So - if it really is a startup problem, as you describe - the question is: can you disclose what runs at Startup (msconfig is the tool to use, even in Windows XP), and what Services are started?
If it isn't, are you sure it's really triggered by the dialup connection, if you click on it from My Computer?


Kees

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Re:Re:Unable to set Mozilla as default
Mar 19, 2004 5:32AM PST

Let me be more specific:

1. I boot up my PC

2. I double click my ISP, AT&T icon on the desktop

3 After my modem establishes a connection, IE 6.0 opens up showing the AT&T homepage and I can browse the Internet. However, I would like to browse with Mozilla to start with, without having to close IE 6.0 and open manually Mozilla. My Outlook Express works as it should. As I said, there should be a way to implement this and there is, but I had no luck for the last three months! Every time I connect, IE 6.0 opens first, regardless of my settings. On the next boot up, they all reset to IE 6.O as the default browser.

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Rbt, Have You Tried ???
Mar 19, 2004 6:38AM PST

....the instructions from Mozilla:

2.2. How do I make Mozilla my default browser?
http://www.mozilla.org/start/1.4/faq/browser.html#default

In addition, open the Control Panel, double click on "Internet Options", then click on the "Programs" tab. Try UNCHECKING or CHECKING the box at the bottom that says: "Internet Explorer should check to see if it's the default browser". Then click Apply, OK, etc.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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Re:Re:Re:Unable to set Mozilla as default
Mar 19, 2004 11:57AM PST

If you installed software from your ISP (AT&T?) it is possible that IE opening is a function of the said software. I can remember being with Earthlink some years back, that you could chose what browser to launch or simply none. Ask your ISP?

Good Luck.

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You haven't changed the defaults.
Mar 20, 2004 12:15AM PST

I just changed from ATT, so I don't have it in front of me. I can get you through the steps with a little work on your part. Kees was right about going to Internet Options and unchecking "Make Internet Explorer your default browser". Next, from the desktop, left click the ATT shortcut-open-Settings. Then go through the various options(Account, I think) till you find a list of choices, one of which is "load Internet Explorer....".
Uncheck this. Just below this(I think) is a large box with an "Add" beside it. Click "Add", "Browse" till you go to C-Program Files-Mozilla-Mozilla.Org-Open. This should place Mozilla in the large box. Close all steps and restart computer. From now on, when you log on, Mozilla will auto-load. Good luck. chuck

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Re:You haven't changed the defaults.
Mar 20, 2004 3:26AM PST

You are right, no, I havn't done any of your suggestions,chuck. I will do just that, maybe tomorrow and I will post back. Thanks to all of you for now.

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Re:You haven't changed the defaults.
Mar 21, 2004 4:38AM PST

Chuckieu:

I have navigated through the various options that you have suggested, but I only end up to the Internet Options box where you can check or uncheck the box: "Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser". Rather than this, I cannot find any other options stated in your response. Most likely, we have a different AT&T software versions.

On this self-built, P4 3.06 GHz PC, I had a similar problem when I wanted to mute my modem's speaker. I tried all possible settings for months, until I found out that all I needed to do was to type the command "atm0" somewhere in the modem's settings. Just muting the modem's speaker and setting the volume to zero, did not do anything!

Anyhow, the question is not that I must have Mozilla as my default browser, but the question is rather...why not?

Thank you to all.