Mounting FTP volumes on the desktop through Safari; Internet Explorer causes problem
Mounting FTP volumes on the desktop through Safari; Internet Explorer causes problem
Depending on your settings - and apparently how your installation of Internet Explorer is configured - Safari can automatically mount volumes accessible via FTP (for instance, ftp://ftp.apple.com) on the desktop in the same way that .Mac iDisks are handled.
However, if you have Internet Explorer set as using itself to navigate FTP sites, Safari will automatically launch the Microsoft product when you enter a ftp:// address. This happens because Internet Explorer modifies a Mac OS X system file with its own settings, and Safari has no mechanism to overwrite those preferences.
In Mac OS 9 exists Internet Config, a tool which can set helper applications for file formats and protocols (HTTP, FTP, etc.). In Mac OS X, however, these settings are determined by the preference settings of individual applications.
For Safari to launch the Finder's "Connect to Server" component and mount FTP servers on the desktop, you will need to launch Internet Explorer (or your primary browser) and navigate to the "helper applications" section of its Preferences. There you will need to click on "Protocols," select "ftp," and set Safari as the default handler.
There is also a small application called MisFox that can set Mac OS X's system-wide Internet helper settings.
As a side note, Internet Explorer seems to always display the message "Set Internet Explorer as your default browser?" prompt, even after clicking the "Do not show again" box on your in-house Power Macintosh G4/733 running Mac OS X 10.2.4. Repairing permissions and re-applying the Mac OS X 10.2.4 combo updater have no effect, nor does manually selecting a different browser from System Preferences' Internet pane.
Feedback on this issue? Drop us a line at late-breakers@macfixit.com.Resources