Default browser problem

[Daze N. Knights]

Running Vista 32 Ultimate RTM, I have been used Firefox 2.0.1 as my
default browser with no issues until I also installed Opera 9.10. After
installing Opera (but NOT ever allowing it to become my default
browser), Internet Explorer suddenly became my default browser and
insists on remaining so no matter what I do. Internet Explorer is not
set as the default and tells me so any time that I open it. Opera is not
set as the default and also tells me so any time that I open it. Firefox
IS set as the default and never says otherwise. Nevertheless, whenever I
click on a link (in a post or email), it is always now Internet Explorer
that opens to the web page. Has anyone else experienced this problem?

 

[Daze N. Knights]

This is SOOO frustrating, and, given the lack of response to my OP, I
gather I'm the only one having this kind of problem.

I've now uninstalled the Opera, and tried several time uninstalling and
reinstalling the Firefox, which is what I would like to use for my
default browser. But I now have a situation where *both* my Internet
Explorer and my Firefox claim to be my default browser, but it is IE
that actually usurps the role.

I think in Vista, Microsoft has upped the ante in the browser wars by
making it difficult to have any other default browser but IE.

 

[Guest]

Daze N. Knights,

Could hardly believe the question that you Posted. Have read many of your
Post, and fully aware that you are a very intelligent person.

Vista is a Rolls Royce of an OS. What you have done is equal with installing
Yugo parts in a Rolls Royce, and then pondering why your Rolls Royce no
longer properly functions.

Hind Sight is wonderful… long ago if Microsoft would have used an upper case
Disclaimer that read if a person installs those third party nightly builds
inside Vista that instantly Vista would cease functioning.

Only one exception should have been included within the above Disclaimer, if
a person is a Licensed Builder only then could third party applications be
implemented inside Vista.

Unfortunately, the above is hind sight and Microsoft and Vista are wrongly
assigned blame for the conflicts created by such third party applications.

If a person is a Licensed Builder and/or OEM, only then the fault and blame
is rightly and properly assigned to the OEM, not Microsoft and Vista.

Well, hind sight is wonderful, and Microsoft and Vista survived the wrongly
assigned blame created by those nightly third party builds.

And then, perhaps, Vista is a much stronger OS the results of folks
installing all those nightly builds…

When a person has the Worlds most state of the art OS as Vista, why would a
person ever desire using old out dated third party applications that do
nothing other than cause trouble and problems?

Simply, Vista is the worlds best OS, and IE 7 is the worlds best Browser,
they can not be improved by implementing out date applications, you've got
the best there is and can not improve the worlds best OS and Browser
offering.

Perhaps a better Disclaimer: Accept Vista as it is or abandon Vista.

Respectfully,

 

[Daze N. Knights]

Well, I've tried all of the options available on the Internet Options'
Programs tab for changing the browser default from Internet Explorer to
Firefox (or any other browser), but all options, including all of the
relevant file associations, are frozen on using IE as the default and
can't be changed.

Where is it that one can change the programs associated with various
file types in Vista? It seems like, in XP, that was on the last tab of
Folder Options, but that's certainly not where it is in Vista . . .

 

[Lang Murphy]

Well... to quote your post... "...no issues until I also installed Opera
9.10."

So... if FireFox -was working fine- as your default browser prior to
installing Opera, then one has to assume installing Opera is the root-cause
of your problem. Not Vista, not IE. For sure that's just a SWAG... and
still, it makes sense, no? Even though you -did not- flag it to be your
default browser... Seems kinda odd that Vista/IE would "allow" FF to become
the default browser but then get its collective shorts in a knot over Opera.

Do you have a restore point prior to the install of Opera to which you can
return?

Lang

 

[Jane C]

Control Panel\Programs\Default Programs >
Set Default Programs

 

[Daze N. Knights]

Ah, well. So much for that. Undoubtedly something about installing Opera
(which, it turns out, was not yet Vista-ready) bunged up my situation
with respect to assigning a default browser, and no one stepped up with
a remedy. My only recourse was to reinstall Vista, which I've done, and
am now mostly set up again. Firefox is apparently mostly Vista-ready,
but Opera just is not. My big mistake in this case was not to have
backed up my system partition before the problem occurred. But now
things are looking up again.