Howto get IE to ASK about it being the default browser

[David Cook]

There have been various postings about resolving whether IE
(or some other browser) is the DEFAULT browser. But most
of them contain INCOMPLETE info about the problem.

Here's the new info I have learned. This is based on a Win-XP-Pro
platform with SP2 and all subsequent OS updates to date being in place.

The new piece of info relates to a machine which has TWO (or more)
user accts in place. Both of them have 'administrative privilege':

If another browser (e.g. Firefox or Netscape) is set as the DEFAULT
browser, then even if IE has been set with the checkbox ENABLE saying
to ask whether IE wants to become the default-browser:
(1) IE will ONLY ask this from ONE of the TWO user-accts!
(2) It's almost like this 'Is IE the default browser' is system-wide
rather
than per-user. (Per-user would be what most customers want, I
think.
It is certainly what I WANT.)

So, if you happen to be logged in as User 'A' and you run IE when it is NOT
the default brower, IE does NOT even ask whether you want it to become
the default browser.

And, the only known solution is to log-out as User 'A', login as User 'B'
(sigh...
which requires you to KNOW User-B's password), and then run IE,
at which point it will THEN ask. Once you set it as the default-browser
(as User B), then you can log out and login as User A, and now User-A's
default browser is (also) IE.

This can NOT be what Microsoft intends (unless they are just 'busting our
chops' for switching away from their IE browser).

Anyone know of a FIX or WORKAROUND (e.g. registry hacking or whatever)
to allieviate this mess?

TIA...

Dave

 

[Cajunswabbie]

There have been various postings about resolving whether IE
(or some other browser) is the DEFAULT browser. But most
of them contain INCOMPLETE info about the problem.

Here's the new info I have learned. This is based on a Win-XP-Pro
platform with SP2 and all subsequent OS updates to date being in place.

The new piece of info relates to a machine which has TWO (or more)
user accts in place. Both of them have 'administrative privilege':

If another browser (e.g. Firefox or Netscape) is set as the DEFAULT
browser, then even if IE has been set with the checkbox ENABLE saying
to ask whether IE wants to become the default-browser:
(1) IE will ONLY ask this from ONE of the TWO user-accts!
(2) It's almost like this 'Is IE the default browser' is system-wide
rather
than per-user. (Per-user would be what most customers want, I
think.
It is certainly what I WANT.)

So, if you happen to be logged in as User 'A' and you run IE when it is
NOT
the default brower, IE does NOT even ask whether you want it to become
the default browser.

And, the only known solution is to log-out as User 'A', login as User 'B'
(sigh...
which requires you to KNOW User-B's password), and then run IE,
at which point it will THEN ask. Once you set it as the default-browser
(as User B), then you can log out and login as User A, and now User-A's
default browser is (also) IE.

This can NOT be what Microsoft intends (unless they are just 'busting our
chops' for switching away from their IE browser).

Anyone know of a FIX or WORKAROUND (e.g. registry hacking or whatever)
to allieviate this mess?

TIA...

Dave

With User 'A' logged in, open IE, go to Tools\Options\Program tab. At he
bottom put a check mark in the "Internet Explorer should check to see
whether it is the default browser." You can do the same thing through
Start\Control Panel\Internet Options. Hope this helps.

Cajunswabbie