Neither IE6 nor Firefox ask to be default browser

[UUtopia]

After much work and two XP sp2 Repair Installs later, my system is
finally cleaned of virii and trojans. Unfortunately, now neither IE 6
nor Firefox 1.5.01 will ask to be the default browser (this worked fine
before the malware attack). If I click "Check Now" in Firefox Tools >
Options > General to see if it's set as the Default Browser, it reports
that it already is.

I've tried setting the usual option in each browser that allows
checking to see if it is the default, and have also tried every
combination in Add/Remove Programs > Set Program Access and Defaults. I
Have also tried changing URL file associations in File Types.

I even tried repairing & reinstalling IE6 as shown here:
http://www.helpwithwindows.com/WindowsXP/howto-03.html , but that
didn't help either. I would prefer not to do a clean install of XP &
all my apps & data just to fix this one thing...

Does anyone have a solution?

-Thanks

 

[Don Varnau]

Hi,
See if there's anything helpful at http://windowsxp.mvps.org/IEFAQ.htm >>>
Tips #7, 40, 41, 50, 51.

Hope this helps,
Don
[MS MVP- IE]

 

[Robert Bendett]

For IE try IE-Tools-Internet Properties-Programs-Reset web settings. Also
check IE should check that it is the default.
For Firefox once the above is done and Firefox is started it will ask if you
want it to be the default browser if you have selected this option. This has
worked for me.

 

[UUtopia]

I have tried this. After resetting IE as you suggest, Firefox will ask
to be the default browser the first time it is opened. If I then go to
IE, it opens without asking. After that, neither browser will ask, they
just open.

 

[UUtopia]

My apologies if this appears as a repost; the Google server is having a
bad day...

Thanks... I tried all of those. One of the reg fixes -
"IE_Default_Browser.reg" - changed my http file associations to IE but
didn't change the browser default. The rest had no effect.

This one is tough...

 

[UUtopia]

Hi,
See if there's anything helpful at http://windowsxp.mvps.org/IEFAQ.htm >>>
Tips #7, 40, 41, 50, 51.

Hope this helps,
Don
[MS MVP- IE]

Thanks... I tried all of those. One of the reg fixes -
"IE_Default_Browser.reg" - changed my http file associations to IE but
didn't change the browser default. The rest had no effect.

This one is tough...

 

[UUtopia]

Thanks, I tried them all. One of the reg fixes -
"IE_Default_Browser.reg" - did successfully change my file associations
to IE, but that's all. None of the others had any effect.

This is a tough one...

 

[Don Varnau]

Hi,
Which browser appears to be the default? Which one do you want to be the
default?

And... It would be easier to uninstall/reinstall Firefox than to reinstall
IE (or Windows.) I'd perhaps try uninstalling Firefox, setting IE to be the
default then reinstalling Firefox.

Don
[MS MVP- IE]

 

[UUtopia]

Hi,
Which browser appears to be the default? Which one do you want to be the
default?

And... It would be easier to uninstall/reinstall Firefox than to reinstall
IE (or Windows.) I'd perhaps try uninstalling Firefox, setting IE to be the
default then reinstalling Firefox.

Don
[MS MVP- IE]

Firefox always wants to be the default browser. I want to be able to
switch between each browser as the default (like I used to be able to
do) for various reasons; running Yahoo Launchcast, viewing pages for
web design, etc.

I already tried doing just what you suggested on removing Firefox. I
tried every registry and file association change I could think of to
point to IE and also to make it the default. After reinstalling FF, IE
still doesn't display the default browser query when you open it.

 

[UUtopia]

I just did a clean install of Windows XP and the same thing is
happening!!!

WTF???!!!!

Doesn't anyone know the answer to this?????????