Not saving default Web Browser

[mIKE]

I have two WinXP machines, side-by-side, both patched up to the latest. The
problem machine is the brand new ThinkPad T60p. When I go to Start|Set
Program Access and Defaults|Custom, Choose a default Web Browser, and choose
either IE or Firefox, then click on OK, then bring up the same dialog again
and the default has been changed back to "Use my current Web browser". I
realize that I can also set my default web browser in other ways, but in the
interest of being able to trust this machine, it would be a lot better if
the dialogs to change settings actually worked. Otherwise, how will I know
which dialogs actually work and which must be ignored? Trial and error does
not build confidence.

Note that I'm not actually having a problem changing web browsers, but I
encountered the above error when attempting to debug a different problem. I
started investigating the default browser issue because the other symptoms
I'm seeing suggest a cross-over between configurations of the two browsers.
That problem involves the default web pages opened when I choose to use the
FireFox browser. For some reason, the default web page for IE always
replaces the default web page for FireFox after every time the machine is
booted.

Note that both web browsers co-exist in peace on the WinXP desktop machine.

To recap:
Q1) How can I make the default browser selection get saved when I choose IE
or FireFox as my default web browser?

Q2) Is there any known cross-pollution issue between IE and FireFox that
could explain how the default web page in IE could reset the same parameter
in FireFox?

Q3) Do you know of any so-called security features that could be preventing
the setting change?

mIKE

 

[hb]

/mIKE/ said:

I have two WinXP machines, side-by-side, both patched up to the latest. The
problem machine is the brand new ThinkPad T60p. When I go to Start|Set
Program Access and Defaults|Custom, Choose a default Web Browser, and choose
either IE or Firefox, then click on OK, then bring up the same dialog again
and the default has been changed back to "Use my current Web browser". I
realize that I can also set my default web browser in other ways, but in the
interest of being able to trust this machine, it would be a lot better if
the dialogs to change settings actually worked. Otherwise, how will I know
which dialogs actually work and which must be ignored? Trial and error does
not build confidence.

Note that I'm not actually having a problem changing web browsers, but I
encountered the above error when attempting to debug a different problem. I
started investigating the default browser issue because the other symptoms
I'm seeing suggest a cross-over between configurations of the two browsers.
That problem involves the default web pages opened when I choose to use the
FireFox browser. For some reason, the default web page for IE always
replaces the default web page for FireFox after every time the machine is
booted.

Note that both web browsers co-exist in peace on the WinXP desktop machine.

To recap:
Q1) How can I make the default browser selection get saved when I choose IE
or FireFox as my default web browser?

Q2) Is there any known cross-pollution issue between IE and FireFox that
could explain how the default web page in IE could reset the same parameter
in FireFox?

Q3) Do you know of any so-called security features that could be preventing
the setting change?

Cannot comment on #s 2 & 3, but note that "use default" returns here (under
CUSTOM), after setting the browser of choice. BUT, that brower _is_ then
the default.

 

[Guest]

To recap:

Cannot comment on #s 2 & 3, but note that "use default" returns here (under
CUSTOM), after setting the browser of choice. BUT, that brower _is_ then
the default.

Yes, I see that my default browser selection is maintained even though this
dialog doesn't seem to know that the next time I bring it up.

I resolved #2 and #3 by finding that the new ThinkPad has enhanced the
location profile feature to also offer location-specific default web pages.
I un-checked the corresponding box on the Additional Settings tab of the
ThinkVantage, Edit Profile dialog.

Now that the default web page issue has been solved, I'm not quite as
concerned that the Windows dialog doesn't report the existing default browser
correctly, but it still seems like a bug to me.

mIKE