Cannot set web browsers as defaults

Hello, a recent malware bundle messed up the two browsers I use, Internet Explorer and Google Chrome. I am certain the malware is gone, though I had to reinstall Chrome and disable/re-enable Internet Explorer but now I cannot set either one as my default browser. They do not show up in the list of defaults in "set your default programs." I am running Windows 8.1 and using Internet Explorer 11 and the newest Chrome.

Its starting to look bleak as there are not many options I have found to fix this which if I had to guess would probably be something in the registry and that's going take someone with good knowledge of Explorer and Chrome, any help would be appreciated thanks.

 

To set Internet Explorer as the default browser, you can do it within the program from Tools > Internet Options or from Internet Options in Control Panel.

 

I don't have that and I have the latest version of Internet Explorer 11. As you can see the blue link in my first image just takes me to the "set your default programs" list, my second image, which none of my current browsers are on, IE Chrome or Firefox I have all three installed but none are on that list.

 

Have you looked at Associate a file type or protocol with a specific program ?
I'm looking at Windows 7, so it may be different with Windows 8.1

Look at the settings for .htm .html .shtml .xht .xhtml .mht .mhtml .url .website

 

Yes they are all set to internet explorer in "associate a file type or protocol.." but links such as a url shortcut on my desktop or a program that opens a webpage only gives me the message "no apps are installed to open this type of link."

I've tried the next one down in Default Programs as well "Set Program access and computer defaults" it doesn't work.

 

Sorry, I don't have any other suggestions, other than guesses.
You'll have to wait for more knowledgeable responses.

 

Try going to Set Program Access and Computer Defaults and choose Custom (see att'd — I have to have my display set to High Contrast because of cataracts) and see if you can set access and defaults from there or see if the browsers even show up there.

 

I've tried set access / custom and all the other options under Default programs. But its not only Internet Explorer its all browsers IE, Chrome, and Firefox. None of them can be set as defaults.