Don't laugh!

I need a hand. How do I make Firefox my default browser?

 

The easy way it to open Firefox, and go to the Options. You can find it under "Tools" In the first window that pops up, check the little box next to "Always check to see if Firefox is the default browser on startup". Then shut down Firefox. Start it up again, and answer yes when Firefox asks if you want it to be the default.

At least, that's how I did it.

/Mimsy

 

Thanks Mimsy, I had seen that "Always check to see if Firefox is the default browser on startup" but didn't realise that that was what I needed to check. I was looking for something more to my liking, such as:'Make browser default'!!

 

I guess I have more questions than answers why chose a "Default" browser, I have not chosen a "Default"..........I run Opera, FF2, IE7, certain programs will chose which "Browser" to run ie Microsoft Updates chooses IE7, some sites do not work well with certain Browsers, so if that happens I just open another browser. IE in most "Windows" OS's is automatically chosen, I have chosen just to "Disable" it as the chosen Browser, and click on which ever suits me for the site chosen.

http://img337.imageshack.us/img337/1735/screenhunter1dt1.jpg

Hope that Helps

 

Not sure type of PC/System you have, so I'm presuming desktop layout would be generically similar to everyone else. If you're looking to make Firefox the default browser, try:

Click "Start"

Click "Set Program Access and Default"

A window should open for program configuration that specifies default programs for certain activities such as web browsing. When this window opens, select "Custom" from the options

When new window appears, under Custom, it will show "Choose a default browser", at this point, if you have Firefox, select it.

Hope this works for you....

Cheers

LS

 

Thanks BCGray

This is what bothered me. After Chaslang just finished helping me clean my computer of malware, I was trying to follow the recommendations on how to keep comp clean. So I downloaded Firefox because IE wasn't as secure(?) and thought I would try and make sure IE didn't get used.

You said you select whatever browser you want at the time. Does this mean I can safely use IE too? I have 3 teenage kids that use this computer:duck and I've told them not to use IE.

Thanks also Legalsuit for your reply.

 

i do the same what i have found is that sometimes if i am on a webpage with IE and check a link OPERA will open the page for the link

 

Ok but what's the advantage of running different browsers? Or is it just personal preferences? thnx for your patience. I'm one of those kids who wanted to know why - hard to break the habit.

 

My 2 bits:

Even firefox can get you in trouble if you go to a website that has "cross site scripting."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cross_site_scripting

I installed the "Noscript" firefox plugin that allows you to disable javascript most of the time (this should prevent cross site scripting) , but you can enable javascript for sites that you trust. I don't trust Ebay (several folks on Ebay have gotten infected just by clicking on a malicious web page). But I think it's pretty safe if you disable Javascript and use firefox.

If you do use IE, you might consider turning off ActiveX (by default firefox doesn't use activex). But then some things on Microsoft web pages, and others, won't work. All this depends on how much you trust the web pages you go to.

 

The biggest single security step you can take is to follow the advice in

http://forums.majorgeeks.com/showthread.php?t=117696

Official Winternals (Microsoft) figures show that over 75% of all malware and all rootkits require an administrator environment to operate.

Studio T

 

it is just as BC said some are better than others depending on what you are doing i find Opera a little bit faster than IE7 for surfing and FF needs to be customized to your own tast but with some time and patience no doubt you will find your own thing.
there are enough browsers to choose from on MGs and they are all tested.

 

Thanks all you guys for your advice and I will check out the links.:hyper