Want Firefox as Default; but IE7 says "No".

November 17, 2009

I have Mozilla Firefox installed. Also have IE7, but usually have Firefox set as 'default'. Got a trojan, had a PC repair guy fix my rig. Now, IE insists it is the default browser, no matter what I do.

From past posts I see that IE is notorious for hogging CPU resources and the 'default' browser position. Tried many things, but to no avail. Went to Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs > then hit the bottom button on the left side column called "Set Program Defaults". Went to 'Custom' and then down to make Firefox the default browser.

But IE is fighting the deal; every email link (from Thunderbird) and any link in the body of an article launches IE !! Also, just how much CPU resources is this 'app' - Internet Explorer - using up on me ??? I only have IE7 because occasionally you need it to open certain sites .... like online virus/trojan scans from Kaspersky, Symantec, etc.

Is it a big deal to just uninstall all of IE ?? It sounds like it is NOT easy to do. What do you think ??

- scottportraits

 

Hi Scott, you for sure don't want to remove IE. You do want to keep your system updated... Have you tried this: Open IE, (or use control panel) >Internet Options>Programs.
At the bottom see if there's a check in default browser. If there is, un-check that.
Now, Start IE and it will ask if you want it to be the default. Just click no. Then, you should be able to use FF. Hope this helps.

I also have IE 7

 

Hi Scott, here is another option for you:
Open FireFox

• Tools>Options>Advanced>

• Look at the very bottom line:

• Put a check the box that says: Always check to see if Firefox is the Default Browser on start-up

• Then, click the button CHECK NOW

• Click OK, and close.

This should over-ride IE