Member Avatar for Kamex

I accidentally changed the default browser on my Mom's Windows 98 second edition computer to Firefox when she didn't want it that way. How do I change it back to IE?

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mikeandike22 commented: need to spread the rep +1

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A few practical points that help when Internet Explorer stops being the system default (what happened here to and then fixed itself when your Mom switched to Firefox).

When IE's "ask to be default" checkbox is on but it never prompts, a third-party browser usually changed the URL/protocol handlers (so links keep opening in the other browser). The Windows fix is to restore the HTTP/HTTPS protocol handlers rather than only toggling IE's prompt. See the Microsoft Knowledge Base notes for Windows 98 about repairing URL protocol associations. (KB 263654). (betaarchive.com)

Quick, low-risk checklist (applies to Win98/Me/2000/XP-era UIs):

  • Open My Computer -> Tools -> Folder Options -> File Types. Locate the entry shown as "(NONE) URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol" (and the HTTPS/FTP protocol lines). Use Advanced/Edit -> open and point the action to Internet Explorer (iexplore.exe) so the open command calls IE with the URL. This restores the handler that many apps use to launch webpages. (Microsoft community guidance shows the exact values used for this repair). (learn.microsoft.com)

If the problem persists, inspect the Start-menu browser registration: Windows keeps a system default under registry key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet (and a per-user override at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet). Changing the Default value there will change the system Start-menu browser; back up the registry before editing. (learn.microsoft.com)

Other useful troubleshooting: run regsvr32 urlmon.dll from Run to reregister URL handling, then reboot; if needed run an IE repair or reinstall. Always back up settings (or create a restore point) before registry edits. If the goal is to keep Firefox as default, use its "set as default" option so it updates the same protocol handlers cleanly. (learn.microsoft.com)

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Member Avatar for mikeandike22

in the firefox options<general there is a thing that says set default browser see if that works. I like mozilla better anyways your mom is probably not into computers.

Member Avatar for felgall

Start up IE and it should ask if you want to make it the default browser.

commented: need to spread the rep +1
Member Avatar for Kamex

in the firefox options<general there is a thing that says set default browser see if that works. I like mozilla better anyways your mom is probably not into computers.

She is, actually she's in charge of our network, but she's never tried Firefox before and wants to make sure she likes it before she sets it as the default. As fanatical of Firefox as I am, I don't see how this is unreasonable.

I tried and IE is not asking to be the default browser. I checked Internet Options and it IS set to check, so something's wrong here.

Member Avatar for alc6379

Open IE.

Click on Tools, then Internet Options. Click on the Programs tab. There should be a button there that says "Reset Web Settings...". Click on that-- it will reset all of your Internet Programs to their default settings.

Member Avatar for Kamex

I apoligize. The problem seems to have gone away now. For some reason IE suddenly started asking to be the default again. By this time, however, my Mom had decided she liked Firefox better and didn't need IE anymore.

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