Retaining Firefox as default web browser

November 6, 2008 7:49 AM

Firstly I am elderly,and not computer experienced..I have set Firefox as my default web browser,and yet I constantly receive messages from Firefox saying they are no longer my default. Please in simple terms could someone advise how I can set Firefox without interruption.Thank you
posted by ozred to Computers & Internet (8 answers total)

Best answer: This depends on your Operating system (Windows XP, Vista? OSX?) but try this:

Go to Start (in Windows, not Firefox) -> Run -> type "firefox.exe -silent -setDefaultBrowser" and hit enter.

If this doesn't work, please respond with more details:

-Your operating system
-Version of Firefox (Help menu -> About Firefox)
posted by nitsuj at 7:57 AM on November 6, 2008

in firefox go to Tools>Options.
at the bottom of the dialog box, under System Defaults, there should be a check box with "Always check to see if Firefox is default browser on startup"--uncheck that box.
posted by asras at 7:58 AM on November 6, 2008

Probably the problem is that sometimes you're running IE once in a while, and IE is set up to make itself the default. What Asras suggests will leave IE the default; it'll just make FireFox stop complaining about it. It sounds to me like what you want is for FireFox to stay the default, and to not complain because it doesn't have to complain.

You'll need to tell us which version of IE (6 or 7 or 8) is on your computer in order to tell you how to make IE stop doing this. With IE running, select the "Help" pulldown and choose "About Internet Explorer".
posted by Class Goat at 8:04 AM on November 6, 2008

asras's response will stop Firefox from checking on start but it will not make Firefox your default browser.

If you are using Windows nitsuj's suggestion should be the simplest.
posted by caution live frogs at 10:18 AM on November 6, 2008

Also, if you're using Windows, IE may like to steal the default setting if you ever use it. In IE, click Tools -> Internet Options -> Programs. Uncheck the little box on the bottom that says "Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser."

You can also force Windows to use Firefox by default. This is for Windows XP: Start -> Settings -> Control Panel -> Add/Remove Programs. Select "Set Program Access and Defaults from the lower left. Select the radio button for Custom, and click the two little arrows on the right. Under "Choose a default web browser", select Mozilla Firefox, and Ok your way back out of there.
posted by moitz at 2:34 PM on November 6, 2008

Response by poster: Thank you for your responses, unfortunately nothing worked...I am using Vista Premium and version IE7..Prior to my losing Firefox..a blank page suddenly appears,and have to use the task bar to get rid of it (only way I know )...obviously this process is used by IE to steal back the web browser
Would appreciate any further help..unfortunately none of the other computer users in the Retirement Village where I live can help me
posted by ozred at 8:03 PM on November 6, 2008

It sounds like you may have a trojan or other malware on your PC at the moment. I suggest as a first step going to housecall.trendmicro.com and running the free virus scan. Depending on the results, I might suggest further steps.
posted by Nixie Pixel at 9:40 PM on November 6, 2008

Here's another approach, ozred.

But, yeah, if you are getting an unrequested IE7 window opening, it sounds like you may have some sort of adware or other malware, possibly. This thread (and others you can search for here at AskMefi) has some suggestions for tools to check and hopefully eradicate any bad stuff.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 4:32 PM on November 9, 2008