Setting default browser for one user: WinXP

[Zfactor]

The computer I use is shared by me and my family. I am the only one who uses Mozilla, so I am outnumbered on what the default browser should be (it is currently IE). I searched the internet a lot to try to find a solution, and the only thing I could come up with is a program that claims to be able to do it. However there is no readme for this program, and I would prefer not to install it because I do not know that it is safe.

The program info is here http://windowsxp.mvps.org/defaultbrowser.htm

Does anybody know any other way to set the default browser for one user or perhaps a well known program that will do so. Or maybe somebody has used and can verify the validity of the above program?

Thanks for any help.

[djohn]

Hello Zfactor and welcome to the forum. Your correct in saying that windows will not allow a separate default browser for each account. I have not tried the application from your link so can't verify it.

Its 3:17 am here in the UK and our local members will not be on until later today. Wait for confirmation from one of them before installing but from what I can see, it should be fine and I would think it could easily be removed from your control panel or by doing a system restore to the point just prior to the download. :)

[expertec]

Hi there,

I had exactly the same problem, I have downloaded that program you linked to and run it. It worked perfectly and no problems.

So I can confirm it is good, thanks for the link as well. :)

[homecomputeraid]

Zfactor,

I've never tried setting up a different default browser for different logged in users in XP, but I'll expirament with it tonight and let you know how it turns out.

Sincerley,

[Scarecrow Man]

From your link,

"The settings for the filetypes HTM, HTML, MHT, HTTP, FTP, HTTPS are modified so as to match the preferred configuration of the user."

Couldn't you just go into file associations and change them manually?

[Zfactor]

Thanks for the welcome Djohn

Scarecrow Man: I wouldn't know where to do that but I will try to look into it when I get home later on. Thanks for the suggestion.

[Scarecrow Man]

Start > Control Panel > Folder Options

Click the File Types tab. You will have to search for each file type you want changed and change the default program associated with it.

May be a bit tedious, but should have the same effect as the program without installing more junk.

Microsoft also provides this: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...9&product=winxp

[Zfactor]

Ok, I made some headway in fixing this problem. I took Scarecrow Man's advice and changed the file associations in the folder options menu. I was able to make it so I can open html docs from my desktop etc. and have it go into mozilla. I also figured out a way to make it so the shortcut button on the keyboard opened IE and not mozilla (another thing my family uses that I dont care about).

However the main problem that persists that I can't seem to fix is that when I open links in mIRC or Ventrillo (my AIM client) it opens in IE. I suspect that it is written into the programs themselves because when I opened links it asked me if I wanted to change my default browser back to IE. I tried to find where this would be set in the programs themselves by looking at the files in browse and at the appdata files, but I couldnt find any place to change it. I don't know if anybody happens to know of a way to force these programs (and others) to open links in a specified browser, but I will continue to search the web for the solutions.

Thanks for all your help and any further help

[Zfactor]

I found a way to fix it for mIRC. For those of you interested here is how:

Step one: Copy the following into the remote scripts area (alt+R)

alias urlfix {
 write -c urlfix.reg $+(REGEDIT4,$crlf,[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\htmlfile\shell\open\command],$crlf,$+(@="\",$replace($$sfile(C:\*.exe,Choose the browser you want to use),\,\\),\""))
 run regedit /s urlfix.reg
 .echo -q $input(Browser changed!,io,mIRC 6.03 browser fix)
}

Step two: type /urlfix in any channel

Step three: (a window should pop up) browse to the .exe of the browser you want to use, for example: C:\...\mozilla.exe

That worked for me, im using mIRC version 6.16

All that is left is a way to do this for Trillian