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Old February 11th 18, 02:47 AM posted to microsoft.public.win98.gen_discussion
Lee
External Usenet User
 
Posts: 196
Default Cant switch default browser

On Friday, February 9, 2018 at 2:42:57 PM UTC-7, wrote:
On Tue, 30 Jan 2018 07:43:54 +0700, JJ wrote:

On Mon, 29 Jan 2018 15:28:45 -0600, wrote:
I'm running Win98se. For many years my default browser was K-Meleon, and
I also had the highest (usable in 98) version of Firefox installed. (FF
version 3.x).

K-Meleon no longer works on almost any website, and the upgrades for it
are only for XP and higher.

I want to switch and make Firefox the default browser. But I cant make
it switch. I went to the Options in FF and clicked on "Make FF the
Default Browser". That does nothing, and I have tried to do it at least
10 times.

I even made a backup of K-Meleon and deleted it. Then went to FF and
clicked on "make FF the default". Still nothing. All it did then, was to
keep annoying me by saying it cant find K-Meleon.exe.

I even went so far as to modify my registry to remove all references to
K-Meleon. Then went to FF and once again, clicked on "Make FF the
default".

Still no change.....

I since restored the registry and put back K-Meleon from the backup.

How the heck can I make FF my default browser?

After that, I'll remove K-Meleon permanently.


Use below REG file. Copy and paste it into Notepad. Change the paths to your
Firefox's installation path. Make sure you use two backslashes just like
below example REG file. Save it as e.g. "SetBrowser.reg". Include the quotes
so that Notepad won't save it as "SetBrowser.reg.txt". Once it's saved,
close Firefox if it's running, then double-click the REG file (choose Yes/OK
when prompted).

If *.html files are also still opened with K-Meleon, SHIFT+RightClick a
*.html file then choose "Open with...". Choose the Firefox application, then
press OK.

**********start of code (don't include this line)**********
REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ftp\shell\open\command]
@="c:\\program files\\firefox\\firefox.exe %1"

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ftp\shell\open\ddeexec]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\http\shell\open\command]
@="c:\\program files\\firefox\\firefox.exe %1"

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\http\shell\open\ddeexec]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\https\shell\open\command]
@="c:\\program files\\firefox\\firefox.exe %1"

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\https\shell\open\ddeexec]


I have not tried these yet. I did find out that uninstalling both
Firefox and K-meleon, then reinstalling FF still did not set FF as the
default browser.

Anyhow, before trying these things, what is the name of the registry
files (I think there are two) in Win98se? I want to be able to put them
back (from Dos), if I f**k things up. I do have a full backup, but it's
easier to just replace the registry files....


System.dat and user.dat in Windows folder. Both read only and hidden attributes or it tends to vomit all over the place.

FF doesn't set itself as default browser, you have to do that manually under Tools in toolbar. You might have to disallow IE that privilege first in it's own internet options check box line up though. Wasn't automatic in any event except the IE part taking that aspect for itself always. MS was sued over this very issue and grudgingly had to put the checkbox for default browser in internet options that would allow other browsers to play top dog, but it's never automatically done. No one else wants to be dragged into court over it.