Can I make Internet Explorer my default browser?

Dear Computer Problems,

I had recently downloaded Netscape Navigator 4.0 and now everything that has to do with internet opens up with Netscape. e.g. when I click to see my messages in MSN Messenger, my Hotmail account comes up with Netscape. I don't mind Netscape, but it's not my preferred choice. Is there any way for me to make Internet Explorer my default browser without me having to uninstall Netscape? It has also been somewhat annoying as sometimes the system cannot even find Netscape.exe so I'm left at a loss.

Any helpful information is greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Adam Gautreau

This question was answered on March 18, 2001. Much of the information contained herein may have changed since posting.

Found this info at www.microsoft.com in the knowledge base, article Q284456 To configure Internet Explorer as your default browser, start Internet Explorer, then click yes to the following message if it appears: "Internet Explorer is not currently your defauult browser Would you like to make it your default browser?"

By default, Internet Explorer verifies if it is the default browser each time it starts If Internet document (HTML) files are associated with a different browser when Internet Explorer starts, Internet Explorer recognizes that it is not the default browser and prompts you to make it the default browser.

If your earlier version of Internet Explorer had not been configured as the default browser, then your current version of Internet Explorer is not automatically configured as the default browser and the preceding message is displayed If you do not enable Internet Explorer to configure itself as the default browser, the message is displayed each time you start Internet Explorer until you click to clear the "Always perform this check when starting up" check box.

To manually configure Internet Explorer as the default browser, use the steps below, depending on your version of Internet Explorer:

Internet Explorer 2.X

1 Start Internet Explorer On the View menu, click Options.

2 Click the Advanced tab and click to select the "On startup, perform check for default browser" check box.

3 Click OK.

4 Quit and restart Internet Explorer Then when you are prompted to make it the default browser, click Yes.

Internet Explorer 3.X, 4.X, 5.X

1 Open Control Panel and double-click Internet Options.

2 Click the Programs tab.

3 Click to select the "Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser" check box.

4 Click OK.

5 Start Internet Explorer and when you are prompted to make it the default browser, click Yes.

An additional article you can check at microsoft is Article Q153774 "Internet Explore Not Configured as Default Browser."

Good luck!

About the author

Posted by Josephine of Chandler-Gilbert Community College on March 18, 2001

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