Mozilla & IE on same comp, different Windows user accounts

dragon777 · 03-25-2006, 08:04 PM

I am having a devil of a time trying to get Mozilla (1.7.12) to be the default browser for JUST ONE Windows user account on a Windows 2000 machine.

All other Windows user accounts on this machine need to have IE6 be the default browser.

This is a machine used at home that only has local user accounts, no domain involved.

Originally, the comp had Mozilla 1.7.2 (old version) set as the default browser for all user accounts (it also had IE5.0 installed, but was not the default for any user).

Now, only one user requires that Mozilla 1.7.12 (new version) be the default browser; all other users require IE6 to be the default browser.

What I have tried so far:

1) Logged in as Administrator and upgraded IE5.0 to IE6 (affected all user accounts). This in itself did not alter any default browser settings for any user accounts as all web page shortcuts/favorites opened with Mozilla.

2) Logged on as User#1 (member of standard Users group) that will require IE6 to be the default browser. Tried to set IE6 to be default broswer by going to Internet Options and checking box to force IE to check if was the default browser. Restarted IE, but no prompt to make IE default browser appeared.

3) Logged on as Administrator and tried to set IE as default browser by going to Internet Options and checking box to force IE to check if was default browser. Restarted IE; prompt to make IE default browser appeared and selected Yes to make it default. IE was now the default browser for all user accounts.

4) Logged in as User#2 (member of Administrators and Power Users groups) that will require Mozilla as default browser. Started Mozilla and went to Edit>Preferences and clicked button to Set Mozilla as Default Browser. Confirmed that User#2 had Mozilla as default browser; web shortcuts opened with Mozillla.

5) Logged in as User#1 to check which browser was now the default. Web shortcuts opened with Mozilla instead of IE.

6) Determined that Mozilla 1.7.2 had been installed to default location (C:\Program Files\Mozilla). Logged in as User#2, used MozBackup to make backup copy of User#2's Mozilla profile. Logged in as Administrator, uninstalled Mozilla 1.7.2 from computer.

7) Verified that IE was now the default browser for all users. Logged in as User#2, installed Mozilla 1.7.12 in location C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Mozilla instead of default location. Rebooted computer, even though was not prompted to (just to make sure).

8) Logged in as User#2 and verified that Mozilla was default browser for User#2. Logged in as User#1 and found that Mozilla was once again default browser for User#1. Logged in as Administrator and found that Mozilla was default for Administrator.

9) While logged in as Administrator, reset IE to be default browser. Verified that IE was now default for all users. Went to Local Users and Groups and demoted User#2 to being only a standard User (added to Users group; removed from Administrators and Power Users groups). Rebooted computer.

10) Verified that IE was the default browser for all users. Logged in as User#2 and went to Edit>Preferences and clicked button to Set Mozilla as Default Browser. Verified that Mozilla was now default for User#2.

11) Logged in as User#1 and found that Mozilla was now default. Mozilla also default for Administrator.

12) Reset IE as default from Administrator. Logged in as User#2, created direct shortcut to Mozilla program, instructed user to start Mozilla first then use Bookmarks list to navigate (direct web shortcuts on desktop would open with IE if clicked).

I realize this was a lengthy read, but if anyone has any further ideas to help resolve this and keep both users of this machine happy, it would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Mrwirez · 03-26-2006, 08:09 AM

I have never used these programs. I just did a google search for "default browser" and these were some of the links. Give em a try.

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/defaultbrowser.htm

OR Maybe

http://www.thesitewizard.com/webdesi...browsers.shtml

P.S. I realize you are using Win2000, but the first one will probably still work

03-25-2006, 08:04 PM	#1 (permalink)
dragon777 Registered User Join Date: Jun 2005 Posts: 3 OS: Windows 2000 Pro	Mozilla & IE on same comp, different Windows user accounts I am having a devil of a time trying to get Mozilla (1.7.12) to be the default browser for JUST ONE Windows user account on a Windows 2000 machine. All other Windows user accounts on this machine need to have IE6 be the default browser. This is a machine used at home that only has local user accounts, no domain involved. Originally, the comp had Mozilla 1.7.2 (old version) set as the default browser for all user accounts (it also had IE5.0 installed, but was not the default for any user). Now, only one user requires that Mozilla 1.7.12 (new version) be the default browser; all other users require IE6 to be the default browser. What I have tried so far: 1) Logged in as Administrator and upgraded IE5.0 to IE6 (affected all user accounts). This in itself did not alter any default browser settings for any user accounts as all web page shortcuts/favorites opened with Mozilla. 2) Logged on as User#1 (member of standard Users group) that will require IE6 to be the default browser. Tried to set IE6 to be default broswer by going to Internet Options and checking box to force IE to check if was the default browser. Restarted IE, but no prompt to make IE default browser appeared. 3) Logged on as Administrator and tried to set IE as default browser by going to Internet Options and checking box to force IE to check if was default browser. Restarted IE; prompt to make IE default browser appeared and selected Yes to make it default. IE was now the default browser for all user accounts. 4) Logged in as User#2 (member of Administrators and Power Users groups) that will require Mozilla as default browser. Started Mozilla and went to Edit>Preferences and clicked button to Set Mozilla as Default Browser. Confirmed that User#2 had Mozilla as default browser; web shortcuts opened with Mozillla. 5) Logged in as User#1 to check which browser was now the default. Web shortcuts opened with Mozilla instead of IE. 6) Determined that Mozilla 1.7.2 had been installed to default location (C:\Program Files\Mozilla). Logged in as User#2, used MozBackup to make backup copy of User#2's Mozilla profile. Logged in as Administrator, uninstalled Mozilla 1.7.2 from computer. 7) Verified that IE was now the default browser for all users. Logged in as User#2, installed Mozilla 1.7.12 in location C:\Documents and Settings\{username}\Mozilla instead of default location. Rebooted computer, even though was not prompted to (just to make sure). 8) Logged in as User#2 and verified that Mozilla was default browser for User#2. Logged in as User#1 and found that Mozilla was once again default browser for User#1. Logged in as Administrator and found that Mozilla was default for Administrator. 9) While logged in as Administrator, reset IE to be default browser. Verified that IE was now default for all users. Went to Local Users and Groups and demoted User#2 to being only a standard User (added to Users group; removed from Administrators and Power Users groups). Rebooted computer. 10) Verified that IE was the default browser for all users. Logged in as User#2 and went to Edit>Preferences and clicked button to Set Mozilla as Default Browser. Verified that Mozilla was now default for User#2. 11) Logged in as User#1 and found that Mozilla was now default. Mozilla also default for Administrator. 12) Reset IE as default from Administrator. Logged in as User#2, created direct shortcut to Mozilla program, instructed user to start Mozilla first then use Bookmarks list to navigate (direct web shortcuts on desktop would open with IE if clicked). I realize this was a lengthy read, but if anyone has any further ideas to help resolve this and keep both users of this machine happy, it would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

03-26-2006, 08:09 AM	#2 (permalink)
Mrwirez Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 5 OS: WinXP	Check This Software I have never used these programs. I just did a google search for "default browser" and these were some of the links. Give em a try. http://windowsxp.mvps.org/defaultbrowser.htm OR Maybe http://www.thesitewizard.com/webdesi...browsers.shtml P.S. I realize you are using Win2000, but the first one will probably still work Last edited by Mrwirez; 03-26-2006 at 08:18 AM.