Unwanted unsetting of FF as default browser
Since one to two weeks something unsets Firefox each day from being the default browser. I have to reset it to default browser each time. I know how to do that. I checked for malware with Malware Bytes and Norton Internet Security. I am on W7 prof 64 bits with SP1. Is there any way to find out which process does this? Any suggestion to stop this? Online I only find similar issues with W10 and i never had this for many years of using FF. Thanks
Chosen solution
The recommendations unfortunately didn't solve the problem. But at a certain moment I decided to try to reinstall Firefox to see if that would help. Then I discovered that there were two instances of FF installed, 32 bit and 64 bit. At the last upgrade round I had been given the option to upgrade with 64 bit. I had chosen for that, hoping that it would make Firefox start up faster. Apparently the installer didn't uninstall the 32 bits version during the upgrade process. Now i had discovered the double install, I uninstalled the 32 bits version. That solved the problem. A week later still no messages about FF 'not being my default browser' have appeared anymore. This could have been prevented if the installer would uninstall the old (32 bits) version at the time you choose the option of changing to 64 bit at a regular upgrade. At least I cannot remember having been given a notice or choice about this. Whatsoever, problem solved!
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What is the system using as the default browser?
Firefox, at least I set it to be the default browser all the time, but all the time it is being unset by something. Mostly once a day, today even twice in an hour, very frustrating.
What is the default changed to?
Good question. I tried the following: 1. I have FF, Chrome, IE, Opera and Win Safari installed. Opened each. All state that they are NOT the default browser presently. 2. I checked: START>Default Programs>Set Program Access and Computer defaults: it seems non of the browsers is selected as default. 3. Under 'Set your default programs' however it seems FF is the default. But still the warning pops up that FF is not my default program, when I open FF. 4. Found: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2177957/how-to-determine-the-windows-default-browser-at-the-top-of-the-start-menu It says HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\http\shell\open\command\(Default) gives the default browser. But the extension http misses here in my case.
See attached shots. So: I do not know....
Does this give any clue? Thanks!
Open Windows Internet Explorer. Have it declared as the default browser, But turn off the option to check this when the browser opens (If you want).
Now do the same thing using Firefox.
Ok, Thanks. I did so. Now I'll await if the notices (that it is not the default browser) still come. In FF the setting to warn if it is not default browser is greyed out (and checked) Thanks again!
Chosen Solution
The recommendations unfortunately didn't solve the problem. But at a certain moment I decided to try to reinstall Firefox to see if that would help. Then I discovered that there were two instances of FF installed, 32 bit and 64 bit. At the last upgrade round I had been given the option to upgrade with 64 bit. I had chosen for that, hoping that it would make Firefox start up faster. Apparently the installer didn't uninstall the 32 bits version during the upgrade process. Now i had discovered the double install, I uninstalled the 32 bits version. That solved the problem. A week later still no messages about FF 'not being my default browser' have appeared anymore. This could have been prevented if the installer would uninstall the old (32 bits) version at the time you choose the option of changing to 64 bit at a regular upgrade. At least I cannot remember having been given a notice or choice about this. Whatsoever, problem solved!
And Fred McD nevertheless thanks for your help!!
That was very good work. Well done.
Glad to help. Safe Surfing.