Setting Default Internet Programs

Setting Default Internet Programs

You can set default Internet programs using the Programs tab of the Internet Properties dialog box or through Group Policy. The procedures are very similar. To set default programs through Group Policy, follow these steps:

1. Access User Configuration\Windows Settings\Internet Explorer Maintenance\Programs in Group Policy and then double-click Programs in the right pane. The Programs dialog box is displayed.

2. If you want to stop using custom program settings, select Do Not Customize Program Settings and then click OK. Skip the remaining steps.

3. If you want to start using custom program settings, select Import The Current Program Settings and then click Modify Settings. This displays the Internet Properties dialog box, shown in Figure 1.

   
   Figure 1: In the Internet Properties dialog box, specify the default programs to use.

4. Default Web Browser options are used to provide notification if Internet Explorer isn't the default Web browser or to make Internet Explorer the default browser. When you install additional browser software, the software might be set as the default Internet browser during installation. To have Internet Explorer check to make sure that it is still registered as the default Internet browser when Internet Explorer is started, select Tell Me If Internet Explorer Is Not The Default Web Browser. If your organization uses a Web browser other than Internet Explorer as the default browser, clear Tell Me If Internet Explorer Is Not The Default Web Browser.

5. HTML Editing options are used to set the default program for editing HTML files. Select Microsoft Notepad as the default if other HTML editors, such as Microsoft FrontPage, are not routinely configured.

   Note

   Additional options might be available if other applications are installed on a system. Furthermore, in some cases (such as with the default HTML editor), you can select a blank value to specify that you don't want to use a default program for this service.

6. If you want to configure other default program options, click Set Programs. You can then configure other default programs .
   

7. When you install additional browser software, the software might be set as the default Internet browser during installation. To have Internet Explorer check to make sure that it is still registered as the default Internet browser when Internet Explorer is started, select Internet Explorer Should Check To See Whether It Is The Default Browser.

8. Click OK twice when you are finished.