oratek
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Set Internet Explorer as default browser on windows XP in domain enviroment
HI Experts
We here at a school need to set Internet Explorer as the default browser on all computers, we also run Firefox as an option for some students but need IE as the default.
We have an active directory environment with group policy and Windows XP on all the machines.
Is there a way to do this that will either affect every user that logs into that computer, or that can be performed by a user with restricted rights (ie, in a batch file when the students log in)?
Maybe there is a way to do it via Group Policy?
I'm open to ideas.
We here at a school need to set Internet Explorer as the default browser on all computers, we also run Firefox as an option for some students but need IE as the default.
We have an active directory environment with group policy and Windows XP on all the machines.
Is there a way to do this that will either affect every user that logs into that computer, or that can be performed by a user with restricted rights (ie, in a batch file when the students log in)?
Maybe there is a way to do it via Group Policy?
I'm open to ideas.
Use the above registry setting from wantabe2 and then the group policy will lock it down.
ASKER
Does that reg file change or edit anything else in the registry? It looks like it does a fair bit.
it edits all the settings related to default browser
Limited user wont be able to run that in a login script. Will need to do it as a Machine Startup script, so it uses Elevated permissions as the Local System account...
From start>set program Access and Defaults
or
From start>control panel>add orremove programs>set program Access and Defaults
choose Custom
then
choose a default web browser
check besides Internet Explorer
or
From start>control panel>add orremove programs>set program Access and Defaults
choose Custom
then
choose a default web browser
check besides Internet Explorer
ASKER
Thanks for that guys, I'll have to look in to it tomorrow when I'm back at that campus.
How would I go about setting up a 'Machine Startup script'? I've never done one of those before.
How would I go about setting up a 'Machine Startup script'? I've never done one of those before.
ASKER
Unfortunately the Reg file only affects the user that is currently logged in.
It works fine if one user logs in, imports the Reg file, then restarts the computer.
However as soon as another user logs in, Firefox returns back to being the default.
As you can imagine, this is an issue as we are a school, so there are over 1000 different user accounts.
It works fine if one user logs in, imports the Reg file, then restarts the computer.
However as soon as another user logs in, Firefox returns back to being the default.
As you can imagine, this is an issue as we are a school, so there are over 1000 different user accounts.
If you are looking for a way to lock down firefox, you can use firefoxadm
http://sourceforge.net/projects/firefoxadm
http://sourceforge.net/projects/firefoxadm
Also, did you try the group policy setting I referenced above?
ASKER
Yeah I did. At the current time Firefox is the default on the system and we need to force IE to be the default. The group policy settings just prevent users from changing the default.
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Here is a link to download a .reg file that sets IE as the default web browser.
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/reg/IE_Default_Browser.reg
You can push this out though a GPO on logon or even add it to a log on script.
Don't forget to award points if this works:)
I'll check back later to see if it helps you out.