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Dustin23Flag for United States of America

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How to disable Internet Explorer 11 asking user to make it default browser via GPO?

I must set this through GPO. Does anyone know how to get this done? I have seen the setting through Local GPO, but I need it set via my DC's Group Policy. I am using Windows Server 2008 R2. Thanks!
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Tom Cieslik
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In Windows server 2012, the IEM settings have been deprecated in favor of Group Policy Preferences, Administrative Templates (.admx),and the Internet Explorer Administration Kit 10 (IEAK 10) in IE10. Since the IE is IE 9 and IE 10 in your clients, you can set IE as the default browser via:
User Configuration – Preferences – Control Panel Settings
-right-click on Internet Settings
-New
-Internet Explorer 9 or Internet Explorer 10-Programs

Go to Programs Tab
Select Always in Internet Explorer in drop down menu about Choose how you open links.

I'm not sure if is going to apply to IE11 but you must check.


User generated image
You can also create VBS script and run it in logon script for users inside OU

Set objShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")

objShell.RegDelete("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.htm\UserChoice\")
objShell.RegDelete("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.html\UserChoice\")

t=objShell.RegWrite("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Associations\UrlAssociations\https\UserChoice\Progid","IE.HTTPS","REG_SZ")
t=objShell.RegWrite("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Associations\UrlAssociations\http\UserChoice\Progid","IE.HTTP","REG_SZ")
t=objShell.RegWrite("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Associations\UrlAssociations\ftp\UserChoice\Progid","IE.FTP","REG_SZ")


t=objShell.RegWrite("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.htm\UserChoice\Progid","IE.AssocFile.HTM","REG_SZ")
t=objShell.RegWrite("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.html\UserChoice\Progid","IE.AssocFile.HTM","REG_SZ")

t=objShell.RegWrite("HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Clients\StartmenuInternet\","iexplore.exe","REG_SZ")
t=null

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ASKER

Yeah, all my clients are IE 11. Do you know of any GPO settings in Windows Server 2008 or 2008 R2? I do not use Server 2012.

I know how to set default browser within Windows, but this must be done outside of the OS. I am needing this done for non-persistent virtual Windows desktops. As such, any changes made to the OS are expunged upon a reboot.

Can you explain exactly what the script is doing?
All my clients are Windows 7 SP1 desktops.
This script is doing what you need. Is setting up IE as default browser.
So you can save this script and load it into logon script in GPO
I do not want IE to be default. I already have Chrome set as default on the NP desktops. I simply want IE to not ask if I want to make it default after every reboot.
I have read multiple forum posts stating how to do this in GPO, but I have yet to find the setting that will get this done...
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Tom Cieslik
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You pulled that screenshot from Server 2012 GPM, no? I am using Server 2008 R2, and do not see that setting. Do you know of the compatible setting in my version?
My Internet Explorer settings must be for version 10 and older. I am looking for a .admx file specifically for version 11 that may contain that specific setting. Let me know if you already know where to retrieve that.
Ok I found the .admx and .adml files for IE11. My question would now be, what happens if I replace the inetres.admx and inetres.adml files in my central policy store? Is it going to destroy or corrupt the IE settings I have configured in GPM using the old administrative template?
Ok, I had to overwrite my inetres.admx and .adml files with the ones for IE11 since my DC is Server 2008 R2, but once I did this the setting you suggested was there and worked like a charm. Thanks for the help Tom.
Your very welcome.