Safari 3.2 and Opera 9.6 browsers may not have all defaults if Firefox 3 was the default browser at some point

Source: Microsoft Support

RAPID PUBLISHING ARTICLES PROVIDE INFORMATION DIRECTLY FROM WITHIN THE MICROSOFT SUPPORT ORGANIZATION. THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS CREATED IN RESPONSE TO EMERGING OR UNIQUE TOPICS, OR IS INTENDED SUPPLEMENT OTHER KNOWLEDGE BASE INFORMATION.

Because of a change in the way Firefox 3 sets itself as the default browser from within the browser and in the Set Program Access and Defaults (SPAD) feature, Safari 3.2 and Opera 9.6 browsers may be unable to take back all file or other associations if Firefox 3 was made default browser at some point. This issue will continue to exist even after Safari 3.2 and Opera 9.6 are made the default browsers after Internet Explorer 8 was made the default browser.

�

The Opera 9.6 behavior is found only on Windows XP, whereas the Safari 3.2 behavior is found on Windows XP and Windows Server 2003. Windows Vista and Windows 7 are not affected by this issue.

�

You will see this behavior if you have performed the following steps with Safari 3.2 or Opera 9.6:

�

Safari 3.2

1.������ Set Firefox 3 as the default browser from within the browser or through SPAD.

2.������ Set Safari 3.2 as the default browser from within the browser.

3.������ (optional) Set Internet Explorer 8 as the default browser from within the browser.

4.������ (optional) Set Safari 3.2 as the default browser from within the browser.

�

Safari 3.2 has the canonical browser spot. This is the spot reserved at the top of the Start menu for the default Web browser. However, Internet Explorer 8 has some of the file associations.

�

Opera 9.6

1.������ Set Firefox 3 as the default browser from within the browser or through SPAD.

2.������ Set Opera 9.6 as the default browser from within the browser.

3.������ (optional) Set Internet Explorer 8 as the default browser from within the browser.

4.������ (optional) Set Opera 9.6 as the default browser from within the browser.

�

Opera 9.6 has all its default associations. However, Internet Explorer 8 has the canonical browser spot. This is the spot reserved at the top of the Start menu for the default Web browser.

�

Note Problems with Safari 3.2 and Opera 9.6 browsers not having the correct defaults can occur whether or not Internet Explorer 8 was set to be the default browser.

�

This problem occurs because Firefox 3 has changed the way it becomes the default browser from within the browser and SPAD. Safari 3.2 and Opera 9.6 still write most of their default values to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE (HKLM), whereas Firefox 3 writes defaults from within the browser to HKEY_CURRENT_USER (HKCU) and defaults from SPAD to HKLM. HKCU values have priority over HKLM values. Because the Firefox 3 HKCU registry keys remain set even after Safari 3.2 and Opera 9.6 were selected to become default browsers, Safari 3.2 and Opera 9.6 do not gain all defaults.

Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

�

322756 ��How to back up and restore the registry in Windows

�

Delete the registry entries that prevent Safari 3.2 or Opera 9.6 browsers from having all default associations.

�

Opera 9.6

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
2. Locate and then point to the following key in the registry:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Clients\StartMenuInternet



3.������ Right-click, select Delete, and then click Yes to confirm.

4.������ Exit Registry Editor.

5.������ Now you can set Opera 9.6 as the default browser.

�

�

Safari 3.2

1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
2. For each of the following keys, locate and then point to the key in the registry:
   
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software \Classes\.download
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software \Classes\.htm
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software \Classes\.html
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software \Classes\.shtml
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software \Classes\.svg
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.xht
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.xhtml
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.xml
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\http
   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\https
   
   For each key, right-click, select Delete, and then click Yes to confirm.

3.������ Exit Registry Editor.

4.������ Now you can set Safari 3.2 as the default browser.

For information about registering programs for the canonical browser spot, please see this article: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc144109(VS.85).aspx