Change Outlook default internet browser

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How do I change Outlook so that it uses Explorer instead of Netscape when I click on a hot link in an e-mail message?

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I think this may be more of which is your default browser.
In IE, Tools/Options/Programs and use the ‘IE should check to see if it is the default’. This may force it back to IE.

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Leif,
It worked perfectly. Now I don’t have to use two different browsers.
Thank you for the advice,
Rick

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This may be an easier way…. Open a plain text message that has a link in it. Hold down the SHIFT key and left click on the link. You’ll be presented with a “Locate Link Browser” window where you can find the browser of your choice and it will set it as the default.

The problem is that this only works for plain text messages. HTML messages with links are always opened with IE. If anyone has a work around for this, ie make Netscape or another browser the default for links in HTML documents, please let me know!

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if netscape is the system default, it’s supposed to be called by outlook for external links (but not for displaying foder home pages or outlook today)

which version and mode of outlook?

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Outlook 2000 Internet mail only (non-Exchange)on NT 4.0 SP5
Netscape 4.76
IE 5.5

Okay, I’m confused. I was sure Netscape was my default browser. I had even turned off the option for IE to check whether it was the default browser. I turned it back on (Tools> Internet Options> Programs), closed IE, and reloaded IE. It didn’t prompt me to make IE the default browser. Does that mean it IS the default browser?

I then started Netscape, which didn’t prompt me to use Netscape as the default browser. I closed Netscape and added the following line to the ‘jprefs’ file in my user area (I have my user area defined differently than the default):

user_pref(“browser.wfe.ignore_def_check”, false);

(from: http://home.netscape.com/download/win32_instructions.html)

I saved the file and started Netscape. It didn’t prompt me about Netscape becoming the default browser. I re-checked the ‘jprefs’ file and the line that I had added was removed.

I loaded Word and entered a link. Clicking on the link brought the page up in Netscape! I opened IE again and it didn’t prompt me about becoming the default browser. Clicking on an HTML file will also load Netscape.

?!??!???

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Yes, I confused you. When I click on an HTML filename in Windows Explorer (not IE), it will be opened with Netscape. I was trying to convey that it appears that Netscape IS my default browser. If I click on a link in a plain text e-mail, it is opened with Netscape. If I click on a link in an HTML message, it is opened with IE. It’s very annoying.

My findings are the same as what is described at http://www.netcaptor.com/article.php?id=91 However, the last paragraph on that page does not work for me. If I right click on the link I don’t get an option to “Copy Shortcut”. I get a pop-up box, but everything but “Select All” and “View Source” are greyed out. I have to cut-n-paste to get it to work. But that doesn’t work if it is a reference to a URL.

HTML formatted e-mail messages also open very slowly since I’ve installed IE 5.5. I guess I should un-install IE 5.5.

Thanks for the help!

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Yes, this thread is getting long and complicated….

I loaded IE 5.5 SP1 with the same results: plain text e-mail links will open Netscape; HTML e-mail links open IE. I’ll e-mail Netscape and see what they have to say.

Thanks for your help.

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Apparently, Microsoft is aware of the problem (gee, I wonder why?) and they have offered two workarounds:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/ar…h&FR=0&qry=HTML e-mail&rnk=50&src=DHCS_MSPSS_tech_SRCH&SPR=OUT2K

Method 1

1.In Outlook, open the HTML formatted message.

2.On the File menu, click Save As.

3.In the File name box, type a descriptive name for the message.

4.In the Save as type box, verify that HTML (*.htm) is selected.

5.In the Save in box, choose a location in which you want to save the file, and then
click Save.

6.Double-click the .htm file that you just saved.

Method 2

Revert to an earlier version of Internet Explorer by uninstalling Internet Explorer 5.5. For
additional information about how to uninstall Internet Explorer and revert to your previous
version of Internet Explorer, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft
Knowledge Base:

Q257234 How to Uninstall Internet Explorer 5.5

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I sent e-mail to Netscape and Opera with the link to Microsoft’s workarounds. Maybe Netscape and Opera will GLADLY post the fix: un-load IE 5.5. I used Add/Remove programs to remove IE 5.5, which restored(?) IE 4.4(?!?!?). Now OUTLOOK behaves as it should (and I guess IE behaves as it should to…. not at all!).

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Are you holding your breath?

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