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mitchsc · Apr 3, 2010, 09:03 AM

I use Firefox as my default browser and it seems to be incompatible with the Windows Update page: http://www.update.microsoft.com/ (and other MS sites)

I have a shortcut on my desktop to this site, but of course it always tries to open it in Firefox. So I must open IE7 and manually type in the URL.

If I keep Firefox as my default browser, is there any way to "instruct" the shortcut to open the Windows Update page in IE7?

Thanks...

Scleros · Apr 3, 2010, 09:20 AM

Create a generic shortcut for your Internet Explorer executable file and include the URL to Windows Update as a command line parameter. For instance, here is the shortcut target that works on my XP machine:

"C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe" "http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com"

Scleros · Apr 3, 2010, 09:26 AM

Another way is to make a shortcut to "%SystemRoot%\system32\wupdmgr.exe".

NeedKarma · Apr 3, 2010, 09:29 AM

IE7 has a built-in link, go to Tools > Windows Update

FadedMaster · Apr 3, 2010, 11:15 AM

You could also use WindizUpdate.

WindizUpdate

But I can't remember which was the first version of Windows to have a Windows Update app built into the OS, but I know XP and newer has a Windows Update app.

Otherwise, Scleros's method works for creating a shortcut. :)

Curlyben · Apr 3, 2010, 11:28 AM

Also, why not simply enable autoupdate with the option to auth before download etc.

Win7 updates are handled so much more cleanly.

mitchsc · Apr 3, 2010, 03:11 PM

Thank you everyone. These are great suggestions!

I love it when I learn something new, like how to "force" a shortcut to open in IE7 instead of default Firefox.

Thanks a lot...

PS to Curlyben: It's been a long time. I actually do use auto-updates, but when I am doing my "monthly maintenance", I like to have a shortcut to check the updates page.

Scleros: I don't really understand your location suggestion of "%SystemRoot%\system32\wupdmgr.exe", but hey, it works. Thank you.

Curlyben · Apr 3, 2010, 03:12 PM

If you are only using it infrequently, the use IE. I know it's a bind, but worth doing.
Also while you are there take all of the IE8 updates.

mitchsc · Apr 3, 2010, 03:47 PM

Tried IE8 when 1st released. Didn't like it. Don't remember why.

Sorry, but I'm not sure what you are suggesting in line 1. Is it to switch back from Firefox to IE? I find Firefox to be much faster. I have also heard from many people that Firefox is better (more secure?).

Curlyben · Apr 3, 2010, 03:50 PM

I was suggesting ONLY to use IE for doing the updates and that's it.
As you will only be using it infrequently it's best to have the most up to date one available, IE7 is reallllly bad.

While FF can now access the update site. M$ have still coded it to favour their own browser, so it makes more sense to use it.

LisaB4657 · Apr 3, 2010, 04:42 PM

I hate IE with a passion. But there are some websites, including Windows Update, that require it. So I d/led an add-on for Firefox called Coral IE Tab. With one click in FF it will switch to using the IE engine to load a page. It emulates IE but I never have to open IE. Everything is done in FF.

Scleros · Apr 3, 2010, 04:46 PM

Originally Posted by mitchsc

Scleros: I don't really understand your location suggestion of "%SystemRoot%\system32\wupdmgr.exe"

Create a shortcut and use "%SystemRoot%\system32\wupdmgr.exe" as the target. %SystemRoot% is an environment variable that resolves to whatever the Windows directory is, usually C:\Windows.

mitchsc · Apr 3, 2010, 06:02 PM

LisaB,

I had another post asking if there is a way to make the Firefox address bar drop-down history list act like IE (most recent sites visited). I tried a lot of suggestions, but I still get obscure sites on the list that I only visited once a long time ago, and other sites that I visit almost daily that are not on the list.

Would the Coral IE Tab add-on that you mentioned also make the drop-down history behave like IE ? If not, can you suggest one?

LisaB4657 · Apr 3, 2010, 07:19 PM

Hmm... good question. I don't think Coral IE Tab does that for you. But there might be another add-on that will do it. Have you tried browsing through the add-ons?

LisaB4657 · Apr 3, 2010, 07:26 PM

I did some searching and I didn't find any add-ons that will do what you want but I did find this... Location bar autocomplete

You can tweak what the location bar history will hold.

mitchsc · Apr 4, 2010, 10:42 AM

LisaB,

These 2 were suggested but I really don't know if they will mimic IE in the drop-down history. It appears that they might. One of them is listed as experimental, so I'm a bit hesitant to download it.

This one is new and “experimental”
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/8659

This may work as well, and is not experimental: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/7637

What is your opinion on these?

Thanks...

LisaB4657 · Apr 4, 2010, 11:32 AM

If you want to use an add-on then I would try the second, non-experimental one first. But the link I gave you was to a page that instructs how to change the sorting behavior in FF without having to install any add-on. Scroll down to the section "Controlling Behavior". Maybe something there will help.

mitchsc · Apr 4, 2010, 01:16 PM

Thanks. I looked at the article you suggested and have tried changing those settings in the past without being able to get the "IE Behavior" I want. The one setting I never tried was "Nothing". Maybe that will do the trick.

I really would prefer to set this up with a configuration change and not another add-on.

Thanks again...

mitchsc · Apr 4, 2010, 01:32 PM

I tried the "Nothing" setting in the Location Bar configuration, and that is exactly what you get... Nothing (in the drop down history).

I guess in order to get a simple history of the latest sites visited, I will need to go the add-on route. I find it odd that this is not a choice within Firefox.

LisaB4657 · Apr 4, 2010, 04:05 PM

Other people obviously felt the way you do and that's why there are add-ons for it. :)