Member Avatar for BamaStangGuy

I just downloaded the latest version of AIM, making the switch from Trillian. I like it enough where I am going to keep using it but it does something really annoying and that is it opens all links in IE when I click them in an IM window. How do I make the links open in Firefox? It worked fine when I was using trillian but now it won't.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by The Dude

Dani AI

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Short version: AIM will hand a URL to Windows and Windows decides which browser to launch. If Firefox is still being bypassed, check the protocol handlers and the StartMenuInternet entries rather than only using "Set Program Access and Defaults." already tried the GUI route, and was right that reinstalling Firefox often fixes the problem because the installer re-registers those handlers — below are the exact checks to make if reinstalling doesn't help.

Open Regedit (export any key before editing) and inspect these values:

  • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\http\shell\open\command
  • HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\https\shell\open\command

The (Default) value should point to firefox.exe and include the URL parameter. An example of what you might expect is:

"C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -osint -url "%1"

If those keys point to IEXPLORE.EXE, change them to the correct Firefox path (or reinstall Firefox to restore them). Also check HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Clients\StartMenuInternet (and the same path under HKLM); if those are locked to IE, AIM can end up launching IE.

If using Windows XP, confirm in Control Panel -> Folder Options -> File Types that "URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol" opens with Firefox. On Vista/7 use Default Programs -> Set your default programs. After any change, fully exit AIM and restart it (and reboot if needed).

If protocol keys are correct and AIM still forces IE, the client may be launching IE directly. In that case update/reinstall AIM or contact AOL support. Always back up the registry before making edits and prefer the Firefox reinstall + Firefox Options -> Make Default as the first fix, as noted.

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Member Avatar for Dani

AOL has always had a thing for Internet Explorer. I'm not sure this is possible. Do you currently have FireFox set as your default browser?

Member Avatar for BamaStangGuy

Yea I went into "Set Program Access and Defaults" and set it to default and it still does it.

Member Avatar for laluces

Try uninstalling Firefox and then reinstalling it now that you have AIM already installed and then setting Firefox as your default like you did before. I have no idea how that helps, but all my links open up on Firefox now.

Member Avatar for The Dude

Welcome to Daniweb,i dunno if he is still having this issue but if he is maybe this will help :)

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