Choose a Browser??????????????

nilagin

nilagin

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On switching on my laptop just now a window popped up on my desktop asking me to choose my browsers. What's that all about, something crops up on the works computers about updating browsers, is this something I need to do on my laptop or is it some sort of scam or virus?
 
nilagin said:
On switching on my laptop just now a window popped up on my desktop asking me to choose my browsers. What's that all about, something crops up on the works computers about updating browsers, is this something I need to do on my laptop or is it some sort of scam or virus?
Click to expand...

Starting from 1 March 2010, users of Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7 whose default browser is Internet Explorer will be offered a choice of different web browsers, which may be installed on their PC in addition to or instead of Internet Explorer, by means of a 'choice screen'. The 'choice screen', which contains details of the twelve most popular browsers that run on Windows, has also been made available on the internet. Moreover, PC manufacturers will also be free to pre-install a browser or browsers of their choice and will no longer be contractually obliged to install Internet Explorer. It is expected that the 'choice screen' will be displayed on over 100 million PCs in Europe between now and mid-May.

http://www.mondaq.com/article.asp?articleid=95462
 
MS did a deal with the morons in the EU anti-monopoly courts, you now get a choice...

not that you didnt have a choice before, the EU just like to stick their nose in where it isnt needed.
 
neil_g said:
MS did a deal with the morons in the EU anti-monopoly courts, you now get a choice...

not that you didnt have a choice before, the EU just like to stick their nose in where it isnt needed.
Click to expand...
Most people don't realise that there is a choice, and just assume that Internet Explorer 'is' the internet.

At least people will be aware of their options, even if they choose to continue with IE, at least they will have chosen to. :shrug:
 
redhed17 said:
Most people don't realise that there is a choice, and just assume that Internet Explorer 'is' the internet.

At least people will be aware of their options, even if they choose to continue with IE, at least they will have chosen to. :shrug:
Click to expand...

is that like safari "is" the internet on a mac? what about those ISP that ship their own browser software (AOL/BT).. isnt that "forcing" software on people in the same way?

sorry but unless you live in a hole there is enough advertising for alternatives these days, especially googles chrome. thats plastered on every other billboard around here..
 
I would use Safari on either a PC or Mac.

very smooth, and has the ability to switch on Private Browsing, which means that none of your visited sites will be recorded!!!!

Very easy to reset all settings, clear cache, history etc!

J
 
Cheers, nothing to worry about then. :)
 
The problem is, if you are already happy with IE8, you have to pick it again AND set the bleeder up with Google instead of Bling etc. etc.
 
neil_g said:
is that like safari "is" the internet on a mac? what about those ISP that ship their own browser software (AOL/BT).. isnt that "forcing" software on people in the same way?

sorry but unless you live in a hole there is enough advertising for alternatives these days, especially googles chrome. thats plastered on every other billboard around here..
Click to expand...

Quite right Neil!
 
neil_g said:
sorry but unless you live in a hole there is enough advertising for alternatives these days, especially googles chrome. thats plastered on every other billboard around here..
Click to expand...

Up until a month or two ago, and the Google Chrome ads appeared on bill boards, I don't remember seeing advertising anywhere for any browsers. :shrug:

If you don't know that there are any options, then you will probably not change. :shrug:

The computer literate think everything is easy and transparent, when to the vast majority of people it is not. I know, because I occasionally teach computer classes and people think the blue 'e' on the desktop is the internet. :bonk:
 
redhed17 said:
Up until a month or two ago, and the Google Chrome ads appeared on bill boards, I don't remember seeing advertising anywhere for any browsers. :shrug:

If you don't know that there are any options, then you will probably not change. :shrug:

The computer literate think everything is easy and transparent, when to the vast majority of people it is not. I know, because I occasionally teach computer classes and people think the blue 'e' on the desktop is the internet. :bonk:
Click to expand...

theres been a google chrome billboard up on the train station oposite work since at least november when i was last on the train.

seriously why is it MS's responsibility to inform users to its rival software? i dont see Apple doing it when they bundle OSX with Safari. and before someone says "oh but apple doesnt have the market share of MS", this is not what the EU ruling is about its about not giving the choice. 1 rule for 1 and another rule for the rest.

my other point would be why would a computer illiterate person want, understand why they would want to, are really that bothered or in fact NEED to change their browser?

once again the EU have made MS the easy target.

who remembers when windows shipped with IE and Netscape? it was eventually binned because it was utter tosh and no one used it.
 
Escy said:
:plusone:

But I suppose if you have updates turned on to automatically do their thing you dont get a choice.
Click to expand...

which is a bit of a contradiction if this whole thing is done to give the end user a choice.. :lol:

edit - i just thought of a good analogy..

its a bit like walking into an audi showroom and the salesperson says "we've got this nice audi all spec'd out with the lastest updated package, or we've got this citroen, or this peugeot, or this fiat, or this ford. apparently they might be just as good if not better than ours..." it just wouldnt happen in the real world.
 
I've now got this choice thing every time I start my desktop pc.

I'm happy with IE8.

Anyone know how to switch the choice screen off? If I try to get around it by installing IE it tells me I've already got it!!
 
neil_g said:
MS did a deal with the morons in the EU anti-monopoly courts, you now get a choice...

not that you didnt have a choice before, the EU just like to stick their nose in where it isnt needed.
Click to expand...

Yup, the ministry of "don't know what to do, let's think up yet another load of bureaucratic nonsense to justify our highly paid job" have been meddling again.
 
King of Groove said:
I've now got this choice thing every time I start my desktop pc.

I'm happy with IE8.

Anyone know how to switch the choice screen off? If I try to get around it by installing IE it tells me I've already got it!!
Click to expand...

you could try uninstalling the update from add/remove programs? i didnt install it so cant tell you what its called unfortunately..
 
neil_g said:
you could try uninstalling the update from add/remove programs? i didnt install it so cant tell you what its called unfortunately..
Click to expand...

it doesnt show as an update as such

although it comes down with the updates however

there will be a shortcut on your desktop (called browser choice)

if you right click and go to properties there will be a find target) something like c, windows, system 32, browserchoice.exe delete that file and the shorcut and its gone
 
Cheers Steven. Thanks for your reply.

I'm getting a message that says "You require permission from TrustedInstaller to make changes to this file".
 
I just deleted it yesterday with no issues?

do you have local admin rights on the PC/laptop you are using?
 
Just looking at the updates installation history it says the following:

Microsoft Browser Choice Screen Update for EEA Users of Windows 7 (KB976002)

Installation date: ‎21/‎04/‎2010 12:26 AM

Installation status: Successful

Update type: Important

Install this update to access a Choice Screen which lets you select whether and which Web browser(s) to install in addition to Internet Explorer. After you have installed this software update it cannot be removed.

More information:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/976002

Help and Support:
http://support.microsoft.com
 
Maybe its different between OS's

I have just tried it on another machine (Windows XP) it wasn't listed as an update but manually deleted fine
 
Microsoft and Internet Explorer have single-handedly retarded the development of the Internet since the 90's. The only reasons sites work in IE in the first place is because developers are forced to hack, cut corners and bend specs to make them work. Thankfully the reign of terror that MS and IE have held over web development for the last 2 decades is coming to a far-too-overdue end.

If developers grew some balls and coded on-spec, IE would be quickly rejected as the broken, stunted and hole-filled POS it truly is.

I can't thank the EU commission enough for taking a stand on this, frankly.

Finally if you thought that Sheeple knew there was a choice, think again:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o4MwTvtyrUQ
 
Many thanks to Steven and others for your replies. Think I've finally cracked it!
 
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