Managing Software on Windows Vista - Setting global default programs

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You can configure global default programs—default programs for all the users of your computer—by completing the following steps:

1. Log on to your computer using an account with administrator privileges.
   
2. Click Start and then click Default Programs. Click Set Program Access and Computer Defaults.
   
3. As shown in Figure 4-9, choose a configuration from one of the following options:
   
   Microsoft Windows
   
   Sets the currently installed Microsoft Windows programs as the defaults for web browsing, sending and receiving email, playing media files, instant messaging, and Java Virtual Machine support.
   
   Enables access to other programs. If you’ve installed other programs, you can configure your computer to use the currently installed program for a particular task. For example, if you installed Microsoft Office, Microsoft Outlook is configured automatically for use as your default email program. To change this, you would click the “E-mail program” list and choose Windows Mail or another program.
   
   Non-Microsoft
   
   Sets the currently installed non-Microsoft Windows programs as the defaults for web browsing, sending and receiving email, playing media files, instant messaging, and Java Virtual Machine support.
   
   Removes access to Microsoft Windows programs if you’ve configured non-Microsoft Windows programs as the defaults. For example, if you installed Mozilla as your web browser and set this as the default, the Non-Microsoft option removes access to Internet Explorer.
   
   Custom
   
   Enables you to choose programs as the defaults for web browsing, sending and receiving email, playing media files, instant messaging, and Java Virtual Machine support.
   
   Each program available to use as a default has a related “Enable access to this program” checkbox. If you clear this checkbox, you remove access to the program when a viable alternative is installed. 
   
4. Click OK to save your settings.

Next: Reconfiguring, Repairing, or Uninstalling Software >>
 

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This article is excerpted from chapter four of Windows Vista: The Definitive Guide, written by William R. Stanek (O'Reilly, 2007; ISBN: 0596528000). Check it out today at your favorite bookstore. Buy this book now.