Making Mozilla Firefox Your Default Internet Browser
Step 1
Properties Box
Right click on the windows start button in the bottom left of your screen. You will see that a box appears with a list of items. Don't worry if your listed items do not match mine, the Properties button is always displayed. Look down the list until you find the Properties button and left click on it.
Properties Window
Step 2
Taskbar and Start Menu Properties Window
The Taskbar and Start Menu Properties window is now displayed. You will see that the Start Menu is already highlighted. To the right of the Start menu is the Customize button. Left click on the customize button to open the Customize Start Menu.
Taskbar & Start Menu Properties Window
Step 3
Customize Start Menu Window
As you can see the Customize Start Menu Window has a number of items displayed. We need to focus on the bottom section of the window in the box titled Show on Start Menu. You will see that the top drop down box has Internet Explorer highlighted. To change this to Mozilla Firefox left click on the down arrow to the right of Internet Explorer. A list of internet browsers will be displayed. Locate Mozilla Firefox and left click on it. Once you have done that click on the OK button in the bottom of the window.
Selecting Mozilla Firefox
Step 4
Taskbar and Start Menu Properties Window
We are now back at the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties Window. In the bottom right of the screen you will notice that the Apply button is now highlighted, left click on the Apply button to confirm the change from Internet Explorer to Mozilla Firefox. Now click on the OK button and the Taskbar and Start Menu Properties Window will close.
Taskbar & Start Menu Window Apply
Congratulations you have now replaced Internet Explorer with Mozilla Firefox as your default internet browser. Click on the Start button in the left hand corner of the screen. At the top of the Start Window you will see Mozilla Firefox.
Now Mozilla Firefox Set as your internet browser.
How to Make Mozilla Firefox Your Default Internet Browser
How to Install Firefox
Firstly you will need to download Mozilla Firefox if you haven't already. For those of you who have not yet downloaded Mozilla Firefox I have included a link in the top left hand corner of this page.
Step 1
Installing Mozilla Firefox
Double (left) click on the Mozilla Firefox Setup.exe (exe is short for executable). This will open the Welcome to Mozilla Firefox setup window. Click next in the set up window.
Mozilla Firefox Setup exe
Step 2
Software License Agreement Window
You are now at the software license screen where you have to select I Accept the terms of the License Agreement. To do this place your cursor over the white radio button and left click. You should see a black dot in the area you clicked. Now you can continue with the Mozilla Firefox installation by clicking on the next button in the bottom right of the Software License Agreement Window.
Mozilla Firefox Software License
Step 3
Setup Type Window
The setup type window allows you to select either a Standard installation or a Custom installation. In this instance we only require the standard Mozilla Firefox installation as this installs all of the necessary components that you will need to use Mozilla Firefox as your internet browser. Click next in the bottom right of the Setup Type window.
Mozilla Firefox Setup Type Window
Step 4
Summary Window
You are now at the Summary window which details the location of the Mozilla Firefox internet browser on your computer hard drive. By clicking the next button in the bottom right of the Summary window you will begin the installation procedure. This may take a few minutes depending on the speed of your computer. Once the installation has been completed the Install Complete window is displayed.
Mozilla Firefox Summary Window Mozilla Firefox Installation Window Mozilla Firefox Installation Complete
Congratulations you have just installed Mozilla Firefox. Left clicking on the finish button in the bottom right of the screen will launch Mozilla Firefox for the first time.
Welcome to Mozilla Firefox.
Firefox Browser Basics
The Firefox browser from Mozilla is one the most useful browsers to come along in a long, long, time. More and more people are changing to Firefox from their previous browser (Internet Explorer, Safari, Netscape, etc) for the security, functionality, and speed that is found in the free browser, Firefox.
Changing Your Homepage
For many people, their most useful page is their homepage. The homepage is the website that first comes up when you open your browser each day. Unfortunately, most people do not even know that they can change their homepage (or "start page")...
But now you will know!
Here are the steps for setting up your own homepage, as seen in my free tutorial video:
1. Find, and navigate to, the website you want to use. Some people like to have Search Engines for their homepage while others prefer news sources or their favorite websites. In the video, I chose Google.com because it is fast to load and is the search engine I usually use when I begin to look things up each day in Firefox. Here are some great home page candidates for your Firefox:
* www.Google.com
* www.Yahoo.com
* www.technorati.com
* www.digg.com (news by the people!)
* www.Reuters.com
* www.CNN.com
* www.Schmedely.com
* or your favorite website
2. Go to "Tools" and click the "Options" menu at the top of your browser.
3. In the "General Tab", click the "Use Current Page" button.
4. Click "Done"!
From now on you will see this page every time you start up Firefox. You can also access your homepage by clicking the "Home" button (in the shape of a house) on your Firefox tool bar.
Change Your Theme
Now this is the fun part! Firefox has the ability to change it's appearance based on themes that were made by artists on the internet. Changing the look and feel of your Firefox helps give it that stamp of ownership that makes it feel like your browser.
Follow the steps below to change your theme, as seen in my free tutorial video (www.Tech-Bites.com/firefox):
1. Click the "Tools" menu item at the top of your browser and click "Add-ons".
2. Then click "Get themes". (see the video)
3. Surf the themes database for a theme that suits you. Here are some themes that I think are high-quality and stylish! In the video, I chose Blue Ice.
* Blue Ice
* Metal Lion - Vista
* Noia Extreme (exceptional theme!)
* iFox Smooth (great for Mac users)
* Mini Fox (good for saving space)
4. Once you find the theme you want, click the "install now" button.
Note: Make SURE that theme supports Firefox 2.0 or higher! It will be displayed right above the "install now" button.
5. Restart Firefox when the download is complete.
6. Return to the "add-ons" area (step 1). Select your newly installed theme and click "Use Theme".
7. Restart and Enjoy.
Customizing Your Layout
What most Firefox users don't know is that you can change the layout of all of the buttons and bars in your browser to suit you taste.
Make sure to watch the video for a visual-aid on this Firefox function. This is how you do it:
1. Right-click any empty space on the top of Firefox and click "Customize".
2. Drag buttons from the new "Customize Toolbar" box onto you Firefox bar (anywhere you like) to add buttons.
3. Drag buttons or items from the Firefox toolbars into the "Customize Toolbar" box to remove them from your interface (you can always add them again later).
4. Drag buttons on your Firefox toolbars in any direction on your interface to move them to the locations you prefer.
Check out the video to see the "Slim-line" Firefox layout if you like to conserve space and keep things compact (like me!).
Note: If you have not yet downloaded Firefox, the web browser from Mozilla, I highly recommend you do so. This tutorial is intended only for this browser. You can download it here.
Video: To see visual examples of the steps in this article, see my free video at www.Tech-Bites.com/firefox (this article is also included on that page)
by Garrett Valdivia, www.Tech-Bites.com
