Set default programs in xp sp3

Selecting the Microsoft Windows configuration also enables the display of the icons, shortcuts, or menu entries for each program registered for any of the five client types.

Those icons, shortcuts, and menu entries are available to the user in the Start menu or Start screen, on the desktop, and in all other locations to which they were added. The Non-Microsoft configuration, shown in the following screen shot, is used for registered applications on the user's system that are not produced by Microsoft. These applications can be preinstalled on the user's system, or they can be non-Microsoft applications that the user has installed.

Applications must register to appear on this page. For instructions on registering an application, see Registering Programs with Client Types. Selecting the Non-Microsoft option also removes access to the icons, shortcuts, and menu entries of the Microsoft programs listed in the Microsoft Windows configuration for all client types that have them. These Microsoft icons, shortcuts, and menu entries are removed from the Start menu, the desktop, and other locations to which they were added.

The Custom configuration, shown in the following screen shot, enables users to customize their systems with any combination of Microsoft and non-Microsoft programs registered as default possibilities for the five client types.

All options presented in the Microsoft Windows and Non-Microsoft configurations are available to the user in the Custom section, as well as any additionally installed Microsoft applications that are not part of Windows. The Use my current web browser radio button is preselected, as shown in the preceding screen shot. There is no way to determine the current default browser from the UI.

Invoking web links or files in Windows is the only way to discover the current default browser. When a user selects the Enable access to this program check box for a program, that program's icons, shortcuts, and menu entries are displayed in the Start menu or Start screen, on the desktop, or in any other location where they were installed. Clearing this option should remove those icons, shortcuts, and menu entries, however, how these options behave is entirely up to the application vendor.

Windows does not control how access is enabled or removed throughout the UI. It is also important to understand that applications are not required to register for Set Program Access and Computer Defaults. Computer manufacturers can choose to preconfigure their computers with a custom set of defaults, choosing from the same selections available in the Custom configuration.

For illustrative purposes, a fictional set of applications called LitWare is registered for use with all client types. A user can return to the computer manufacturer's default configuration at any time by choosing the Computer Manufacturer option, as shown in the following Windows XP screen shot.

This configuration does not appear on all systems. The LastUserInitiatedDefaultChange value has been added to the registry to assist applications in recognizing and respecting the user's default choices. This value is found under the following subkey. If you implement this workaround, take any appropriate additional steps to help protect the computer. Other than these prerequisites, this article also provides some suggestions to improve your experience.

In addition, this article can help you troubleshoot some common error messages that you may receive when you install Windows XP SP3. Before you start to install Windows XP SP3, make sure that your computer meets the following prerequisites:.

For more information about hard disk requirements, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:. If you have the following updates on your computer, remove them Windows XP SP3 cannot be installed if you have the following updates installed on your computer:.

If one or both updates are installed on your computer, remove these updates before you install Windows XP SP3. To uninstall these updates, follow these steps:.

For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:. If you have a third-party wireless network adapter, make sure that it is supported If you have a third-party wireless network adapter, make sure that the device is supported by Windows XP SP3, or make sure that the manufacturer of your wireless network adapter has new drivers available that support Windows XP SP3 before you perform the installation.

If you are not sure, contact the manufacturer of your wireless network adapter. If you are running antivirus software, disable it Warning This workaround may make a computer or a network more vulnerable to attack by malicious users or by malicious software such as viruses. We do not recommend this workaround but are providing this information so that you can implement this workaround at your own discretion.

Use this workaround at your own risk. Although disabling your antivirus software is not usually recommended, some antivirus software prevents certain system files from being changed. To make sure that you can successfully install Windows XP SP3, temporarily disable your antivirus software including any antispyware and third-party firewall programs.

To do this, right-click your antivirus program icon, and then click Disable. The antivirus program icon typically appears in the lower-right corner of the computer screen.

Note An antivirus program is designed to help protect your computer from viruses. You must not download or open files from sources that you do not trust, visit Web sites that you do not trust, or open e-mail attachments when your antivirus program is disabled. For more information about computer viruses, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:.

After you make sure all prerequisites are met, go to the "Recommended steps before you install Windows XP SP3" section. Perform a full backup of the files that you have on your computer to an external location We recommend that you perform a full backup of the files that you have on your computer to an external location, such as an external hard disk, DVD, CD, USB flash drive, or network folder. You can use the Backup and Restore Wizard to back up documents, pictures, and other files.

For more information, visit the Microsoft Help and Support Center Web site, and see the "Backing up files and folders" section or view the following knowledge base article:. This helps you repair your setup if the installation fails.

To create an Automated System Recovery set by using Backup, follow these steps:. Open Backup. By default, the Backup or Restore Wizard starts, unless it is disabled. Follow the instructions that appear on your screen. Important You will need a blank 1. Review your version of Internet Explorer. To determine your browser version, click About Internet Explorer on the Help menu.

After you take these recommended steps, go to the "Steps that are required before you install Windows XP SP3" section. Start your computer, and then log on as an administrator. Note Administrators have complete and unrestricted access to the operating system and to its settings.

You can use the Administrator user name to log on, or you can use another account that is a member of the Administrators group. Note that the user can also change the default browser at any time through other mechanisms, including Set User Defaults in the Control Panel.

The illustrations in this section show the UI for Default Programs as seen by the user. The following illustration shows the main Default Programs window in Control Panel. When a user chooses the Set your default programs option, the following window appears.

Users can use this page to assign a default program for all file types and protocols for which the program is a possible default. As shown in the following illustration, all registered programs and the program icon appear in the Programs box on the left. When the user selects a program from the list, the program icon and provider are displayed.

Programs that are not digitally signed cannot display a URL. Descriptive text, which is supplied by the program during registration, is also displayed. This text is required. Beneath the description box is an indication of how many defaults the program is currently assigned out of the full number it is registered to handle.

To assign or restore a program as the default for all files and protocols for which it is registered, the user clicks the Set this program as default option. To assign individual file types and protocols to a program, the user clicks the Choose defaults for this program option, which displays a Set associations for a program window like the one in the following illustration.

This section provides best practice guidelines for using Default Programs when you register applications. It also offers design suggestions for creating an application that provides users with optimal Default Programs functionality.

In addition to the installation procedures normally practiced under Windows XP, a Windows Vista or later based application must register with the Default Programs feature to take advantage of its functionality. Perform the following sequence of steps during installation. This section discusses how the application prompt should first present its default options to each user.

It also discusses how an application can monitor its status as the default for its possible associations and protocols. When the application is run by a user for the first time, it is recommended that the application display UI to the user that typically includes these two choices:.

Prior to Windows 8, if the user accepts the default settings, your application calls IApplicationAssociationRegistration::SetAppAsDefaultAll , which converts all machine-level associations that are declared during installation to per-user settings for that user. The following illustration shows this window for the fictional Litware media player. The file association window shows the defaults that the application registered and also shows the current default for other extensions and protocols.

After the user finishes customizing their defaults, they click the Save button to commit the changes. If the user clicks Cancel , the window closes without saving changes.

You should use this UI for your applications instead of creating your own. By doing so, you save the resources that were previously required to develop file association UI. You also guarantee that associations are saved correctly.

Applications typically check whether they are set as the default when they are run. If the application determines that it is not the default, it can present UI that asks the user whether to accept the current situation or to make the application the default. Always include a check box in this UI that is selected by default and that presents the option not to be asked again.

The choice of default should be user driven. An application should never reclaim a default without asking the user. Best Practices for File Associations. Skip to main content. This browser is no longer supported. Download Microsoft Edge More info. Contents Exit focus mode. Is this page helpful? Please rate your experience Yes No.