Even though FireFox portable is set as default browser, it doesn't launch when I press the keyboard key to launch web browser

5

I want to use Firefox portable as my main browser. I noticed when I use the shortcut key built into the keyboard to launch the web browser, something strange happens. A version of Firefox opens up but it doesn't have the same home page and doesn't have add ons that I have added to the portable edition. I checked the control panel and there are no installations of Firefox (which makes sense because the portable edition wouldn't show up there anyways). This is what I mean by keyboard shortcut key shortcut key circled in red

How can I launch Firefox portable (with all it's normal features and settings) from pressing the button on the keyboard?

This is the keyboard used. I checked the manufacturers website and it doesn't appear to have any drivers.

Here's a picture: FireFox portable - with all the add ons and proper home page. I can only get this by clicking on the shortcut button. has add ons

When I press the key built into the keyboard to launch the web browser this loads, and all the settings are different

missing addons

I noticed that if I already have FireFox portable open and press the key on the keyboard to launch the default web browser, than a new FireFox portable window opens that has all the right settings and add ons.

Celeritas

Posted 2014-01-20T06:07:54.877

Reputation: 7 487

Two questions: Since there are different versions, are you using PortableApps.com's Firefox versions? Second, which keyboard do you have? Does it have a special software like Logitech SetPoint?

– nixda – 2014-01-20T08:09:00.400

Making a portable app the system default browser sounds contradictory. Also, if another version of Firefox is getting started in some cases, it sounds like the system has another one actually installed on it. – martineau – 2014-01-20T08:54:21.987

@nixda yes that one in the link. I have a DYNEX keyboard. – Celeritas – 2014-01-21T01:08:38.910

@martineau I checked in the control panel and there's no mention of FireFox (which makes sense since the portable version wouldn't show up anyways). Is there a particular reason you say it's bad to use a portable web browser as your primary one? – Celeritas – 2014-01-21T01:09:38.977

@Celeritas: The whole point of portable apps is that they don't make or require system changes. However, on most OSs in order for something to become the default application to handle a file type or protocol requires some system setting to be changed (for example the Windows' Registry). I'm not saying it's bad so much...more likely, just not possible. – martineau – 2014-01-21T01:21:34.723

Did I answer your questions? – Celeritas – 2014-01-21T09:05:09.177

1Portable app means those apps that can be run without installation, which doe snot depend on any registry keys etc. But this does not mean that they cannot modify system settings. It just means that they don't have any dependencies other than the files inside portable folder. – arundevma – 2014-01-23T05:23:59.910

2To check if you have another installation of firefox, when the app is launched after pressing browser key, take Task manager and find the fire fox process. Right click on it and select open file location. – arundevma – 2014-01-23T05:25:44.680

@gladiator2345 now we're making progress. When I press the keyboard short cut key, I disovered it launches FirefoxPortable\App\Firefox\firefox.exe but when I click on the shortcut pinned to my taskbar it launces FirefoxPoartable\FirefoxPortable.exe so it would appear there are two applications in the FirefoxPortable package. – Celeritas – 2014-01-23T07:35:42.117

Some multimedia keyboards are user configurable via either a Control Panel or Start menu icon. The multimedia keys can be configured to the desired program's exe this way. The website doesn't seem to indicate this option but you could still try contacting the support to make sure. OTOH, if the keyboard is automatically obtaining the values from a predetermined registry location, you could try changing the value firefox.exe to FirefoxPortable.exe (including the relevant path) there. – vWil – 2014-01-27T15:58:33.833

From this question I'm still unclear which executable I want to be launching.

– Celeritas – 2014-01-27T21:17:03.843

If firefox.exe is launched directly, it'll use the Mozilla Firefox built-in defaults and launches the session/profile from AppData. FirefoxPortable.exe uses the settings in FirefoxPortable.ini (in the same folder) instead. This is also why the differences in add-ons, settings etc. between firefox.exe and FirefoxPortable.exe.

– vWil – 2014-01-28T16:10:19.527

So you would most probably want to use FirefoxPortable.exe. – vWil – 2014-01-28T16:18:53.767

You guys should put your comments as answers so I can award the bounty. – Celeritas – 2014-01-30T05:49:47.963

Answers

0

  1. Download registerfp.zip and save to Desktop.
  2. Unzip the archive and extract the contents to a folder.
  3. Double-click the file RegisterFirefoxPortable.exe to run it
  4. When you see the User Account Control dialog, click Allow
  5. Click the Browse button and locate the Firefox Portable executable!
  6. Click Register
  7. This is all, firefox Portable has been set as your default browser.. ;-)

Remember: This will work great as long as the drive with Portable Apps (Firefox Portable) is connected with your laptop or computer...

EDIT: @Celeritas: well for me it's working just fine, if the account you're using in windows is guest or other restricted account then You will need to have more rights to do this. full administrator rights should get this to work, right click the extracted executable found in the zip file, and click in the menu something like "as Administrator" make sure the path to firefox portable is the correct path, it should be something like: ?:\????????\portable installs\Portable Apps\PortableApps\FirefoxPortable\FirefoxPortable.exe Where "?" is a part of your path to firefox portable in most cases it's a removable drive.. Only not working if Outlook 2013 and ZoneAlarm, Advanced System Care and other browser protection software can protect your current settings and protect your default browser settings, if installed on your system. You could try to close all outlook and other processes that protect your current settings and retry after it may be working when you're able to find out what exactly is blocking your order to make changes to default browser settings eg anti virus/anti spyware firewall etc if so you need to change in the program that protect your settings as well... I hope this will help you to the right direction, good luck hope this comment was able to help you out

jagb

Posted 2014-01-20T06:07:54.877

Reputation: 101

This didn't work – Celeritas – 2014-01-30T03:22:56.167

@Celeritas: well for me it's working just fine, if the account you're using in windows is guest or other restricted account then You will need to have more rights to do this. full administrator rights should get this to work, right click the extracted executable found in the sip file, and click in the menu something like "as Administrator" – jagb – 2014-01-30T07:59:59.900

Asked: 2014-01-20T06:07:54.877

Viewed: 1 346 times

Active: 2014-12-17T16:25:54.043