Changing Web Browsers

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OnceBitten

535 posts

Ultimate Geek

#105945 14-Jul-2012 18:45

I've had IE on my computer(s) for years and have always used it without a problem, but now it is just so slow..... I downloaded Firefox ages ago but haven't used it.
I've just tried to open something on IE just now and it still hasn't opened!
I am on firefox now and would like to use this as my default browser as it is very fast - I opened what I needed and got on the geekzone webisite and IE still hasn't opened!

Question - how can I tranfer / export all my 'favourites' to firefox? - is there an easy way to do this

an advice would be helpful! Thanks

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3885 posts

Uber Geek

#655664 14-Jul-2012 19:05

Instructions this page.

http://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/import-bookmarks-internet-explorer?s=import+bookmarks+from+ie&r=0&e=un&as=s

Google is your friend ;-)

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

KevinL

656 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#655665 14-Jul-2012 19:06

If you think Firefox is fast, wait until you try Chrome...

scuwp

3885 posts

Uber Geek

#655666 14-Jul-2012 19:07

KevinL: If you think Firefox is fast, wait until you try Chrome...

Lazy is such an ugly word, I prefer to call it selective participation

johnr

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#655667 14-Jul-2012 19:07

Chrome and FF are great

OnceBitten

535 posts

Ultimate Geek

#655672 14-Jul-2012 19:19

thanks - that was easy - now how do I make firefox my default browser - so when I open links in my e-mail...etc... firefox comes up and not IE?

freitasm

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Geekzone

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#655673 14-Jul-2012 19:21

Internet Explorer only gets slow if you load add-ons. If you install all the toolbars and other non-useful things offered then yes, it will be slow. The same with other browsers.

First, what Windows version are you running? If you are running Windows 7, have you installed Internet Explorer 9 yet? Have you applied *ALL* Windows Updates offered?

When was the last time you run a full antivirus and antispyware scan?

In Internet Explorer, open Settings | Manage Add-ons and disable everything there. Open Control Panel | Programs and remove all toolbars and unnecessary programs.

Are you running Avast or other antivirus with web scanner? If yes, then those can be making everything slow by trying to scan every page you load. If your PC is slow, these scan will make your browser - any browser - slow as well.

There are lots of things to check. Blindly saying one browser is faster than the other doesn't help.

KevinL

656 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#655674 14-Jul-2012 19:22

OnceBitten: thanks - that was easy - now how do I make firefox my default browser - so when I open links in my e-mail...etc... firefox comes up and not IE?

http://bit.ly/Ns9HR5

Sharesies

Trade NZ and US shares and funds with Sharesies (affiliate link).

OnceBitten

535 posts

Ultimate Geek

#655681 14-Jul-2012 19:26

OnceBitten: thanks - that was easy - now how do I make firefox my default browser - so when I open links in my e-mail...etc... firefox comes up and not IE?

already figured it out thanks!

OnceBitten

535 posts

Ultimate Geek

#655687 14-Jul-2012 19:39

freitasm: Internet Explorer only gets slow if you load add-ons. If you install all the toolbars and other non-useful things offered then yes, it will be slow. The same with other browsers.

First, what Windows version are you running? If you are running Windows 7, have you installed Internet Explorer 9 yet? Have you applied *ALL* Windows Updates offered?

When was the last time you run a full antivirus and antispyware scan?

In Internet Explorer, open Settings | Manage Add-ons and disable everything there. Open Control Panel | Programs and remove all toolbars and unnecessary programs.

Are you running Avast or other antivirus with web scanner? If yes, then those can be making everything slow by trying to scan every page you load. If your PC is slow, these scan will make your browser - any browser - slow as well.

There are lots of things to check. Blindly saying one browser is faster than the other doesn't help.

didn't have any 'add ons' or non useful toolbars - not sure what version of IE I had
I have Norton360 so viruses and spyware get filtered out automatically before they get to my PC (so I believe)
haven't done a separate virus scan or run CC cleaner for a while. I don't believe that Norton was scanning each page.
I'll will do a CC clean as my PC is probably due for one, but IE is just not opening at all....

Chainsaw

357 posts

Ultimate Geek

#657035 17-Jul-2012 13:51

I use "PlainOldFavorites" for Firefox, which shares your old Favourites folder, so any added favourites show in both browsers. Means you don't have to copy across or import or anything.
You can install it her: http://www.iosart.com/firefox/plainoldfavorites/

Lias

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#657047 17-Jul-2012 13:58

After using for firefox for years I moved to Chrome a few months ago. Still has a few bugs, but much faster and cloud sync bookmarks etc make me happy in the pants.

I'm a geek, a gamer, a dad, a Quic user, and an IT Professional. I have a full rack home lab, size 15 feet, an epic beard and Asperger's. I'm a bit of a Cypherpunk, who believes information wants to be free and the Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it. If you use my Quic signup you can also use the code R570394EKGIZ8 for free setup.

xpd

Geek @ Coastguard NZ
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#657052 17-Jul-2012 14:07

Lias: After using for firefox for years I moved to Chrome a few months ago. Still has a few bugs, but much faster and cloud sync bookmarks etc make me happy in the pants.

+1

Fx started going backwards for me, so gave Chrome another shot and havent looked back.

Gavin / xpd / FastRaccoon / Geek of Coastguard New Zealand

LinkTree

Elpie

1304 posts

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#657056 17-Jul-2012 14:14

xpd:
Fx started going backwards for me, so gave Chrome another shot and havent looked back.

I also stopped using Firefox but, although I use Chrome occasionally, I just don't like it. Sure its fast, but the whole UI drives me nuts. I really like Opera but some sites are just so badly coded that Opera chokes on them. It's still my browser-of-choice & I really love the turbo mode for those times when my connection is slow.

gzt

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#657058 17-Jul-2012 14:21

Opera is still the only browser with sensible management and sensible caching for multiple tabs.

I use chrome and safari for browsing on the Mac platform.

Regs

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Snowflake

#657067 17-Jul-2012 14:40

freitasm: Internet Explorer only gets slow if you load add-ons. If you install all the toolbars and other non-useful things offered then yes, it will be slow. The same with other browsers.

if you have too big a cache for temporary files, and never clear it, that can also slow it down.

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