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View Full Version : Hack for IE: Right-click context menu addition: "Open in FireFox" or Chrome or other


Clint1
03-18-2011, 04:55 AM
This is a really useful hack or addition to IE's right-click context menu if certain webpages aren't working or displaying properly in IE, or if you just want to quickly and easily view the page or any link in another browser with a simple right-click.

FireFox example:

Paste this into a text file, call it fopen.html, save it with the .html extension:


<html>
<body>
<script language="javascript">
/*
Don't blame me if you screw something up. ;-)
*/
<!--
var gsNO_WCRIPT_ERROR='This requires the Windows Scripting Host, which is not installed on your System.\n'+
'You may download the Windows Scripting host from \n'+
'http://msdn.microsoft.com/scripting .'

var win = external.menuArguments;
var sFile;
var element = win.document.activeElement;
if (element.href)
{
sFile=element.href;
}
else
{
sFile=win.document.URL;
}

try
{
var WshShell = new ActiveXObject("WScript.Shell");
var sFDPath = 'C:\\Program Files\\Mozilla Firefox\\firefox.exe';
var oExec = WshShell.run('"' + sFDPath + '" "' + sFile + '"', 2);
}
catch(ex)
{
win.alert(gsNO_WCRIPT_ERROR)
}
-->
</script>
</body>
</html>


If you have extensions hidden, it will just look like "fopen" with the default IE or browser icon.

Next, paste this into a text file, call it anything you want, save it with the .reg extension:


Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\MenuExt\&Open in Firefox]
@="C:\\Program Files\\Mozilla Firefox\\fopen.html"


Of course make sure your paths are correct, that's the default location for FF. Then import that to your Registry.

You can do this exact same thing with Chrome. Make sure you change the path to the Chrome path in both of these files.

Now in IE, you can right click any link or even a bare area of a webpage and you'll have "Open in Chrome" and "Open in FireFox". I would assume you can also do this with Opera or other browsers.

This works on IE6 and XP, I would guess it also works in IE7+, as long as that Reg file path is the same. If not, you'd have to find the "MenuExt" or similar in the Registry for the later IE version. I can't say for sure if it will work on Vista or Win7.
morestar
03-18-2011, 11:00 AM
OMG Clint, it's like you read my mind! I was thinking this exact same thing less than 12 hours ago! I was almost going to create a post on it...

;)

And thank you so much for the Chrome part too, I use Chrome the most and really been wanting this type of functionality for a long time...

Thanks man!
Clint1
03-19-2011, 09:31 AM
OMG Clint, it's like you read my mind! I was thinking this exact same thing less than 12 hours ago! I was almost going to create a post on it...

;)

And thank you so much for the Chrome part too, I use Chrome the most and really been wanting this type of functionality for a long time...

Thanks man!
You're welcome, glad it can help. ;)

While I like FF more than Chrome, it's a a lot faster than FF. Right clicking and opening in FF takes ages, but it's very fast when doing it with Chrome. But it's so stripped down with no features. Do you know if there are any plug-ins or add-ons for Chrome like what's available for FF? Or anything that can give it more of a right click menu and a full toolbar?
deepsand
03-19-2011, 07:06 PM
Nicely done. :D


While I like FF more than Chrome, it's a a lot faster than FF. Right clicking and opening in FF takes ages, but it's very fast when doing it with Chrome.?
Odd; it responds lickety split for me.
Clint1
03-19-2011, 09:53 PM
Nicely done. :D
Thanks. :mrgreen:



Odd; it responds lickety split for me.
I thought you said FF was slow for you. Through numerous installs, reinstalls, removals, and even reformats, FF is as slow as me when "my back goes out".

Do you know if there are any plug-ins or add-ons for Chrome like what's available for FF? Or anything that can give it more of a right click menu and a full toolbar?
deepsand
03-19-2011, 10:09 PM
I thought you said FF was slow for you.
It generally is, compared to IE6. But, here it snaps to.


Do you know if there are any plug-ins or add-ons for Chrome like what's available for FF? Or anything that can give it more of a right click menu and a full toolbar?
Sorry; can't help out here. Had so damn many problems with Chrome that I ripped it out of every machine I use.
Clint1
03-19-2011, 10:55 PM
Had so damn many problems with Chrome that I ripped it out of every machine I use.
Such as? .......
deepsand
03-19-2011, 11:13 PM
Such as? .......
Mostly constant installation issues, such as:

Silent failures to install; had to go looking for the log files to see what happened.
Failure to install, by way of complaining that an "incompatible earlier version" was installed; too dumb to be able to update itself without manual intervention.
Failure to remove files and Reg. Hive entries for earlier versions.

Any application that cannot properly update itself without assistance isn't ready for prime time.
Clint1
03-19-2011, 11:52 PM
Mostly constant installation issues, such as:

Silent failures to install; had to go looking for the log files to see what happened.
Failure to install, by way of complaining that an "incompatible earlier version" was installed; too dumb to be able to update itself without manual intervention.
Failure to remove files and Reg. Hive entries for earlier versions.

Any application that cannot properly update itself without assistance isn't ready for prime time.
Just how are you supposed to update it? I've looked all over and I can't find any "Check for Updates" area or something like that.

(Anyone) How are you supposed to automatically clear its cache, cookies, and history, when exiting? IE and FF has that, certainly Chrome should.
Clint1
03-20-2011, 12:00 AM
BTW, I just clicked the FF icon on my Quick Launch toolbar, and about 40 seconds later it finally opened. :shock:
deepsand
03-20-2011, 12:29 AM
Just how are you supposed to update it? I've looked all over and I can't find any "Check for Updates" area or something like that.
It's supposed to auto-update; but, as I understand it, only within major versions.


(Anyone) How are you supposed to automatically clear its cache, cookies, and history, when exiting? IE and FF has that, certainly Chrome should.
Damned if I know.


BTW, I just clicked the FF icon on my Quick Launch toolbar, and about 40 seconds later it finally opened. :shock:
Well, don't do that anymore. ;-)
Clint1
03-20-2011, 07:11 AM
It's supposed to auto-update; but, as I understand it, only within major versions.
Well that sucks. Just WTF is a "major version"?? I don't let anything auto update.

After I installed it, there was this ridiculous "googleupdater.exe" I believe it was, that added itself to the Start UP tab in MSCONFIG! I don't think so! I don't play that crap, why do I want yet another thing running in the background "hijacking" my PC at its wish? :rolleyes: Apparently that's its only option--to have to have that thing running all the time in order to update??



Well, don't do that anymore. ;-)
.....uhhhhhh...........yeah.................why didn't I think of that. That was most helpful. :lol:
deepsand
03-20-2011, 04:07 PM
Well that sucks. Just WTF is a "major version"??
For Chrome, I believe it's when the high order digit changes. But, as I've given it the boot, I'm not certain of that.


I don't let anything auto update.
Presumably you mean other than anti-malware definitions.


After I installed it, there was this ridiculous "googleupdater.exe" I believe it was, that added itself to the Start UP tab in MSCONFIG! I don't think so! I don't play that crap, why do I want yet another thing running in the background "hijacking" my PC at its wish? :rolleyes: Apparently that's its only option--to have to have that thing running all the time in order to update??
Big G tries to sneak in googleupdater.exe along with other applications as well. I've got my firewall set to block its attempts to call home - on my machine, it was every hour at 11 minutes past the hour - so as to not have to be constantly on the lookout for it.
Clint1
03-21-2011, 05:27 AM
Presumably you mean other than anti-malware definitions.
No, everything. I got fed up with this and that trying to update itself every time I was in the middle of something. As for scanners, I just click to update when I open them.



Big G tries to sneak in googleupdater.exe along with other applications as well. I've got my firewall set to block its attempts to call home - on my machine, it was every hour at 11 minutes past the hour - so as to not have to be constantly on the lookout for it.
Yeah I noticed it with G Earth too.
gseattle
07-19-2011, 01:14 PM
I also don't like programs that run in the background and are placed on my machine without my knowledge or consent, like Google Updater. (Weren't they dedicated to not being evil?).

As people find out soon enough, it can't just be turned off using msconfig or the registry directly since it comes back, however here's one trick to get rid of it.

First, if you don't want it, turn it off in services for one (run services.msc), if I recall, then...

For each instance of it's exe under C:\Program Files\Google, rename it to .exe.off or something and create a folder with the same name as the exe.

So you wind up with stuff like this:
C:\Program Files\Google\Update\1.2.183.29\GoogleUpdate.exe.of f (the original file, note this site might inject unwanted spaces there)
C:\Program Files\Google\Update\1.2.183.29\GoogleUpdate.exe (a new directory)

Now when the sneaky and hideous humpback Google whatever process hiding in the dungeons of my puter tries to activate the GoogleUpdate.exe monster, it runs into a wall, says oh crap, can't move any further, sits down and shuts up dejected. High five, I win (except that I know there are still shufflings in the dungeon).