Set Internet Explorer as the default browser from the command line

Question

Is it possible to set Internet Explorer as the default browser to launch from the command line?

I have a web application that only runs under Internet Explorer, but if it happens that Firefox is the default browser, it doesn't work. Users are in a domain environment and even though I try to launch our application from a batch in this way:

start "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe" http://server_ip/home_page

the application doesn't start unless I change the browser manually.

Moreover, is it possible to set a policy on the domain to prevent users with limited privileges changing the default browser?

Answer 1

This command will set IE as the default browser:

shmgrate.exe OcinstallreinstallIE

This policy should stop people determining the default browser.

Answer 2

I don't know about setting the default browser from the command line, but you can set and enforce it for the domain via group policy.

Here's something to get you started:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/hh147307%28WS.10%29.aspx