# Why can't I switch browsers? With Windows 98, only IE works! **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 11, 2004, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-switch-browsers-with-windows-98-only-ie-works/268638 "2004-10-11T14:37:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-switch-browsers-with-windows-98-only-ie-works/268638/1 "2004-10-11T14:37:48Z")
I’ve read the threads…I have followed the advice, but no matter what I do, I can’t get other browsers to work. The latest teo attempts saw Firefox and Netscape fail. Here is what happens: I dowload the new browser. After in instals, it opens and works. When I close it and run it again, it never pops open. If I check the tasks, they will show up as if they are running/open. Any opinions? Would getting off Win 98 help (although they show as compatible). ---
**Author:** ![whitetho](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whitetho/32/1059_2.png) [@whitetho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whitetho)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-switch-browsers-with-windows-98-only-ie-works/268638/2 "2004-10-11T17:28:12Z")
I’m posting this from a PC running Mozilla 1.4 on Windows 95. I noticed with the last update Mozilla doesn’t always shut down cleanly if I’ve had it running for a long time. In that case, I just delete it from the task manager listing and start it up again. ---
**Author:** ![rpinrd](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b3f665/32.png) [@rpinrd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rpinrd)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-switch-browsers-with-windows-98-only-ie-works/268638/3 "2004-10-11T17:57:55Z")
My home machine runs Win98 and I’ve been using Firefox for about 2 weeks. I’m using whatever version was current as of two weeks ago. Couldn’t be happier. I am a computer novice, so I didn’t do anything special for installation. Are you running a popup blocker? Could that be part of the problem? When I connect to the 'net (DSL) I do notice that it takes Firefox a little longer to open that first browser window than what I was getting with IE. Maybe 20 seconds. Other than that, I haven’t noticed anything different (other than the complete lack of problems I was having with IE). ---
**Author:** ![Dunderman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ecb155/32.png) [@Dunderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dunderman)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 6:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-switch-browsers-with-windows-98-only-ie-works/268638/4 "2004-10-11T18:23:47Z")
I run Firefox on Windows 98 and have been for months. Before that, I used Firebird. Never a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-switch-browsers-with-windows-98-only-ie-works/268638/5 "2004-10-11T18:35:41Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > When I close it and run it again, it never pops open. If I check the tasks, they will show up as if they are running/open. Sounds like it may be a problem with you quitting the application. Are you sure it’s closing down completely? Are you sure it’s still not lurking in your memory, just hidden from sight. So that when you run it again it just switches back to the copy already loaded, but invisible. Do you have any ‘quick start’ applications that might be kicking in and storing the browser away in memory? The full version of Mozilla (Firefox’s big sister) has/had one of these (written, I think, to counteract the fact that it takes ages to load). Are you sure it’s not loaded and messing things up? It appears, IIRC, on your taskbar. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-switch-browsers-with-windows-98-only-ie-works/268638/6 "2004-10-11T19:52:56Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > I’ve read the threads…I have followed the advice, but no matter what I do, I can’t get other browsers to work. The latest teo attempts saw Firefox and Netscape fail. Here is what happens: I dowload the new browser. After in instals, it opens and works. When I close it and run it again, it never pops open. If I check the tasks, they will show up as if they are running/open. Any opinions? Would getting off Win 98 help (although they show as compatible). IE is setting itself as the default bowser. Run any other browser and set it as default. ---
**Author:** ![Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/troy_mcclure_sf/32/4150_2.png) [@Troy\_McClure\_SF](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troy_McClure_SF)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-switch-browsers-with-windows-98-only-ie-works/268638/7 "2004-10-11T21:32:22Z")
> [@spingears](#): > > IE is setting itself as the default bowser. Run any other browser and set it as default. Dude. > [@the OP](#): > > When I close it and run it again, it **never pops open**. If s/he could open it, this thread would not exist. ---
**Author:** ![legion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/838e76/32.png) [@legion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/legion)\ **Post date:** [October 11, 2004, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-switch-browsers-with-windows-98-only-ie-works/268638/8 "2004-10-11T21:47:46Z")
I had the same problem when I first tried Firefox. After getting up to date via the Windows Update site, Firefox worked ok. Dunno what update fixed the problem though. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-switch-browsers-with-windows-98-only-ie-works/268638/9 "2004-10-12T17:47:07Z")
Well, the icon isn’t in my taskbar after I close the app (be it Netscape or FireFox), but it is down in the tray on the lwr right. I believe this ‘quick launch’ feature means my memory is tied up with the app, even after ‘closing’ it. If I use the icon on the desktop to open it again, or the task bar icon, or the icon in the tray, I get nothing. It ‘seems’ to be opening… it shows up in the “task list” after ctr/alt/del…but I get nothing. Could it be memory related? Got 2565 MB of RAM. Again, the stumper is after loading the app, I can use it. But god forbid I want to close it and use it again later. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2004, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-switch-browsers-with-windows-98-only-ie-works/268638/10 "2004-10-12T17:51:16Z")
255 mb ram…255 ---
**Author:** ![Futile\_Gesture](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f05b48/32.png) [@Futile\_Gesture](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Futile_Gesture)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 11:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-switch-browsers-with-windows-98-only-ie-works/268638/11 "2004-10-13T11:00:29Z")
More likely it’s an issue with the quick launcher and win98. Kill the quick launcher. (It’s under “Advanced” in my version of Mozilla’s Prefences.) You only need it if you are using Mozilla, and you’d be better off with Firefox instead. It’ll be messing with Netscape too because they use the same engine. ---
**Author:** ![Wile\_E](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/c37758/32.png) [@Wile\_E](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wile_E)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2004, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-switch-browsers-with-windows-98-only-ie-works/268638/12 "2004-10-13T13:29:24Z")
I have 96 mb of RAM (ancient laptop) with Win’98 and after downloading and using Opera a couple times I found it uses way too much memory. IE doesn’t so I am stuck with it and all it’s miserable security flaws until I can afford a new computer. I tried Firefox on the work computer which has 256 MB (I think) and it was extremely slow. ---
**Author:** ![Philster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/13edae/32.png) [@Philster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Philster)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-switch-browsers-with-windows-98-only-ie-works/268638/13 "2004-10-14T03:47:57Z")
I. can’t. take. it. \*\* Nothing works. \*\* M----FER!!! Firefox latest attempt = COMPLETE STRIKOUT. NEVER OPENED. :mad: Netscape opened. ONCE. Can’t access props…crashes PC. SON OF A BLSDJKhdhhaBCNWY9qpwe!!! ---
**Author:** ![sleestak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/919ad9/32.png) [@sleestak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sleestak)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 8:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-switch-browsers-with-windows-98-only-ie-works/268638/14 "2004-10-14T08:05:16Z")
What are your systems resources at when you boot? (Start -\> settings -\>control Panel -\>system -\>Performance tab) How about virtual memory settings? On the performance tab click on virtual memory and choose the option for “let Windows manage virtual memory”. If they are low try going to start -\> run type in msconfig and hit enter. When that comes up go to the startup tab and uncheck everything then restart and try it again. It sounds like a system resource issue to me. Slee ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-switch-browsers-with-windows-98-only-ie-works/268638/15 "2004-10-14T08:22:33Z")
A better question would be: Why are you using Windows 98? It’s 6 years old and I believe it was officially retired earlier this year. ---
**Author:** ![spingears](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ebca7d/32.png) [@spingears](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/spingears)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 11:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-switch-browsers-with-windows-98-only-ie-works/268638/16 "2004-10-14T11:22:25Z")
> [@Philster](#): > > \*\*Nothing works. \*\* 1. Save all important data files. 2. If you don’t have a startup disk, make one. 3. Reformat HD and reinstall Win 98 and Firefox. 4. Enjoy ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-switch-browsers-with-windows-98-only-ie-works/268638/17 "2004-10-14T17:24:00Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > A better question would be: Why are you using Windows 98? > > It’s 6 years old and I believe it was officially retired earlier this year. Because he already owns it? I use it because I own it and it works fine for me. Besides, aren’t most hackers spending their time trying to attack XP machines, meaning that few new threats are directed at 98? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-switch-browsers-with-windows-98-only-ie-works/268638/18 "2004-10-14T21:23:36Z")
> [@Dag Otto](#): > > Besides, aren’t most hackers spending their time trying to attack XP machines, meaning that few new threats are directed at 98? And few new features, and few new software packages… ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-switch-browsers-with-windows-98-only-ie-works/268638/19 "2004-10-14T22:45:35Z")
> [@Cisco](#): > > And few new features, and few new software packages… True, but **Philster** is only trying to get a browser to work. That shouldn’t require a new OS, should it? ---
**Author:** ![Cisco](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ccd318/32.png) [@Cisco](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cisco)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2004, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-switch-browsers-with-windows-98-only-ie-works/268638/20 "2004-10-14T23:32:37Z")
> [@Dag Otto](#): > > True, but **Philster** is only trying to get a browser to work. That shouldn’t require a new OS, should it? Maybe. I really doubt the newest versions of Netscape and Firefox were developed with Windows 98 in mind.