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[Problem (mostly) solved.]

Problem (mostly) solved. I've settled on Browser Tray Switcher, which does pretty much what I want:  allowing me to change which browser is my default at the simple click of the icon.

I have it configured to show the icon and notifications visible on the Taskbar, so when IE is the default, the IE icon shows, and when Firefox is the default, the Firefox icon shows instead. So when I know that a given link will need to be opened in IE, I click the Firefox icon, select IE as the default browser, the icon changes and when I click on the file link, the program opens in IE. When I'm done, I simply switch it back to the Firefox default, the icon changes back and Firefox is back to being my default browser.

Its more efficient than anything else I've been doing. It doesn't do anything for other file types, but it could perhaps serve as a model / template for other extensions (not so subtle hint).

My thanks to all who responded and offered program possibilities.

@skwire: Thank you for responding. I have downloaded these two and will test them out to see if they'll give me better results than Browser Tray Switch does. But regardless, I appreciate your contribution. I've gone from zero programs to 3 to help me solve this most annoying problem.

Again, my thanks.

@cmpm: That got it. I needed to make IE my default in order for it to register with the program. My quicklaunch icons now have an extra one which shows which browser is set as default, and lets me change it with a simple click. Not quite as efficient as having it be part of the right-click response to clicking on the link itself, but a lot more convenient than any other method I've used.

Thank you. I appreciate the posting and the program. I'm posting the info on dotTech.org for others to use. Here:  http://dottech.org/forums/advice-corner/multiple-file-associations/#p17567 . Post #9.

Not so subtle hint:  you could use this program as a template for other extensions as well, e.g., .ini, .txt, .log. Maybe even a variable program where the user inputs the extension they'd like to have default programs changeable, i.e., I might input .txt, and all extensions which use the same application for its default as .txt does would automatically be selected. For example, I'd input .txt and all extensions that use Notepad as a default would be selected for inclusion (.ini, .log, etc.). Something to think about.

 But for now, and again, my thanks.

@cmpm: Well I tried it out, with no success! It installed fine, and found my default browser OK, but I couldn't get it to find IE to change the browser to. Even trying to uncheck Firefox didn't work. I guess that I'm stuck with choosing one browser or the other as my default and leaving it at that, and manually switching it as I have been doing. Sigh.

@cmpm: Thank you. I'm going to try this one out. If it works, it'll at least save me the biggest hassle which is with the browser issue.

@hamradio: thank you for responding. I actually am aware of your program, courtesy of dotTech. And while it might work for files, I didn't see how to make it work for links. And its links, especially in my email program, that cause the most problems. There I want to add to the existing right-click function the names of my 2 browsers, such that I can choose to open the linked file in either browser. Am I missing something?

So, sometimes I peruse a file using Internet Explorer (to respond to Microsoft sites), and the other half of the time with my default browser, Firefox. On my system left-clicking an .htm file will launch it with my default browser, and a right-click brings up a process that requires multiple clicks and selections in order to select which program will be used.

And in my email client ('wrapper') its even worse. Right-clicking a link brings up a different process, where I have to choose between default browser or Copy this link, which I then have to cut-and-paste into the browser I select separately....

This is an example, but the one I use on a daily basis. Ideally, the program I'm looking for would allow me to apply this type of 'selective file association' to any file extension, e.g., I could use it to work with .ini files or .txt (where I sometimes select notepad and DocPad at other times).

What I'm looking for is a one-click solution. Click, interface opens, click, I select which browser opens. Thats all. No lists to go through, no selecting from Explorer folders, no drilling down 4 levels, just a single click to select which browser will open that file to that specific location on that specific page.

Questions willingly answered, all thoughts and efforts gratefully appreciated. Thanks in advance,
BearPup7

Thanks for the idea, but I don't think that AppGuard will do what I'm looking for. Yes, it theoretically will block malicious code, but I'm looking for a lot more than just that. But again, thanks for the thought.

Didn't think of it as trivial, but I also thought it would be more of a "list, watch, and warn" type of software. However, I'm not a coder, and willingly take your word for it. So, I'll give WinPatrol another try. Thank you for taking a look at this.

Thanks for replying. As I said, I've always felt overwhelmed by it, but I'll give it another look and see if I can ignore all the other stuff that seems to come with it.

Thank you for replying. I'm aware of WinPatrol, and it has way too many other functions that I find overwhelming to deal with (cookies, services, processes, a multitude of tabs, etc.). I'm looking for a dedicated 64 Bit capable app that can do just this startup monitor and management function.

I have one laptop and one desktop computer:  Win 7, Home Premium, 64 Bit, plenty of RAM & hard drive space.

What I'm needing is software that will monitor, in real time, any application that tries to install itself on my computer, whether as a program or as a registry entry. When it detects such software I want an alert to popup letting me know and having me either give permission to allow it, or telling the computer to block / delete it. This monitor function would reside in the system tray.

The software will also have an autoblock feature that will enable an automatic block if the software tries to repeatedly install itself. And finally, this software would also have an internet search capability so I could search for info on software that wants to run at startup that is unfamiliar to me.

Additionally, the application would serve as a startup manager, listing all startup applications and registry entries running at startup. The manager function would also allow me to add, delete, disable, and edit startup entries, both as applications and as registry entries.

Though I'm posting it here as a freeware / donationware request, I'm willing to bet that people would pay for software that can do this, e.g., it has commercial potential! Questions gladly answered, and any suggested changes willingly considered. Thank you in advance,

BearPup7

  Pardon my screwup! The correct answer is format the drive in exFAT, then you can use 8 x 32Gb flash drives for ReadyBoost (the max allowed), or have the drive ready for very large files (the limit is 256Tb in size)! For drives 7Mb to 256Mb cluster size is 4K, for drives 256Mb to 32Gb its 32Kb and for drives 32 Gb to 256Tb its 128Kb.

There was a PCWorld Answer Line forum in recent days that talked about the drive writing problem with NTFS file systems on flash drives. Because of the excessive writing NTFS drives do, I reformatted my 16 Gb drives to FAT32, with 512 Kb allocation unit sizing. That takes care of the problem.

A project idea for someone; anyone! I'm not a coder, though I might get a batch file to work, maybe. Anyway, the idea:   how about a front end or package wrapper that would allow a user to take a program that doesn't normally start with Windows and wrap it in a shell that would allow a user to specify that the program should in fact run with windows.

For example, one of the DonationCoders made me a wonderful little program called DoubleClick, which converts the scroll wheel to a double left mouse click when pressed. I would like to convert or modify this program (as well as a few others I have) to start-up when Windows does, without having to remember to run each one separately. Any ideas or suggestions?

To MilesAhead:
From BearPup7

Thanks very much. Your zip did the trick. I'm very appreciative.
BP7

Code Request:   I am permanently disabled and need help with my mouse. In the past I had a program that would convert pressing my scroll wheel down to a mouse middle button, which in turn would act like a left button double click. The program has since been lost, and I am seeking a replacement.

The Need:   pressing the mouse tilt wheel sends a signal that simulates a left button double click.

Thank you in advance.  [mail hidden to avoid being grabbed by spammers -mouser]