i can help by saying dont go back if not try using something microsoft that requires opening a browser, sometimes those jerks will onl allow ie to open, for example right click an msn contact and click send email, unless outlook comes up like on somes emails, ie should come up, then go into tools options and re set that as main browser,

but i use only ff now, cause spyware is insane on ie

Just tell her to click the IE icon when she wants to use it, simple as that. There's even an addin for FF that lets you open links in IE if you find they don't work in FF.

It's about time these sites started fixing their code to be standards compliant, it's not difficult, all my sites work in IE and FF.

To answer your question, open IE, go to Tools, Internet Options, Programs and check "Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser". Close IE and open it again and you'll have a message saying IE is not the default, would you like it to make it default etc.