Default browser

[rhythmcrazy]

Every time I click on a link, e.g. on an application's "update" link, it opens in IE, even though I prefer Opera. When I open Opera afterwards, Opera asks if I want it to be the default browser, and every time I click yes. But then Opera doesn't stay the default. How can I make Opera the default PERMANENTLY?

[ChuckFickens]

Only thing I can think of is making sure the IE option for checking if it's the default browser is disabled.

control panel > internet options and it's on the programs tab.

[rhythmcrazy]

I had a look. On the Programs tab of IE's Internet Options, there's a line that says "Internet Explorer is the default web browser." Next to it there's a greyed-out button that says "Make default". Then there's a box which is not ticked, and next to it is a line that says "Tell me if Internet Explorer is not the default browser."
You can obviously MAKE it the default browser if it's not, but I cannot find anywhere to click that will DISABLE it from being the default browser. :-( I checked all the tabs - not only the Programs tab.

[rhythmcrazy]

I also went to Control Panel -->Default Programs, but because I'm using a portable browser, it doesn't appear in the list of programs, and there's no browse button which I can use to find my portable browser :-(