Windows 8: How to set IE Desktop as the Default (instead of Metro version of IE)
When you install Windows 8, you basically have two Internet Explorers. The default browser is the Metro version of IE, unfortunately, some sites have issues with this. If you need (or prefer) to use the desktop version of Internet Explorer as your default web browser, you just need to make some changes to IE’s settings.
Step 1 - Go to Desktop and open Internet Explorer.
Step 2 - Go to the upper-right corner and select the Tools icon (the gear).
Step 3 - Select the Programs tab.
Step 4 - In the Opening Internet Explorer section, use the Choose how you open links dropdown menu and select Always in Internet Explorer on the desktop.
Step 5 - If you want any web tiles that you have pinned to the Start screen to open in the desktop version of IE, check the Open Internet Explorer tiles on the desktop checkbox.
Step 6 - Click the OK button.