"default mail client is not properly installed"

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XP/OE6/IE6 Now I don't want to stir up past woes but I'm experiencing a problem pretty similar to Santiago. When I try to use an email link from a web site I receive the error message "could not perform. default mail client is not properly installed ". The system then goes into a sick recursive loop that generates just over 60 redundant links before crashing. Suspiciously this system was working fine up until my last automatic Microsoft update!
I've looked at the repair feature Daizy suggested to Santiago but that is for IE version 5 and I am using version 6. I've also checked the Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - Q177054 suggested by Welshjim and the full long file names appear to be already present in the application pathway.
Like Santiago I am also unable to enter anything into the Internet Options>Programs>Email field. Going through OE6 Tools>Options>General displays the message "The application is NOT the default Mail handler ". Clicking the "Make Default" button rectifies this message but it has reset back to the "NOT" message when this window is next opened.
Does anyone have any bright ideas?!
PS. FAO Daizy and Welshjim - I'll stay right here!

 

Hiya mark.reeves
Being that you're running XP......what about a system restore? That should be quick and painless?

Daizy

 

Do you have more than one mail client installed?

 

Thanks for getting back to me Daizy and Brett, I really appreciate it.
To answer your questions; I don't particularly want to do a system restore as I'm not exactly sure what date the problem started and we've made alot of alterations to the system over the past few days and the thought of going through all that again fills me with mortal dread (but I'm resigned to the fact that maybe that's what's gonna happen). There's no other mail client.
Thanks again for your help.

 

Hmmmmm.......
IE6 has the repair feature too doesn't it?

This line has me concerned.

You have done a recent and updated virus scan?
You have downloaded and ran Ad-aware?

Terribly odd.

 

Perhaps just use a free online scanner such as:
Grisoft
Housecall
Panda
Symantec

And for Trojans.....might I suggest:
Tauscan

 

Try this with Internet Explorer and Outlook Express closed.

Click Start > Run > type in the following. Including quotation marks. Or copy/paste.

"C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\msimn.exe" /reg

You may have to check the path, but that is most common.

Click OK. When the registration completes, reboot.

Go back and set your e-mail defaults in both Internet Explorer and Outlook Express.

 

Cigar for Kevin!

Kevin you the man. Pasted your suggestion into 'Run' and reset OE6 as default and it stayed as default - game over!

Thanks for your support too Daizy; I have weekly scheduled AdAware and Virus Scans and have done full system scans with both since this problem started.

Anyone got any bright ideas how this problem started in the first place?

Thanks again guys. Isn't WBBS the bee's knees?

PS. Is someone going to tell Santiago now?

 

Glad that worked for you, Mark. A link to this thread has been posted in Santiago's most recent thread. Hopefully, he or she has e-mail notification turned on for replies.

 

Finally!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THANK YOU SO MUCH "KEVIN ",,,, HOW CAN I EVER REPAY$$$ YOU?
IT HAS FINALLY STOP RAINING ON ME,, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO SAY KEVIN "MUCHAS GRACIAS MY FRIEND"
can I send you pics of my girlfriend?..anything... you name it Kevin, I'm here to serve you...

Ohh,,,, before I forget,,,, Thank you Dayzzeee darling (kisssess)

 

Re: "can I send you pics of my girlfriend? "

I think Santiago's a "he" (or am I being a bit too provincial in my reasoning?).
Thanks again Kevin.

 

Thanks, Santiago, but my girlfriend probably wouldn't care much for the gesture. But I've got some web space available.

Just kidding. Glad that worked for you too.

 

thx all, u guys are good, fixed me right up