Windows Vista recent shortcut problems

This is on a cpu running Windows Vista Home Premium 64 bit. I'm putting these together because they started at about the same time, so I think they are related. I have five accounts, and one problem is on one account, and the other problem is on a different one. Neither of them are the administrator account.

Problem 1: when trying to open any shortcut from the desktop, I get this message box. "Unable to open this internet shortcut. The protocol "http" does not have a registered program."

Problem 2: when trying to open a link in an e-mail, I get this message box. "This file does not have a program associated with it. For performing this action, create an association in the Set Associations control panel. "

These both worked OK previously. Thanks for any help suggestions.

 

Hi, When did you notice the problems? After a Windows Update or additional Hardware or Software?
Have you tried a System Restore before this occurred? Neil.

 

retiredlearner: my wife uses the 2 accounts that were having problems, so I wasn't sure exactly when the problems started, and after what updates, etc. She knows enough to not make changes with the computer, and leaves most of that for me to do. A while back I did find Google Chrome as her default browser for one of the accounts. (She has no idea how that happened) I changed it back to IE, and am guessing that that is when the problems started.

Thanks to Evan Omo for zeroing in on the problem right off. Changing to IE as suggested fixed both problems.

Again, thanks to you both for helping me getting this straightened out.