URLs don't work in OE

For some unknown reason I cannot use an URL in an email in Outlook Express to bring up Internet Explorer anymore. This happened suddenly without my having done anything to either program knowingly. I haven't updated either one in a very long time and the last Windows Update I did was well before this problem.

If anyone knows where I might look to find the problem or how I might go about solving it I would be very appreciative. I might add that when I click on an URL on a web page everything acts normally. This difficulty only occurs with Outlook Express.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Paul

 

If you have a 9x/Me system, run the Internet Explorer Repair Tool, it repairs OE also. In Add/Remove Programs, double click the IE entry, select the Repair Option, reboot when prompted.
With XP, go to Start\Run, type in sfc /scannow and press Enter.

 

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried running sfc /scannow and it ran to completion without changing anything.

I should mention that the symptom of the problem is that OE just freezes for a time when I click on an IE link. After a period of time (probably a timeout of some sort) everything returns to normal but no sign of browser activation.

I have never heard of "sfc ", what is it?

Thanks

Paul

 

In the MS KB article, Internet Shortcuts in Outlook Express Do Not Start Web Browser, scroll down to the section titled, "Resolving the second cause," and follow the steps there.

Usually, changing the "short name" to the complete path (the first step in that section), fixes the problem you're having.

 

SFC - System File Checker and as the name implies, it checks system files and will replace any it sees as missing, damaged, or the wrong version.

But it follows the 'don't ask, don't tell' policy the military adopted a few years back. It does not ask about replacing files and gives no indication that it is doing so. You'd have to check the event logs to see if any changes actually got made.

 

Solvec

Thank you both for all the help. I really don't know what caused the file type option to change but putting it back worked just fine. I suspect some adware type program managed to sneak past my defences and changed things.

I appreciate as always the help received from the unselfish and patient folks here. It is a pleasure to receive help without "flames ". I remain in your debt.

Paul

 

You're welcome, phar1944. Thanks for posting back and letting us know you got the problem fixed.

I don't know why on some computers it reverts back to the abbreviated file names in the path even after the fix you used was applied but I think spyware is as good a suspect to blame as any.