XP cannot open shortcuts

I think my problem may have something to do with installing and uninstalling foxfire. I am unable to open any shortcuts or favorites. I get a popup that says Windows cannot find 'HTTP:// "what ever I am looking for ".com'. Make sure you typed the name correctly and try again. Hope you can help. Thank you.................Mike

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Go to Run and type Regedit. Go to the following key:

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\HTTP\shell\open\ddeexec\Application]

Under Default in the right hand pane, what does it say?

 

Launch IE
go to tools/ internet options/ programs.
Check the box IE should check to see if it is the default browser.
Apply , close , relaunch IE, and say yes when asked if you want to make it default.
Then close and restart windows to make sure this is saved to registry.

You may also need to go to start/ run and type
regsvr32 urlmon.dll
hit enter and wait for it to say entry point registered.
This is the dll which copies a clicked on url into the address bar of IE and clicks go.

 

I tried the regsvr32 urlmon.dll and it seemed to let me open a few more things. PLansdowne, I drilled down intoHKEY_CLASSES_ROOT and when I got down to \shell\open the next folder was command. there is nothing after that. So what can I do now? Mike

 

Go to Run and type Regedit. Go to File>Export>All and save it to your Desktop as Backup.reg

Now copy and paste the following to Notepad and save it as IExplore.reg. Once again, save it to your desktop:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\HTTP\shell\open\ddeexec\Application]
@= "IEXPLORE "

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\https\shell\open\ddeexec\Application]
@= "IEXPLORE "

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ftp\shell\open\ddeexec\Application]
@= "IEXPLORE "

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\gopher\shell\open\ddeexec\Application]
@= "IEXPLORE "

Now double click on IExplore.reg and click OK to merge to the registry.

Reboot and let us know how you make out.

 

Tried as you suggested PLansdowne. Still having the same problem. I don't know if this will help, but when I try to open some of the desktop shortcuts, it will ask me what program I want to use to open it up. I always choose IE and choose the tick to always remember to use this.It doesn't remember this and asks me each time it is opened. Also reinstalled Foxfire but still no good. Hope this will give you a little more info................Mike

 

mtwilco--So far the assumption has been that your shortcut problem is with those with links to the internet, but your latest post suggests that shortcuts to programs on your hard drive do not work either. Is that correct?
The shortcuts to programs should not have been linked to Internet Explorer. You are going to have to change each of those back to linking with the program involved. Perhaps the fastest way to do that is to delete each of the existing such shortcuts, find the executable file for each program --usually an .exe file in the Program Files|name of Program folder|right click on the .exe file|Create Shortcut|move the shortcut to the desktop. Do these new shortcuts work?
Concerning the shortcuts and links to the internet, can you reach the internet at all? Say, by typing in the address in the Address bar|Enter? If not you may have a corrupt Winsock 2 file.
If you can reach the net see http://windowsxp.mvps.org/winsock.htm
If you cannot, perhaps it will be permissible for a mod to post you the Winsock fix file found here
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/winsockxpfix.html

If I am guessing incorrectly, forgive me.
P.S. There was a post on another forum recently that said something along the line of trying to set IE as the default program to open internet links after use of Firefox will not work, and it is necessary to go back into Firefox and tell it that it is not the default. Will try to find it. May or may not be pertinent.

 

Welshjim,I have no problem connecting to the internet. When I put shortcuts to Gmail and yahoo mail on my desktop it always asks me what program I want to use to open them with. When I click on links in an email such as the one from BBS, it will not open. Also in the newsletters I recieve links will not open. I can copy and paste into the address bar and they open up fine. Hope this will help.........Mike

 

Are you trying to us Firefox as your browser?
Make IE default browser. Then go back to Firefox and make it the default.

 

Sled,Thank you for the advice. What I have done is a repair install of XP and it appears to have solved my problem. I appreciate all who posted to help me.I still have Foxfire installed but have also installed Opera. I know it has to be more secure than IE. I really like it and will check on it's security. Now I have another problem. After the reinstall,I went to redownload all the M$ updates and the first thing it wanted to do is download and install windows installer 3.1. The install failed and now I am in an endless loop of it trying to install and failing. Needless to say I could not download any updates. But fortunatly I have BigFix and was able to install all updates. But I would really like to fix the installer problem. Not sure if I should have started a new post for this. I'll do this if needed.............Mike

 

A new thread would be your best bet.

 

Thank you.........Mike

 

I know it isn't much help to you now, but I have had a similar problem a long time ago. It was to do with internet shortcuts (.url) files becoming unassociated with "Shell Doc Object and Control Library ". I can't remember exactly what caused the problem, but I think it was something to do with Firefox. In addition internet shortcuts were getting displayed with the .url extension in my favourites folder in IE.
It didn't bother me to much at the time as I could still access my favourites from the favourites menu in IE. In the end I fixed it the same way you did, by formatting and reinstalling Windows.


a60wattfish

 

Here is the list of the dlls which commonly get deregistered when you uninstall a browser like firefox which need to be re registered for IE to handle links

regsvr32 Shdocvw.dll
regsvr32 Shell32.dll
regsvr32 Oleaut32.dll
regsvr32 Actxprxy.dll
regsvr32 Mshtml.dll
regsvr32 Urlmon.dll

You may also need to reinstall sun java as it too often gets its integration removed when you uninstall a browser.

 

oshwyn5, how do I register the dll's? Do I use start, run and hit enter or do I have to download them to the system 32 folder?...Mike

 

Hi Mike;

You're going to need to go to Start>Run and type those commands one by one and hit OK. You should receive a confirmation message after each one. If there's any problem your system will let you know.

 

Thank's PLansdowne. Ran the dll's and they all registered. My system seems to be running fine now. Thanks you to all who helped. The boards are great............MIKE