Links in any application no longer work

Windows 8.1 Pro 64-bit. Installed new about 3 months ago. Has been working fine up to about a month ago.

Problem is suddenly any Email that had a link to a URL no longer automatically opens up my browser (which is Chrome) Have same problem latest MS Internet Explorer.

I've since found that ALL links in ANY program or document will not work. Any hyperlink in any program, document or even in some web sites that have embedded URLs or links no longer work.

So for about month now I've been opening up a browser and manually typing in the link or sometimes I can use an editor and cut the link and paste it into my browser. That will work.

I've already tried all the normal things regarding this and nothing works. Antivirus etc. shows clear .. My next thing is to run all the windows repair options etc. Checking all the system files etc.

Oh and yes, I've rebooted the system in safe mode and the problem still exists ... This problem is not like the usual fixes I've seen surrounding broken links in various browsers. It's "any" embedded link in any document. Like an MS Word document that has a properly embedded link .. I can hover my mouse over the normal underlined link and the actual "link address" will properly display in my tray. But if I try to click, double click or what ever, nothing happens.

Yeah I always get the really weird stuff. <grin> Anyone see this? I have 4 other computers running a mix of windows 7 and 8 and no problems with them.

 

Hi Rich A, Just checked a saved in MS Office document with url embedded and clicking on it it opened in browser. I'm using W8.1 Pro and FF as browser and don't have any problems.
Have you tried Mozilla Firefox? Neil.

 

Problem Solved!

Found the problem. It WAS malware. I can't believe I didn't find it first.

A lesson learned. Here's the cause.

I have a hot swap removable hard drive that I use a an archival disk. This disk has ISO's of every program and utility disk that I have bought. It also has an alphabetical listing of all programs and dates and serial numbers etc. I normally only put it in the computer when I've installed or added something (also has all drivers etc.)

About a month ago I was using it, and just forgot about it. Although I scan that disk when ever I put something new on it, the last time I used it I never removed it from the system and haven't needed to access it.

All my normal anti-malware scans etc. are set up to scan all my drives but NOT that hot-swap removable drive. And when I realized it hadn't been scanned and wasn't even being monitored I started a deep scan tonight just to check it out. (took a long time as it's a 1 terabyte drive)

Found several malware items ... including 2 Trojan viruses and couple other items whose infected files had to do with Windows system files that looked like they have something to do with the link problem.

Cleaned the malware - rebooted the computer and did a boot scan and then another scan of ALL drives ... Any my screwy link problem went away !! Everything is working normally again.

My lesson learned here (I'm embarrassed to admit) is I need to scan removable drives that I only use once in a while. Normally this drive doesn't stay in the PC and is only scanned when inserted and removed .. but is NOT in my daily "drives to scan or monitor.