Weblinks in email messages don't open webpages

My desktop and laptop computers both have the latest nightlies (04-01-04) of Mozilla Firefox and Mozilla Thunderbird installed. Firefox is the default browser on both computers, and all settings, including the profiles for both programs, are the same on the two computers.

But, I have a problem that occurs only on the laptop, and it's been going on for some time.

When I click on a weblink in an email message, Firefox should open and go to the associated webpage. Instead, a message box flashes on the screen (but disappears so fast I can't tell what it says), and Firefox displays the page as a local file on the hard drive.

For example, if I click on a link that should bring me to this forum and display the URL:

• http://www.windowsbbs.com/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=5

I get, instead, a local file of the downloaded page, and the URL is displayed as:

• file:///C:/DOCUME~1/USERNAME/LOCALS~1/TEMP/forumdisplay.php.html

Given the possibility that the problem might be related to my Tbird profile, I created a new one, but the problem remains. I wouldn't mind so much, but all links on the local page are dead. The only work-around I've come up with is to copy the link from the email and paste it into the browser's address window.

Ideas anyone? This is driving me nuts.

 

Hi JSS3rd,

I don't have an answer for you, just some thoughts. I use mozilla 1.6 and so far everything works as it should. I havn't experimented with their newer programs because they say up front that they're beta. If I were you I'd switch to mozilla when you tire of cut/paste.

I also hope you'll let the mozilla team know that you have a problem. That's why the beta's are released. I can say from experience that programmers need all the help you can give them debugging works in progress. It always amazed me how users can find ways to break programs that would never occur to the programmers.

 

Hey Sparrow,

I'm not using Mozilla, as I have no need for a suite. Been there, done that with Communicator, Netscape 6.x, 7.x, and Mozilla.

I've been using Thunderbird and Phoenix/Firebird/Firefox for almost a year, now, with few problems. Despite being pre-beta, they're both rock-solid, and will be forces to be reckoned with when all the wrinkles are ironed out.

I posted on the Tbird forums before I posted here, but got absolutely no response, which is not unusual. The squeaky wheel may get the grease, but not there, and I think it's because the programs are open source, and there are too many folks involved. I know what you mean about feedback, though, as I beta-tested numerous programs on the Amiga ... the fewer programmers involved, the more likely I was to get a response.

I'm really looking for Ramona's input, but I want maximum feedback so I posted here, rather than than send her a private message.

 

Hi Jim,

Quite strange that only your laptop exhibits the problem. I did find that it has been reported as a bug, and still waiting to hear from the response team. See Bug Report 234311. I simply can't duplicate what is happening to you, as Thunderbird0.5 finds my default browser, Mozilla 1.7b, no problem.

There is a discussion on this bug HERE, that you will want to read.

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful. I can only suggest that you double check your settings in Firefox. Also check in Registered File Types to ensure Firefox is registered to handle URL:Hyper Text Transfer Protocol, etc. You might also check the Registry:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\HTTP\Shell\Open\ddeexec\<Application>

Ramona

 

Hi Ramona,

Thanks for the info. Even though Firefox is the default browser, it was not the registered program for the URL filetype; something called "Shell Doc Object and Control Library" was, but changing it to Firefox didn't fix the problem.

In the Registry, HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\HTTP\Shell\Open was as far as that key and subkeys went. I created a ddeexec key under Open, but am I correct in assuming that <Application> means my path to Firefox? In other words, should the complete set of keys be HKLM\SOFTWARE\Classes\HTTP\Shell\Open\ddeexec\D:\Internet\Firefox\firefox.exe?

I mentioned in my first post that a message box opened and closed so fast that I couldn't read it, but I was on a broadband connection at the time. I'm on dialup with the laptop for a week, and I managed to get a screenshot of it today. I don't know helpful it might be ... it's meaningless to me.

Edit: I tried every way I could think of the get the complete key to appear on a single line, but nothing I tried worked. Sorry 'bout that!

 

Have tried the following?

Code:

navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\http\shell\
open\command
(watch the wrap)

and edit (or create) the string value, which 
should be the path to firefox.

This should work, after you edit the path accordingly.
c:\program files\mozilla firefox\firefox.exe [b]-url  "%1 "[/b]
or
C:\PROGRA~1\MOZILL~1\FIREFOX.EXE [b]-url  "%1 "[/b]

Note the [b]-url  "%1 "[/b].  You may also have to edit https and ftp 
if they have the same problem.

The above should work on windows 2000, but I don't have thunderbird to test it.

good luck.

tranquilo

 

Hi Tranquilo,

By golly, you broke the code! Your fix works like a charm. I'll have to wait until next week to see if the Registry keys on my desktop computer are already set that way, but I'll post back to let you know.

Thanks!

 

tranquilo ...

I just checked the Registry keys on my desktop computer; http, https, and ftp were already set to the values you specified.

On my laptop, however, there were no keys whatsoever under ftp or https, and I had to add them.

Again, thanks for the info. It fixed a really annoying problem.

 

I seem to have a problem here. I have had the problem mentioned in a previous thread ( http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=31367&highlight=link+thunderbird ). In other words, when clicking on a "mail to" link, Tbird wouldn't open up or do anything. I applied the registry edit suggested, and now Tbird is doing just fine.

However, now when I click on an http link within T-bird, I don't get anything. And the suggested fix here in this thread, would wipe out the fix in the previous thread (that I linked to above), would it not? I.e., the solutions to both problems involve editing the same registry key, with a different value.

I can click on links on web pages and they open up just fine. But when I click on a link in an email, I get nothing. Do I have to pick my poison, and take one problem or the other, or is there a fix for both? Or have I simply misunderstood what is going on? That's always a definite possibility

 

Hi Paul,

Which Registry Fix did you apply? In the link you referenced, the final solution for IceWine, was merely to toggle the enable/disable several times for the Default Browser setting, and that's how she was able to get hers working.

Ramona

 

Hi Paul,

I never had the problem you seem to be referring to. Mine was that http links in Tbird were not opening the URL but, instead, were apparently copying the webpage to a local file and opening that.

A couple of things occur to me, though. Have you downloaded the latest versions of Tbird and Firefox (if that's what you're using as your browser)? Unfortunately, the sites are offline right now, and who knows when they'll come back up.

Try applying the registry key mentioned in this thread, editing the path as necessary:

c:\program files\mozilla firefox\firefox.exe -url "%1 "

(On my computer it's d:\internet\firefox\firefox.exe -url "%1 ")​

On Tbird's Tools > Options > General page make sure you have "Use Thunderbird as the default application..." for both Mail and News. If that doesn't solve things, uncheck them, close Tbird, reopen it, and recheck them. That seemed to fix the problem in the other thread.

Post back with the results. If my suggestions don't work, perhaps Ramona can provide some insight.

 

Hi Ramona,

The incoming message that you had posted to the thread crashed Tbird for me (my major complaint with the program), so I didn't see your post until after I posted mine. I was trying to combine the fixes in the two threads into a single workable (maybe) solution. We'll see ...

 

Jim,

Not a problem! I want to be certain which Registry fix Paul used, before going any further.

Thanks,

Ramona

 

Hi, Ramona. The registry fix I applied was the one you recommended:

Click on: Start | Run
Type: regedit
Check this Registry Key:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\http\shell\ope n\command
Is Mozilla Thunderbird shown there?
"C:\PROGRA~1\MOZILLA THUNDERBIRD\THUNDERBIRD.EXE -url "%1 "

I applied it and the problem was fixed (i.e., when I would click on a mail to link, T-bird would open up with the email address in a "compose" window).

 

Paul ...

Glad you solved your problem. Thanks for posting back.

 

Uhhh, no JSS3rd, it didn't solve the problem (despite my confusing language in my previous post, to the contrary). I was merely telling Ramona that her registry fix solved the problem of not getting T-bird to open up to the compose window. But the problem that I still have is that this fix has been keeping links within Tbird, from opening up when I click on them.

And my problem is that if I apply the registry fix that was posted at the beginning of this thread, then the old problem that I had (of getting a compose window opening up) will then rear its ugly head once more.

 

The Registry Key mention on this thread: http://www.windowsbbs.com/showthread.php?t=31367

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\http\shell\open\command
"C:\PROGRA~1\MOZILLA THUNDERBIRD\THUNDERBIRD.EXE -url "%1 "

Is the same Key as mentioned above, with the exception of changing Firefox to Thunderbird:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\http\shell\open\command
c:\program files\mozilla firefox\firefox.exe -url "%1 "

This is what your entire http Registry Key should contain:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\http]
"Source Filter "= "{E436EBB6-524F-11CE-9F53-0020AF0BA770} "
@= "URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol "
"EditFlags "=hex:02,00,00,00
"URL Protocol "=" "

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\http\Extensions]
".ASF "= "{6B6D0800-9ADA-11d0-A520-00A0D10129C0} "
".ASX "= "{4B428940-263C-11d1-A520-000000000000} "
".ASP "= "{4B428940-263C-11d1-A520-000000000000} "
".LSF "= "{6B6D0800-9ADA-11d0-A520-00A0D10129C0} "
".NSC "= "{4B428940-263C-11d1-A520-000000000000} "
".BECK "= "{6B6D0800-9ADA-11d0-A520-00A0D10129C0} "
".IVF "= "{C69E8F40-D5C8-11D0-A520-145405C10000} "
".RA "= "{32CB4536-2EB2-11d1-BD46-00C04FB6B4CA} "
".RM "= "{32CB4536-2EB2-11d1-BD46-00C04FB6B4CA} "
".WAX "= "{4B428940-263C-11d1-A520-000000000000} "
".WM "= "{6B6D0800-9ADA-11d0-A520-00A0D10129C0} "
".WMA "= "{6B6D0800-9ADA-11d0-A520-00A0D10129C0} "
".WVX "= "{4B428940-263C-11d1-A520-000000000000} "
".WMV "= "{6B6D0800-9ADA-11d0-A520-00A0D10129C0} "

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\http\AnimExtensions]
".ASF "= "dxmasf.dll,150 "
".ASX "= "dxmasf.dll,150 "
".ASP "= "dxmasf.dll,150 "
".LSF "= "dxmasf.dll,150 "
".NSC "= "dxmasf.dll,150 "
". "= "dxmasf.dll,150 "
".RA "= "dxmasf.dll,150 "
".RMM "= "dxmasf.dll,150 "
".RM "= "dxmasf.dll,150 "
".RAM "= "dxmasf.dll,150 "
".wax "= "dxmasf.dll,150 "
".wm "= "dxmasf.dll,150 "
".wma "= "dxmasf.dll,150 "
".wmv "= "dxmasf.dll,150 "
".wvx "= "dxmasf.dll,150 "
".wmx "= "dxmasf.dll,150 "

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\http\DefaultIcon]
@= "C:\\PROGRA~1\\MOZILLA.ORG\\MOZILLA\\MOZILLA.EXE,0 "

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\http\shell]
@=" "

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\http\shell\open]
"EditFlags "=hex:01,00,00,00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\http\shell\open\command]
@= "C:\\PROGRA~1\\MOZILLA.ORG\\MOZILLA\\MOZILLA.EXE -url \ "%1\" "

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\http\shell\open\ddeexec]
@= "\ "%1\ ",,-1,0,,,, "

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\http\shell\open\ddeexec\application]
@= "Mozilla "

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\CLASSES\http\shell\open\ddeexec\topic]
@= "WWW_OpenURL "

---------

Export your http Key to a temp. folder on your HD, and name it http.reg. Then, once saved, rename it http.txt. You'll get a Windows warning, but it will do no harm to rename the file. Compare it with this one and see if they are the same, of course changing Mozilla (which is my default) to Mozilla Thunderbird. I'm thinking that you may not have the ddeexec folder...

To export the Key:
Highlight the http folder
Click on File | Export
Select the folder where you want to save the Key
Name the file: http

BTW, I note that our BBS Software often adds spaces in the Registry Keys, e.g., Shell\Ope n\ddeexec\ and ddeexec\D:\I nternet\

I checked to see if they were typo's but they were not, so be aware, and remove the extra spaces.

Ramona

 

Ramona, thanks for your time. I'm not too sure at this point that anyone understands what I'm trying to say, so let me try to rephrase this.

I have already successfully applied the registry fix that allows Tbird to open up a "mail to" link, per your post in the other thread.

My problem is: the solution you have presented in this thread (29212) would wipe out the solution in the other thread, because it applies a new value to the same registry key. So wouldn't this fix simply be a case of my robbing Peter to pay Paul? Is there a way for me to both open up links within T-bird, with FF, and also, to open up mail to links with T-bird?

I'm thinking that I have misunderstood the issue here; or have I? I dunno.

 

Paul, what new value? The Keys are identical, at least I see no difference in them. Maybe I'm not seeing what you see. The Registry fix in this thread is the one in tranquilo's post...

Ramona

 

Pardon me for feeling like I'm in the twilight zone. Not trying to be difficult, just trying to clarify something here.

Ramona, let me quote you in an above post:
Compare it with this one and see if they are the same, of course changing Mozilla (which is my default) to Mozilla Thunderbird. It is this change that I am referring to.

Perhaps teh word "value" wasn't the best term for me to use, but if I understand things correctly, the solution for both problems (trying to get T-bird to open up a compose window, and trying to get FF to open up a link in T-bird) involves entering different values/instructions in the same registry key ( HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\http\shell\open\command ).

Again, not trying to be difficult, but isn't applying one fix going to eliminate the other, b/c I have to enter different information at this same registry key--one fix should be to enter a link to firefox, the other fix being to enter info about T-bird?