How do I make hyperlinks in messages work again

How do I make hyperlinks in messages work again?

If clicking a hyperlink in Outlook Express appears to do nothing at all, first verify that there is a properly installed default browser. It is recommended that you make Internet Explorer the default browser at least un= til the problem is resolved.

For Windows XP:

1.	Click Start, point to All Programs, and then click Set Program Access and Defaults.
2.	Click Custom, and then click on the arrow button to the right of screen to reveal all available Web browser options.
3.	Under Choose a default Web browser, click Internet Explorer<= /b>, and then click OK.

For other Windows versions:

•	Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
•	Double-click the Internet or Internet Options icon, and = then click Programs.
•	Make sure that the Internet Explorer should check to see if it is t= he default check box is selected, click Apply, and then click = OK.
•	Open Internet Explorer, and then click Yes when you receive the following prompt: "Internet Explorer is not currently your default browser. Do you = wish to make it the default?"

If hyperlinks are still not working, it's likely one or more registered = file associations are configured incorrectly. To repair the associations:

1.	Click Start, click My Computer, and then click Folder Options on the Tools menu.
2.	Click the File Types tab.
3.	Select URL:Hypertext Transfer Protocol in the list of registered file types.
4.	Click the Advanced button (Windows XP), or the Edit butt= on (other versions).
5.	In the list of Actions, select open and then click the <= b>Edit button.
6.	The Application used to perform action box should contain this, including quotation marks: "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe" -nohome If instead it contains a short name version of that path, or an incorr= ect path, change it to the above. Click OK.
7.	Repeat steps 3-7 for the file type URL:Hypertext Transfer Protocol = with Privacy.
8.	Click OK to close the Folder Options window. Check the file type association settings if hype= rlinks stop working. http://support.microsof= t.com/kb/q177054/ http://www.microsoft.com/windows/IE/community/columns/OEtopten.mspx=

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SYMPTOMS

Whe= n you double-click an Internet shortcut in a Microsoft Outlook Express e-mail message, your Web browser may not start or may not connect to the Web page.=

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CAUSE

Thi= s issue may occur if any of the following conditions is true:

•	Microsoft Internet Explorer is not currently your de= fault Internet browser, and the browser that was the default browser is no long= er installed.
•	A short file name (standard 8.3 naming) is used for = the program name that is associated with Internet shortcuts.

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RESOLUTION

To = resolve this issue, use one of the following methods depending on the cause. <= /o:p>

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Set Internet Explorer as the default browser

To = set Internet Explorer to be the default Internet Browser, follow these steps: <= o:p>

1.	Click Start, point to Setti= ngs, and then click Control Panel.
2.	Double-click the Internet or Internet Options icon, and then click Programs.
3.	Make sure that the Internet Explorer should = check to see if it is the default check box is selected, click Apply, and then click OK.
4.	Open Internet Explorer, and then click Yes when you receive the following prompt: Internet Explorer is not currently your default brow= ser. Do you wish to make it the default?

Lin= ks in e-mail messages should then open Internet Explorer.

Outlook Express 5 only

= Note: This section does not apply = to Microsoft Windows 2000. This issue is also resolved for Outlook Express 5 by using the Microsoft Internet Explorer 5 Repair utility. To run the Internet Explorer 5 Repair utility, follow these steps:

1.	Click Start, point to Setti= ngs, click Control Panel, and then double-click Add/R= emove Programs.
2.	In the list of installed programs, double-click Internet Explorer 5 and Internet Tools.
3.	Click Repair Internet Explorer.
4.	When the repair is completed, restart the computer.<= /p>

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Correct your file association

To = resolve the second issue, you must correct your file association. To do this, change the name of the program that is associated with Internet shortcuts to the l= ong file name of your Web browser. Follow the steps for your operating system. =

Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows 98 Se= cond Edition, and Windows NT

Click Start, point to Progr= ams, and then click either Windows Explorer or Window= s NT Explorer.

Click View, click Folder Op= tions, and then click File Types.

In the Registered File Types box, c= lick URL:File Transfer Protocol, and then click Edit.

In the Actions box, click O= pen, and then click Edit.

The Application Used To Perform Action box may display the path to your Web browser as a short file name. Type t= he path to your Web browser by using the full file name. For example, the following path may appear in the Application Used To Perform Acti= on box.

c:\progra~1\intern~1\iexplore.exe

Change the path to the following path:

"c:\program files\inter= net explorer\iexplore.exe" (including the quotation marks).

Click OK, and then click Cl= ose.

Repeat steps 3-6 for the following registered file t= ypes:

•	URL:Gopher Protocol
•	URL:Hypertext Transfer Protocol
•	URL:Hypertext Transfer protocol with Privacy

Click Close.

= Note If you follow these steps, yo= u may receive the following prompt when Internet Explorer starts:

Int= ernet Explorer is not currently your default browser. Would you like to make it y= our default browser?

Mak= e sure that the Internet Explorer should= check to see if it is the default browser check box is not select= ed under Internet Options, or the issue may occur again.

If you click = Yes, the issue may occur again.

Windows 2000

1.

Click Start, point to Progr= ams, point to Accessories, and then click Windows Explorer.

2.

Click Tools, click Folder O= ptions, and then click File Types.

3.

In the Registered File Types box, c= lick URL:File Transfer Protocol, and then click Advanced.

4.

In the Actions box, click O= pen, and then click Advanced.

5.

The Application Used To Perform Action box may display the path to your Web browser as a short file name or as an incorrect path. Type the path to your Web browser with the full file name. For example, the following path may appear in the Application Use= d To Perform Action box.

c:\progra~1\intern~1\iexplore.exe

Change the path to the following path:

"c:\program files\inter= net explorer\iexplore.exe" (including the quotation marks).

6.

Click OK, and then click Cl= ose.

7.

Repeat steps 3-6 for the following registered file t= ypes:

•

URL:Gopher Protocol

•

URL:Hypertext Transfer Protocol

•

URL:Hypertext Transfer protocol with Privacy

•

URL:Internet Shortcut

8.

Click Close.

= Note If you follow these steps, yo= u may receive the following prompt when Internet Explorer starts:

Int= ernet Explorer is not currently your default browser. Would you like to make it y= our default browser?

Mak= e sure that the Internet Explorer should= check to see if it is the default browser check box is not select= ed under Internet Options, or the issue may occur again.

If you click = Yes, the issue may occur again.