Hyperlinks Not Working in Outlook Express

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45 Responses

  1. Daniel says:

    I have had a problem for a long time where outlook was unable to open hyperlinks — it would always ask you for what to open it with polluting the registry with a number of strange extensions (from the end of the url). I dealt with it until a link had .exe on the end (it was an internal download link) which then caused windows to forget what to do with .exe files.

    First thing to do is Setting Internet Explorer as your default browser:

    1. Open Internet Explorer
    2. Click on Tools menu
    3. Select Internet Options -> Programs
    4. Click on button Make Default

    Citrix had a similar issue and had the magic register key set after resetting the browser associations,…

    Copy this to a .reg file and import it to complete the association.
    ……
    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\htmlfile\shell\open\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files\\Internet Explorer\\iexplore.exe\” -nohome”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\htmlfile\shell\opennew\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files\\Internet Explorer\\iexplore.exe\” %1″

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\http\shell\open\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files\\Internet Explorer\\iexplore.exe\” -nohome”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\https\shell\open\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files\\Internet Explorer\\iexplore.exe\” -nohome”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\IE.HTTP\shell\open\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files\\Internet Explorer\\iexplore.exe\” -nohome”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\IE.HTTPS\shell\open\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files\\Internet Explorer\\iexplore.exe\” -nohome”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mms\shell\open\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files\\Internet Explorer\\iexplore.exe\” -nohome”
    “MPlayer2.BAK”=”\”C:\\Program Files\\Internet Explorer\\iexplore.exe\” -nohome”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\pnm\shell\open\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files\\Internet Explorer\\iexplore.exe\” -nohome”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\rtsp\shell\open\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files\\Internet Explorer\\iexplore.exe\” -nohome”

    [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\rtspu\shell\open\command]
    @=”\”C:\\Program Files\\Internet Explorer\\iexplore.exe\” -nohome”

  2. Mr unknown says:

    Thanks for your help step one worked.

  3. you have support all in very helpful way.

    thanks a lot.

    Mahender Nath

  4. Steve says:

    Follow up to previous message: as the website comes up in response to clicking on the hyperlink in OE, a formal message pops up : Internet Explorer is not your default browser, do you want …. YES or NO. If I select YES, then the next attempt to click on a hyperlink does not work again, and I find that same old path [“C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe” “C:\WINDOWS\system32\ieframe.dll”,OpenURL %l] has been replaced in the Application window (your step 13). Changing it back to your version corrects things again. When now I select NO in the default window, and try again things work fine, and continue to work fine.

    Can you explain this weird behavior?

  5. Steve says:

    In your step 13 I found this in mine: “C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe” “C:\WINDOWS\system32\ieframe.dll”,OpenURL %l, and proceeded to replace it with your version. IT WORKED!!

    Thank you so much.

  6. Dr. Morse says:

    My office system runs off of Firefox, which is my default browser. My hpyerlinks had been opening fine until recently, now my 3-mail hyperlinks don’t do anything. I read you suggestions but I was wondering how I fix it with Firefox.
    Help me if you can.

  7. Don says:

    Attempt both ways from your web site without results. When clicking on a HyperLink in Microsoft Office Outlook 2007 the below message comes up.
    “This operation has been canceled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator (That is me!).
    Able to copy Hyperlink from Outlook and paste it in IE-8 but is a pain in you now were!
    Any suggestion would be very well appreciated.
    Sincerely
    Don

  8. Kyle says:

    @Fritz – Probably related to the auto format options.
    Try: Tools menu -> Options -> Click Mail Format tab -> click Editor Options button -> click Proofing in left-hand side pane -> click AutoCorrect Options button -> click the AutoFormat tab.
    Now finally make sure the Internet and network paths with hyperlinks check box in the Replace section is enabled.

  9. Fritz says:

    I’m having a related issue wherein I type (or paste) a website into Outlook, but then it’s not automatically hyperlinked. So, for example, I used to be able to type into an email https://www.pcauthorities.com, press space/enter and it’d be linked automatically. No more. Can’t figure out what went wrong. Any idea how to restore?

    Thanks!

  10. Kyle says:

    @Henry – From your description it seems like you might have a virus, spyware or adware installed. This could explain how things get corrupted every time. Try scanning your system with anti-virus software and something like Ad-AWare from lavasoft.

  11. Henry says:

    Thanks Kyle for the fix. BUT—the problem keeps recurring! I have to apply the fix regularly (daily, or sometime more often). What is causing this setting to be reset? Is there a fix to end the problem, not just correct the symptom? Each time the problem occurs, I have clicked on a link in Outlook Express and a window has opened (presumably in IE) with an annoying sales pitch most recently from mediajmp.com or grantadvisorusa.com. I have popup manager set on Medium in IE.

  12. Kyle says:

    @Terry Wilson – “not working on sites”? The tip has nothing to do with links in browsers, but with links in Outlook Express.
    Are you certain that your security software is not blocking some links?
    And check what the difference is between the links that work and those that do not, there will be some difference (check the page source).

  13. Terry Wilson says:

    I have followed your instructions to the letter and I still have the same hyperlinks not working on sites that I use although others work perfectly. Any more suggestions? I am beginning to lose it !!!

  14. Chad says:

    Cheryl (above) asked you

    xxxxxx
    “I’ve tried everything above – in step 13 my application setting says:
    “C:\WINDOWS\system32\rundll32.exe” “C:\WINDOWS\system32\ieframe.dll”,OpenURL %l
    which, while containing part of what you show in your example, is considerably longer. Is my setting correct or should I shorten it to what you have?”
    xxxxxx

    I have exactly the same problem but did not see your answer to her about the shortened command rundll32.exe ieframe.dll,OpenURL %I

    Before I mess around I just want to confirm the switch to the “Reader’s Digest version.

  15. BOB says:

    Kyle —- I have tryed everything to fix this problem.
    Who would have thought all I needed to do was find someone smarter than myself.
    Your the “GREATEST ” .
    THANK YOU SO MUCH !!!!!!!

  16. Kyle says:

    @Lauri – What do you mean by “changes to …. are not saved”? Do the settings described in the article get saved?
    One other option would be the antivirus software, but that is a rare cause for this not to work. Are you getting any error or information message?

  17. Lauri says:

    Kyle – I am admin on my computer but changes to web browser to IE and externsion URL are not saved. I do have the advanced settings in file type reg but the hyperlinks in Outlook Express do not work. Now what?
    Thanks-
    Lauri

  18. Joe the Bass Man says:

    You da’ man Kyle….That worked!!!…..Great tip!..That last screenie was my fix.

  19. Kyle, thank you and the availability of this excellent web site for the fix of my, “hyperlinks not working in outlook express” problem. Works great. One comment on the instructions is that the “Folder Options…” does not appear in the tools menu in Windows Explorer but in “My Computer”. I’m not that computer knowlegable so I follow directions specificly and some may be left lost as what to do. “All’s well that ends well”. Thanks again. Rich

  20. Kyle says:

    @Cheryl – Glad it works (at least partially) for you.

    @Keith – Thanks for you clarifying comments.

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