Links Recieved in e-mail do not work, worked before

[RavenStrike]

Recently when I get an email containing a link to a web page, it will not
work. This just started about two weeks ago. I am using Outlook 2000, Windows
XP (SP2). I can paste the link, but some emails use buttons, or text address.

 

[Brian Tillman]

Recently when I get an email containing a link to a web page, it will
not work. This just started about two weeks ago. I am using Outlook
2000, Windows XP (SP2). I can paste the link, but some emails use
buttons, or text address.

Try this: In IE, click Tools>Internet Options>Programs>Reset Web Settings

 

[Ravenstrike]

Thank you, Brian. That solved the problem. Idon't know how it got changed,
but it's OK now.

 

[Kelleybear1361]

Thanks Brian this helped me tremendously. Your Great.
Kelley

 

[Grateful]

IT REALLY WORKS! Thanks, Brian. I have been looking for over an hour on the
Dell and Microsoft "helpful" sites before I came upon this.

 

[Brian Tillman]

IT REALLY WORKS! Thanks, Brian.

That's great. You're welcome.

 

[Ladywyzord]

Mr. Tillman,

When we try to click a link in an email message a window opens to save
the link as an executable file. We tried the internet options thing and it
didnt work.

 

[Brian Tillman]

When we try to click a link in an email message a window opens to
save the link as an executable file.

What I suspect your seeing is Windows asking you for the location of yout
browser executable, not asking you to save the link. Browse to your
Internet browser executable in that dialogue.

 

[Ken]

I know this is nearly a year latter but the thread is relevant to me today.

A few days ago I loaded Avast 4.7, it loaded up OK and my computer rebooted.
It went into, or I elected for, a system scan prior to XP opening. During
this process Avast found this, Win32:dialer-669 (Trj), the infected file was
at C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\BTOW Shared Files\btwebcontrol.dll –
Avast asked me what I wanted to do and I elected for option 1 (delete).

Avast continued and it found another occurrence of Win32:dialer-669 (Trj),
and I was asked again what to do, this time I elected for Repair, Avast
couldn’t fix it so it asked me what to do again - but, I selected the repair
option and then started to write down the infected file path, and the second
list of options scrolled up the page and before I could note the file path,
it started C:\System..... but that's all I got.

Avast completed the installation and all seemed well.

I use Outlook, from Office 2000, and when it opened up I got an error
message, so I re-installed/fixed Office 2000 from disc and the error message
problem was sorted. The only problem is this; I am now unable to open up
links contained in e-mails.

I've reset my web setings but no change - I'm assuming that the system file
I deleted is causing my problem so all I need to do is replace it, but I
don't know what is missing - can anyone help me?

Thanks for reading this, even if you can't help me.

PS I have discovered that if I forward the email from my inbox, when the fwd
e-mail window opens the links then work OK, an error message opens up but it
gives no clues as to the cause, its just a message sayin there was a fault.

 

[Roady [MVP]]

You've omitted some key information;
What happens when you click on the link?
Is the same true for newly received e-mails?
What is the exact error message when you click on a hyperlink in your own
forwarded message?
What built number of Outlook 2000 are you using? Help-> About
What version of Internet Explorer are you using?

In addition I recommend running an anti-spyware scan as well like Windows
Defender.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----
I know this is nearly a year latter but the thread is relevant to me today.

A few days ago I loaded Avast 4.7, it loaded up OK and my computer rebooted.
It went into, or I elected for, a system scan prior to XP opening. During
this process Avast found this, Win32:dialer-669 (Trj), the infected file was
at C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\BTOW Shared Files\btwebcontrol.dll -
Avast asked me what I wanted to do and I elected for option 1 (delete).

Avast continued and it found another occurrence of Win32:dialer-669 (Trj),
and I was asked again what to do, this time I elected for Repair, Avast
couldn't fix it so it asked me what to do again - but, I selected the repair
option and then started to write down the infected file path, and the second
list of options scrolled up the page and before I could note the file path,
it started C:\System..... but that's all I got.

Avast completed the installation and all seemed well.

I use Outlook, from Office 2000, and when it opened up I got an error
message, so I re-installed/fixed Office 2000 from disc and the error message
problem was sorted. The only problem is this; I am now unable to open up
links contained in e-mails.

I've reset my web setings but no change - I'm assuming that the system file
I deleted is causing my problem so all I need to do is replace it, but I
don't know what is missing - can anyone help me?

Thanks for reading this, even if you can't help me.

PS I have discovered that if I forward the email from my inbox, when the fwd
e-mail window opens the links then work OK, an error message opens up but it
gives no clues as to the cause, its just a message sayin there was a fault.

 

[Roady [MVP]]

-----Please don't post in all CAPS as it is very hard to read-----

Do other applications also have difficulty with launching hyperlinks?
Does Avast integrate with Outlook? If so disable this integration and try
again.
Do things work correctly when you uninstall Avast? Additionally you could
try a system restore to the date before you installed Avast.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----
see answers below: -

You've omitted some key information;
What happens when you click on the link? IT' AS IF THE LINK IS OPENING, I
CAN SEE MY COMPUTER DOING SOME WORK. BUT THE WINDOW DOESN'T APPEAR ON THE
SCREEN
Is the same true for newly received e-mails? YES
What is the exact error message when you click on a hyperlink in your own
forwarded message? AFTER THE LINK HAS CONNECTED AND THE WINDOW OPENS, THE
TAB ON MY TASK BAR FLASHES ORANGE AND WHEN I REVERT TO THE FORWARDED EMAIL
BLANK THE ERROR/ALERT BOX IS THERE - ALL IT SAYS IS "AN UNEXPECTED ERROR
HAS OCCURRED" THE ONLY OPTION IS OK
What built number of Outlook 2000 are you using? Help-> About SP-3
(9.0.0.6627)
What version of Internet Explorer are you
using?V6.0.290.2180.XPSP-SP2-GDR.050301-1519IS

In addition I recommend running an anti-spyware scan as well like Windows
Defender. I USE DEFENDER, ZONE ALARM (FIREWALL) AND AVAST; AND I HAVE
SPYBOT, CCLEANER & AD-AWARE - ALL OF WHICH HAVE BEEN RUN SINCE THIS
PROBLEM AROSE. I HAVE BEEN USING NORTON ANTIVIRUS 2003 AND WEBROOT
SPYSWEEPER UNTIL RECENTLY. SPYSWEEPER WAS REMOVED AS IT WAS HAVING A
CONFLICT AFTER AN MS CRITICAL PATCH WAS INSTALLED, SPYSWEEPER WAS SLOWING
DOWN MY COMPUTER QUITE DRAMATICALLY, HENCE ZONE ALARM, AND NORTON DECIDED
TO STOP WORKING HENCE AVAST, AND THIS IS WHEN I NOTICED THIS PROBLEM

NB I CAN'T SEE THIS DISCUSSION ON MY COMPUTER - I CAN GET TO IT BUT CAN'T
READ ANY NARRATIVE, SO i'M DOING THIS FROM ANOTHER MACHINE.

THANKS FOR RESPONDING AND I HOPE THIS MAKES SENSE

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----
I know this is nearly a year latter but the thread is relevant to me
today.

A few days ago I loaded Avast 4.7, it loaded up OK and my computer
rebooted.
It went into, or I elected for, a system scan prior to XP opening. During
this process Avast found this, Win32:dialer-669 (Trj), the infected file
was
at C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\BTOW Shared Files\btwebcontrol.dll -
Avast asked me what I wanted to do and I elected for option 1 (delete).

Avast continued and it found another occurrence of Win32:dialer-669 (Trj),
and I was asked again what to do, this time I elected for Repair, Avast
couldn't fix it so it asked me what to do again - but, I selected the
repair
option and then started to write down the infected file path, and the
second
list of options scrolled up the page and before I could note the file
path,
it started C:\System..... but that's all I got.

Avast completed the installation and all seemed well.

I use Outlook, from Office 2000, and when it opened up I got an error
message, so I re-installed/fixed Office 2000 from disc and the error
message
problem was sorted. The only problem is this; I am now unable to open up
links contained in e-mails.

I've reset my web setings but no change - I'm assuming that the system
file
I deleted is causing my problem so all I need to do is replace it, but I
don't know what is missing - can anyone help me?

Thanks for reading this, even if you can't help me.

PS I have discovered that if I forward the email from my inbox, when the
fwd
e-mail window opens the links then work OK, an error message opens up but
it
gives no clues as to the cause, its just a message sayin there was a
fault.

 

[Timmy]

I had the same problem after I created a new email address with a new
service. I set it up to forward my old address and all the forwarded mails
did not work with hyperlinks. Any email sent directly to the new address
worked fine.

 

[Neville]

Thanks Brian

Your tip found today 10 May 2007. I had this problem as of yesterday after
upgrading from Outlook 2000 to 2003 but nowhere in Microsoft help is the
possible problem even listed, let alone answered

 

[DesparateDave]

In my Outlook 2007 on my Vista desktop, links in email messages have stopped
working. An error message says, "This operation has been canceled due to
restrictions in effect on this computer." I've installed and uninstalled
Firefox and Chrome, system recovered, run repair, renewed a registry, and
tried other fixes, all without success. All I can do now is copy a link in a
message and paste it into a browser. Any suggestions for me?

 

[DesparateDave]

Brian, I tried this, but it doesn't work on my machine. There is no reset on
the IE Programs page so I used on on the Advanced page. In my Outlook 2007 on
my Vista desktop, links in email messages have stopped
working. An error message says, "This operation has been canceled due to
restrictions in effect on this computer." I've installed and uninstalled
Firefox and Chrome, system recovered, run repair, renewed a registry, and
tried other fixes, all without success. All I can do now is copy a link in a
message and paste it into a browser. Any suggestions for me?

 

[Brian Tillman [MVP - Outlook]]

Brian, I tried this, but it doesn't work on my machine.

That's because Vista uses IE7 and the reset button is on the Advanced tab,
not the Programs tab.

 

[Will]

I have the same problem. When I click on the web address link in the email,
it opens up a window to save the link as an executable file. I read your
solution, but wasn't sure on how to fix the problem.

 

[Diane Poremsky [MVP]]

you need to reset web settings in IE's tools, internet options, advanced
dialog.

--
Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]



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[Pathdoc]

I have an identical problem.
I tried the suggestion given, but no fix it.

 

[Richard Ong]

Thanks. I thought that was the key to my problem but it appears to be only
part of a solutions. I have Outlook 2003 running under Windows 7 and after
(1) repairing corrupted contact file, (2) removing two Personal Folders (dups
of main personal folder), (3) copying files from Outlook folder from
"location 1" to "location 2" on hard drive, and (4) repairing and
reinstalling Office 2003 files thru "Add remove programs,: I began to get
that dialog box when I clicked on a link in incoming mail message. File type
specified in the dialog box (forget title but something to do with "link")
was indeed executable and I found and linked to executable for Firefox per
your suggestion.

Result was nothing happened. The dialog box ceased to open but clicking on
the link resulted in no tab opening or web site loading in Firefox.
QUESTION: How can I make embedded hyperlinks fire as before?