Windows 7 forum: email links not opening browser

No, I have already tried right clicking and using that option, but it doesn't work. The trouble is I wanted to connect today to a link that did not give the web site address, just a box to click. when I held the mouse over it, the site was detailed at the bottom left of the screen, so I wrote it down, (as it couldn't be copied) then typed it into the browser, and despite me checking to make sure it was accurate, it would not connect, google came up to say it couldn't find the site.

I have tried everything recommended here and from an older Cnet request, but it still does not work. Updated Internet Explorer to v. 10 in case that had any influence on Firefox. Its a nightmare when links are hidden behind boxes, I was sent an email to verify something, but the Click in the email was in a coloured square. When I pointed at the square I could see the link in the bottom left hand of the screen, but it cannot be copies, so I wrote it out by hand, double checked it was accurate and then typed it into the browser but it would not activate. In the end I forwarded the email to my old computer and completed the verification there.

I installed Google Chrome, but it does not help. Any email with an link that is not fully shown, i.e. all letters and numbers and www. etc cannot be accessed at all. A box with 'Click' in it, just reveals the address at the bottom left hand corner of the screen, but the moment I move the mouse away from the box, the address disappears. I have tried writing it out carefully and equally carefully typing the link into the browser but it won't connect. I have had to forward my emails to another computer, for my friend to connect, and then email the www address back to me so I can access it, and that works. But very annoying for the time wasting. Can it be something wrong with Windows 7 ?

Since using Chrome (Windows 7) when I get an email notification that someone has replied to a post and click on the site included in the email to access the OP's reply, all I get is a page opening in Chrome with 'untitled' as the heading. My way around this is to right click on the link in the email > copy shortcut > open Chrome > paste and the site loads. Can anyone guide me to a fix for this annoying issue as I really like Chrome and do not want to change browsers.

If I have Chrome open and click on the OP's link in the email the link will load. My older laptop using XP and Chrome opens the links in the emails whether I have Chrome open or not! I have posted this request on other forums with no fix to the issue.This issue is not serious enough to create a new profile so I have not done that.Thank you,kind regards,
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After much research now the fix for the above issue

Finally found the answer to this issue.

As follows:

Start > All Programs > Expand Chrome > right click on Chrome.exe > Properties > Compatibility > enable "Run this program in compatibility mode" > In the drop down menu choose Windows 7 > apply > OK.

Mine was set on Windows XP but of course I am using Windows 7. You would need to choose whichever operating system you are using of course.

The reason I posted both my problem and the fix for it was I did not understand Learner7 last reply nor if it is the same problem that I once had.

kind regards,
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I tried all the Google Chrome stuff, but that didn't work.
I also tried Microsoft Community for help. And this came back today:

"When you click a hyperlink in Microsoft Outlook, you receive one of the following error messages, depending on your Outlook version
The operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator
Your organization's policies are preventing us from completing this action for you. For more info, please contact your help desk."
and then underneath
"To have us fix this problem for you, go to the "Fix it for me" section. If you prefer to fix this problem yourself, go to the "Let me fix it myself" section."

I can't do any of that, as the Fix it for me in blue and underlined are both hyperlinks, and if I send the email to my friend to access, she might end up with her computer fixed!! So there is obviously a solution for this, and hopefully someone knows what it is ? Also I am not using Outlook, but Thunderbird. In any case its immaterial as hyperlinks in ordinary documents don't work either. And also I do not receive any notifications from Cnet, so l keep checking with your web site, so it looks as though my computer may be blocking notifications too.

What is your setting for the default program to handle the http: protocol? That's the only thing that matters now you tell that links in documents don't work either.
Just in case you don't know how to answer the question, have a look at http://www.google.com/search?q=windows+7+default+program+protocol

Notifications from CNET are just e-mail. So whatever the reason that you don't receive them, it's totally unrelated.

Kees

I simply do not understand "setting for the default program.......http: protocol" means at all. I looked at some of the links, but its all way above me, I did not lay hands on a computer until I was nearly 60 and its been a struggle all the way. Now I am completely out of my depth, but you can't buy a new computer without some different operating system being put into it. It seems Windows 7 has beaten me into a corner, and I do not know what to do about it.

to take your laptop with you to a (repair) shop (or the shop where you bought) it and ask them to check it. They certainly understand what "can you check the default program for handling the http:-protocol" question, especially if you make a printout of this thread for them.

It may well be that the setting is OK and it still doesn't work. Then probably they'll suggest to do a 'restore to factory conditions'. If you can't do that yourself, they'll be glad to do it for you, but it won't be free.
Be sure you have a (backup) copy of everything you don't want to lose (on a USB-stick, an external hard disk or somewhere on web-storage, preferably 2 out of these three) and also be sure that you know how to put it back on your laptop if you get it back. Factory conditions means the laptop is exactly the same is it was when you bought it.

Best of luck,


Kees

I am sorry I just don't understand, what file extensions are about or what I need? I am really confused, I have read through the link, downloaded and copied the instructions into a document, and pasted and copied all the extensions, but I don't know what one, (or more?) to choose.
My computer is less than two weeks old, I phoned the suppliers, who put me through to Toshiba, who put me through to some other organisation that wanted to be paid to put it right! Surely its not unreasonable to expect the software on a new computer to operate properly ?

File extensions are the things after the last full stop in the filename you see if you turn off the default hiding of file types in the folder options. Like .doc for a Word document, and .jpg for a picture.

Surely it's reasonable to expect a 2 weeks old computer to work. But I doubt if it came with Thunderbird, so you have had 2 weeks to mess it up. And it's possible you did.

What I should do now is go back to factory conditions (the user manual should tell how) and immediately see if it works correctly if you type a link (like http://www.cnet.com) in a new Wordpad document and click on it (after checking that it works in Internet Explorer, of course). If it does, your problem (" hyperlinks in ordinary documents don't work") seems to be solved.
If that doesn't work it should be fixed under warranty, and if they don't do that you should return the machine. But my guess is that it will work.

Kees

Thanks so much for your patience. I have made IE10 the default browser, but the links don't come up in that either! But I will do as you say and start all over again. Now I see the reason for making the backup disks! Thank goodness I did that.

It seems a shame to start over when what is a common problem and a series of steps usually fixes it.

Then again, it could be something we don't know such as the PRIVACY SHIELD in some Antivirus that is blocking this.
Bob

I put disk 1 in of the recovery disks and it won't open even though I set disks to work automatically. And I don't know which of the folders/files to open, BIN, BOOT, PLANFOLDER, SOURCES, ZZimages, !v6_00-03.VRP, BOOTMGR, DATA, PLANDATA

But that does not look familiar to me. That appears to be a restore disc and usually we boot from such. But then again I missed the make and model so I can't look into this.

If you are having restore trouble, start a new post because it's a new topic and you want the best help.
Bob

Its a Toshiba Satellite Pro C850-1ER Intel Core i5-321OMPSCBXE

re: second reply, will try that too!

You put in disk 1 of the recovery disks and reboot. Then it should work. If not, go into the BIOS setup and check if the disk is set as the first boot device.

Kees