default email client problems

[karid]

For the second day, I have been unable to send email via a "mailto" link in
any programme (have tried web links, outlook 2003, excel and word so far),
and every time I attempt this, I get an error message saying something about
default email client not being properly installed, and then, instantly I get
64 IE windows one after the other, some of which are blank and some of which
say "action cancelled". Our IT technician has had a look for me, and thinks
this may be spyware or virus, but I have scanned (Sophos and Ad-aware)
endlessly with no joy. Our system migrated to Outlook 2003 (I was running
2002) as our mail client over the weekend, but I think this problem is
coincidental, as it happened the day before the migration started, and it
doesn't happen on other computers in the system which have had an identical
upgrade.

I've checked the settings in internet tools, and Microsoft Office Outlook is
definitely set as the default email client. We have even uninstalled Outlook
and re-installed, but to no avail. IE is not my default browser in any case -
I use Firefox.

Any advice would be most welcome!!

 

[Brian Tillman]

Our IT technician has had a look for me, and thinks this
may be spyware or virus

Your computer technician is clueless.

I've checked the settings in internet tools, and Microsoft Office
Outlook is definitely set as the default email client. We have even
uninstalled Outlook and re-installed, but to no avail. IE is not my
default browser in any case - I use Firefox.

Any advice would be most welcome!!

Were this happening to me, I'd user Control Panel's Folder Options applet to
correct the "URL:MailTo Protocol" file type.

 

[karid]

Thanks Brian!! This sounds promising, but I cannot find "URL:mailto protocol"
in the Folder Options, nor is it in the drop-down list of other file types to
add. Any other ideas where it might be?

Cheers

Kari

 

[karid]

Brian, you were absolutely right!!! When I couldn't find "URL:mailto
protocol" in my Folder Options, I tried googling it, and within minutes found
a thread on another site about similar problems, downloaded a simple registry
key, and it is working perfectly again! You were right, our IT technician was
clueless!

Thanks so much - your tip set me off on the trail to the solution!

Kari

 

[Brian Tillman]

Thanks Brian!! This sounds promising, but I cannot find "URL:mailto
protocol" in the Folder Options, nor is it in the drop-down list of
other file types to add. Any other ideas where it might be?

Do you see any file types that start with URL? They should be near the top
of the list in the "Registered file types" pane and near the bottom of the
"Associated File Type" drop-down on the Advanced dialogue of the New button.

You can also create a .reg file, put the following in it, and import it into
the registry. This is for a Windows XP system with Outlook 2003 installed.
Naturally, the paths to the Outlook executable must match YOUR PC, not mine.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto]
"EditFlags"=hex:02,00,00,00
"URL Protocol"=""
@="URL:MailTo Protocol"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto\DefaultIcon]
@="\"C:\\PROGRA~1\\MICROS~2\\OFFICE11\\OUTLOOK.EXE\",7"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto\shell]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto\shell\open]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto\shell\open\command]
@="\"C:\\PROGRA~1\\MICROS~2\\OFFICE11\\OUTLOOK.EXE\" -c IPM.Note /m \"%1\""

 

[LindaPM]

Brian,
I have the exact same problem as Karid but don't know how to import a file
into the registry. I'm also having trouble using the Office Repair function
(it requests the original cd and then says I'm missing the ZV561047.CAB file)
so I don't think I can uninstall and reinstall Outlook 2003. Thank you VERY
much for your advice.
Linda

Thanks Brian!! This sounds promising, but I cannot find "URL:mailto
protocol" in the Folder Options, nor is it in the drop-down list of
other file types to add. Any other ideas where it might be?

Do you see any file types that start with URL? They should be near the top
of the list in the "Registered file types" pane and near the bottom of the
"Associated File Type" drop-down on the Advanced dialogue of the New button.

You can also create a .reg file, put the following in it, and import it into
the registry. This is for a Windows XP system with Outlook 2003 installed.
Naturally, the paths to the Outlook executable must match YOUR PC, not mine.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto]
"EditFlags"=hex:02,00,00,00
"URL Protocol"=""
@="URL:MailTo Protocol"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto\DefaultIcon]
@="\"C:\\PROGRA~1\\MICROS~2\\OFFICE11\\OUTLOOK.EXE\",7"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto\shell]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto\shell\open]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto\shell\open\command]
@="\"C:\\PROGRA~1\\MICROS~2\\OFFICE11\\OUTLOOK.EXE\" -c IPM.Note /m \"%1\""

 

[Soapy]

Hi Karid:

If you are having trouble with Mailto:, I found this fix and it worked
IMMEDIATELY. Hope this helps anyone else with the same problem. I am
including this fix because I have not seen it here, and it’s much better than
messing with the registry. Here’s where to get more info:

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/MailtoProtocol.htm

When you click on a mailto: URL in Internet Explorer, multiple instances of
Internet Explorer opens (more than 60 windows) with the error Action
Cancelled and the mail client is not invoked. You may also see the following
error:

Could not perform this operation because the default mail client is not
properly installed

CAUSE:
The problem happens due to one of these reasons:

1. Mailto handler is not correctly set.
2. Missing URL Protocol registry value.
3. Incorrect registry permissions for the mailto key.

RESOLUTION:
ToSet the default E-mail client

Instructions for Windows XP:

1. Click Start, Run and type control inetcpl.cpl
2. Select the Programs tab
3. From the E-mail dropdown list, choose another mail client and click Apply
4. Redo the procedure and set your preferred email client again and click
Apply

Instructions for Windows Vista:

1. Click Start, select Default Programs
2. Click Set program access and computer defaults
3. Click Custom, and select your mail client (for example, Windows Mail)
4. Click OK