desktop shortcuts/Outlook email links, don't work; XP says "Can't

G

Guest

My system runs XP Professional WITH SP1, but NOT SP2 updates. My browser is
IE 6.0.2800.1106.xpsp1.020828.

Problem: when I click on a desktop shortcut, Windows gives me an error
message that says it Can't Find the url, and then a blank IE window opens
with the address box blank, as well.

The first remedy I tried was running the command, sfc/scannow, which then
asks for my XP Prof install disk and hunts for missing/corrupt files (I got
this advice from
www.homecomputerrepaironline.com/geektips/index.cfm?id=66&geek_cat=3). This
didn't fix the problem.

Next I tried a similar fix of IE by running the command: rundll32.exe
setupapi,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 132 %windir%\Inf\ie.inf (I got
this advice from http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_ie_reinstall.htm). This
also did not repair the problem.

Next I did a reinstall of the IE 6.0 SP1 program, hoping this would correct
things. This didn't work, either.

As a last resort, and I don't know if this is related or not, but in the
Start Menu when I click on Help & Support, nothing happens, no window opens
and I'm not given that page where I can choose from all sorts of Windows
internal help options.

My idea was to do a restore back to 3 days prior when links and shortcuts
were working fine. I finally went to Start Menu/Programs/Accessories/System
Tools to get the Restore function and then did a restore to 3 days back, 1
week back and 2 weeks back. Each time the system took about 20-30 minutes to
perform the restore function, and each time it finished by telling me that it
had made NO CHANGES to the system. Why is that????

In any case, I still have my original problem, the desktop shortcuts don't
work. Nor do any of the links in emails in Outlook.

Any help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated, I'm just a wee bit
frustrated! I'm not a total newbie, and I did what things I imagined and/or
was told would help, and I'm still with the same problem.

Thank you.
 
M

MAP

Ms said:
My system runs XP Professional WITH SP1, but NOT SP2 updates. My
browser is IE 6.0.2800.1106.xpsp1.020828.

Problem: when I click on a desktop shortcut, Windows gives me an error
message that says it Can't Find the url, and then a blank IE window
opens with the address box blank, as well.

The first remedy I tried was running the command, sfc/scannow, which
then asks for my XP Prof install disk and hunts for missing/corrupt
files (I got this advice from
www.homecomputerrepaironline.com/geektips/index.cfm?id=66&geek_cat=3).
This didn't fix the problem.

Next I tried a similar fix of IE by running the command: rundll32.exe
setupapi,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 132 %windir%\Inf\ie.inf (I
got this advice from
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_ie_reinstall.htm). This also did
not repair the problem.

Next I did a reinstall of the IE 6.0 SP1 program, hoping this would
correct things. This didn't work, either.

As a last resort, and I don't know if this is related or not, but in
the Start Menu when I click on Help & Support, nothing happens, no
window opens and I'm not given that page where I can choose from all
sorts of Windows internal help options.

My idea was to do a restore back to 3 days prior when links and
shortcuts were working fine. I finally went to Start
Menu/Programs/Accessories/System Tools to get the Restore function
and then did a restore to 3 days back, 1 week back and 2 weeks back.
Each time the system took about 20-30 minutes to perform the restore
function, and each time it finished by telling me that it had made NO
CHANGES to the system. Why is that????

In any case, I still have my original problem, the desktop shortcuts
don't work. Nor do any of the links in emails in Outlook.

Any help and suggestions would be greatly appreciated, I'm just a wee
bit frustrated! I'm not a total newbie, and I did what things I
imagined and/or was told would help, and I'm still with the same
problem.

Thank you.
Click to expand...


http://windowsxp.mvps.org/IEFIX.htm
 
G

Guest

Dear Mike,
I was SOOO hopeful this nifty IE fix you sent, would work. But, it did not.
I still get the error message of Cannot Find www.... when I click a desktop
shortcut, but now, instead of a blank IE page popping up, I get my home page
of Google come up.

After finding the IEFix to not have worked, I redid that scan for XP
(sfc/scannow) and also did a rescan of the IE repair command. With each step
I also rebooted just be sure it all took. But I'm in the same problem I
started out with.


On a side note, when I copy a shortcut url and plug it into my taskbar
google window on the bottom of my desktop (same line as the Start button),
the Google doesn't work now, either. I paste the url into the little window
and prior to the iefix.exe, I could click on the icon and this managed to get
me into IE and the page I was wanting to go to. Now it doesn't work. The url
gets pasted, but the icon to make it go to the webpage, does nothing.

Yikes, what do I do NOW???
 
R

Ramesh, MS-MVP

Hi Ms Max,

To set Internet Explorer as the default (this repairs the file association
settings as well), try this:

For XP SP1 and above:

From Control Panel, open Add/Remove Programs applet, and choose Set Program
Access and Defaults button. Click the Custom button once. From the list that
appears, select Internet Explorer and then click the OK button.

For Windows XP with or without an SP, you may try this REG file:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/reg/IE_Default_Browser.reg

NOTE: The Programs Files path is set for C:\, in the REG file. If you have
Windows installed in a different drive, alter the drive-letter and Path in
the REG file, using a text editor like Notepad.

--
Ramesh, MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User

Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com
http://windowsxp.mvps.org

Windows XP Newsgroup Setup Instructions for Outlook Express:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/newsgroupsetup.mspx
 
G

Guest

Ramesh! You're WONDERFUL; this makes 2 for 2 for you as far as
my needing help goes.

The directions for going to Control Panel-Add/Remove-Set Program Access &
Defaults-Custom, worked like a charm. All the links work again.

On an aside, my Start Menu item, Help & Support still doesn't work.
I wasn't sure if this problem was related to the shortcuts not working,
and now that they DO work, again, I immediately went to try the Start Menu
item, Help and Support, to see if it magically functioned again. But, it still
does not. The XP Window in blue that opened with all kinds of options
for help does not materialize; nothing happens at all when I click on Help
and Support. I rarely use this function, so I can manage around it
when I need help, but since you've been such a wiz-kid of magic help
every time you've answered one of my questions, I figured it couldn't
hurt to ask.

p.s. (is there some way I can Thank you, personally, for all your help
to me thus far? One thing I do relatively well, is make icons. Could I
create a
personal icon for you? If not, do please know I am very, very appreciative
of all your help, in any case!!!!)

With all my thanks!
Ms. Max
 
R

Ramesh, MS-MVP

Ms Max,

Nice to hear that the URL shortcuts issue is fixed. For the Help and Support
issue, here is a couple of options starting with a DLL registration.
(Proceed to next method if one fails to resolve the problem):

Type in Start, Run dialog:

helpctr -regserver
regsvr32 itss
regsvr32 hhctrl.ocx
regsvr32 jscript

Fix Windows XP Help - from Doug's site:
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/utils/fix_windows_xp_help.htm

In _nothing_ helps, try reinstalling HelpCenter:

Open %systemroot%\inf folder and locate the PCHealth.inf file (might show as
PCHealth in W.Explorer). Right-click the file and choose "Install". Insert
your XP CD when prompted. If you have a Service Pack installed, be sure to
point to the %Windir%\i386\ServicePackFiles folder, or your slipstreamed XP
CD (if available).

There is also another comprehensive rebuild method for Help and Support, but
I don't think that's required.

That would really be cool :) Thanks! BTW, do you run a website?

--
Ramesh, MS-MVP
Windows Shell/User

Windows XP Troubleshooting
http://www.winhelponline.com
http://windowsxp.mvps.org

Windows XP Newsgroup Setup Instructions for Outlook Express:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/newsgroupsetup.mspx
 
G

Guest

Ramesh,
Yesterday, all day, the shortcuts worked fine. Today, I'm having the same
problem I had before I followed your instructions. So, I thought, hey I'll
go to Set Program Access in Add-Remove and see if the browser default has
changed away from Internet Explorer. Well, it did, so I reclicked to make
Internet Explorer my default browser and clicked okay. Then I tried my
shortcuts on the desktop, but again, they were producing that error message
and producing me a blank internet page.

It seems (I've tried now, 4 times changing Set Program Access) that the
minute I click okay and the Set Program Access window goes away, XP reverts
to the alternate browser. Thing is, Ramesh, I've never used any other browser
but Internet Explorer so I can't imagine what XP is reverting to.

In addition this morning there were two emails notifying me of replies to my
problem. I was expecting yours, but the other one came from, I can't remember
his name (Ferguson, maybe) who gave me these instructions: Go to Start/Run,
and type: REGSVR32 URLMON>DLL. Then open IE, TOols menu, Options, Program
Tab, and click the "Reset Web Settings".
I hadn't yet read this email you sent below, so I followed the instructions
above
thinking maybe that might work. Well, it did not. My shortcuts do not work
today.
I even went and reinstalled IE 6 SP1 hoping that might confirm to my XP
system that I wanted IE on this machine. But that didn't help either.

I'm excited to try out your instructions on the Help & Support, but priority
this morning is getting IE to remain my default browser in the Set Program
Access section.

p.s. (what sort of image would you like for an icon. It thrills me, too,
that you said yes to that question. And, no, I am neophyte enough to not have
a web site, yet.
I have my main email with comcast and I did play around with their tutorial
for creating one and I'll look up what the address is to that so you can see
what a neophyte did for her first try.

Anyway, looking forward to hearing from you, at your convenience, of course.


p.p.s. (could my IE being out of whack have anything to do with the program,
Icon Packager by Stardock? I've used their program for a couple of years now,
and just recently I made a major update. I ask because I haven't altered
anything else on my computer recently and I'm trying to figure out what's
causing the problems.)

p.p.p.s (I run Grisoft's AVG antivirus program, if that's relevant to
anything, i.e. these problems possibly being virus related. AVG is VERY good
and constantly updates itself once to twice a day, too. Also, all my "public"
mail goes through 3 web-based addresses, thus keeping junk mail completely
(and delightfully) out of my main Outlook email space. And one's main email
address is often the in-door for junk mail carrying viruses and I have
hotmail, yahoo and myway.com handling all that nicely.)

Okay, I shut up now and wait. Thanks again; I'm in your debt.

Ms. Max
 
G

Guest

The information I received in an email today, also, came from
By: Mark L. Ferguson In: microsoft.public.windowsxp.help_and_support

And he wrote: Go to Start/Run, and type: REGSVR32 URLMON.DLL Then open IE,
Tools menu, Options, Program Tab, and click the "Reset Web Settings"
button.

I just wanted to give him credit, and let you know, in case you know each
other.


Ms. Max
 
G

Guest

Ramesh,
Open Regedit.exe and navigate to:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Internet Shortcut
and
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\http

Export both the files and post the info here. (Use the File > Export option)
Click to expand...

You're probably going to think I'm a major dimwhit, but...eh, where is
regedit.exe located? How to I locate it to >Open it?
You say export the two HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT files to "here". How do I do that?
I can certainly highlight and copy the two files, or use the "export option"
but once that far, how do I export to this correspondence you and I are
having? I am unfamiliar with exactly what a "posting" really is. It's not an
email, correct?
Is there some way I can let you "remotely" view my computer? I thought XP
had this feature?
If not, since now, not only don't my shortcuts work, when I get IE open, and
then try a shortcut, I get the same error message (Windows can't find...)
but, it then promptly opens two windows, one IE blank, and the other IE page,
taking me to the link it said it couldn't find. It seems I'm getting worse
as far as symptoms.

What if I were to reinstall XP? Is that a possibility; I mean, without going
the extreme step of flattening the C drive. I've reinstalled XP Prof before
and it usually leaves me a lot of the programs intact.

One more thing that might help you understand. I have two physical hard
drives that are both partitioned into 4 parts, i.e. I have drives C, D, E, F,
and H, I, J, and K, respectively. G & L are CD-Rom and burner. Why I tell
you this is because I try, when possible to install all programs to my D
drive, except those I think Windows might need to have in C, like Office,
Grisoft (AVG), Adobe, etc.
Why I do this may be wrong thinking on my part, but my reasoning is, putting
most programs installed to D, will make C drive run quicker since all the
megabytes of the 50 or so programs will be in D, leaving C drive leaner.

Frankly I don't understand how Windows works at all. How you can have an
operating system on C drive that works all the other 7 drives on my system,
yet if I were to flatten any of the other drives D-K, it wouldn't affect
Windows in C.

Anyway, sorry to be so long-winded. Before I go messing in regedit.exe (all
I know about the registry is that you do NOT, NOT, NOT do anything in there
because you might make a mess and destroy everything). I want to make sure of
every single step I'm making, as per your instructions before I proceed.

Apologetic,
Ms. Max
 
R

Ramesh, MS-MVP

Ask a Question

Want to reply to this thread or ask your own question?

You'll need to choose a username for the site, which only take a couple of moments. After that, you can post your question and our members will help you out.

Ask a Question

Similar Threads

desktop shortcuts/Outlook links, don't work, XP says can't find.. 2
IE 7 -Desktop shortcuts wont work 3
Outlook Express links don't work 8
desktop shortcuts 1
How to Restore Unused Desktop Icons - URGENT 3
Start Menu-shortcuts show "empty" 7
links in live mail don't work 1
Internet Links/Shortcuts to Internet websites 5

Top