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

[MxM]

When I click link which is mailto:[email protected] in IE or in Live
Mail,
IE window launches with the small error box "could not perform this
operation because the default mail client is not properly installed"

I did make windows live mail as default program. I tried even to make
windows mail (not live) as default program - it does not matter, it still
shows this
message.

HELP!!!

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

I notice you are using an older version of Windows Live Mail,
version 12.0.1184. You may want to upgrade to the latest version
(12.0.1365):
http://get.live.com/betas/maildesktop_betas

That should reset your default mail client setting.

 

[MxM]

Nope, did not help.

One thing I have noticed - I do not see MAILTO: protocol in "Associate a
file
type or protocol" window (should I?). So, I can't check the protocol
itself, but in "default programs" I do see Live Mail and I do see that it is
the default program.

I also do not understand, why when I click on the mailto: link, the IE
window opens. Why IE? I am in the mail program or in Firefox or in any other
non-IE place like in gadget, what calls IE out of it? It is as if IE is
associated with mailto protocol.

I notice you are using an older version of Windows Live Mail,
version 12.0.1184. You may want to upgrade to the latest version
(12.0.1365):
http://get.live.com/betas/maildesktop_betas

That should reset your default mail client setting.

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]

When I click link which is mailto:[email protected] in IE or in
Live Mail,
IE window launches with the small error box "could not perform this
operation because the default mail client is not properly installed"

I did make windows live mail as default program. I tried even to make
windows mail (not live) as default program - it does not matter, it still
shows this
message.

HELP!!!

 

[Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM]

Nope, did not help.

One thing I have noticed - I do not see MAILTO: protocol in "Associate a
file
type or protocol" window (should I?). So, I can't check the protocol
itself, but in "default programs" I do see Live Mail and I do see that it
is
the default program.

I also do not understand, why when I click on the mailto: link, the IE
window opens. Why IE? I am in the mail program or in Firefox or in any
other non-IE place like in gadget, what calls IE out of it? It is as if IE
is associated with mailto protocol.

I notice you are using an older version of Windows Live Mail,
version 12.0.1184. You may want to upgrade to the latest version
(12.0.1365):
http://get.live.com/betas/maildesktop_betas

That should reset your default mail client setting.

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]

When I click link which is mailto:[email protected] in IE or in
Live Mail,
IE window launches with the small error box "could not perform this
operation because the default mail client is not properly installed"

I did make windows live mail as default program. I tried even to make
windows mail (not live) as default program - it does not matter, it
still shows this
message.

HELP!!!

Did you scroll down to the bottom to see the Mailto protocol?

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Just because a program is listed as 'default' does not mean it has been
assigned all of the possible default actions or protocols. Try this:
Go to Default Programs, which you can access either from the Start menu
or via the Control Panel, then click the first item: "Set your default programs."
After a few seconds a list of programs comes up. Click on Windows Live Mail.
If it doesn't respond with "This program has all its defaults" then fix it by
clicking on the option indicated by the first green arrow.

Then, click the back arrow to get back to the first screen, click "Associate a
file type..." If you scroll all the way down, you should see the Protocols.

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]

Nope, did not help.

One thing I have noticed - I do not see MAILTO: protocol in "Associate a
file
type or protocol" window (should I?). So, I can't check the protocol
itself, but in "default programs" I do see Live Mail and I do see that it is
the default program.

I also do not understand, why when I click on the mailto: link, the IE
window opens. Why IE? I am in the mail program or in Firefox or in any other
non-IE place like in gadget, what calls IE out of it? It is as if IE is
associated with mailto protocol.

I notice you are using an older version of Windows Live Mail,
version 12.0.1184. You may want to upgrade to the latest version
(12.0.1365):
http://get.live.com/betas/maildesktop_betas

That should reset your default mail client setting.

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]

When I click link which is mailto:[email protected] in IE or in
Live Mail,
IE window launches with the small error box "could not perform this
operation because the default mail client is not properly installed"

I did make windows live mail as default program. I tried even to make
windows mail (not live) as default program - it does not matter, it still
shows this
message.

HELP!!!

 

[MxM]

Yes I did. And I do not see it! Do you have it in your Vista?

Nope, did not help.

One thing I have noticed - I do not see MAILTO: protocol in "Associate a
file
type or protocol" window (should I?). So, I can't check the protocol
itself, but in "default programs" I do see Live Mail and I do see that it
is
the default program.

I also do not understand, why when I click on the mailto: link, the IE
window opens. Why IE? I am in the mail program or in Firefox or in any
other non-IE place like in gadget, what calls IE out of it? It is as if
IE is associated with mailto protocol.

I notice you are using an older version of Windows Live Mail,
version 12.0.1184. You may want to upgrade to the latest version
(12.0.1365):
http://get.live.com/betas/maildesktop_betas

That should reset your default mail client setting.

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]


When I click link which is mailto:[email protected] in IE or in
Live Mail,
IE window launches with the small error box "could not perform this
operation because the default mail client is not properly installed"

I did make windows live mail as default program. I tried even to make
windows mail (not live) as default program - it does not matter, it
still shows this
message.

HELP!!!

Did you scroll down to the bottom to see the Mailto protocol?

 

[MxM]

Yes, I did it multiple times. Windows Live Mail is set as default for
everything possible.

I do scroll to the bottom of the "associate a file type..." page and I do
see all other protocols there, but I do not see MAILTO protocol. Could it be
that earlier betas somehow screw up my system and removed the protocol
itself? I do not have and did not have (did not install any other mail
program except Windows Mail and this Windows Live Mail.

BTW the protocol does not appear even if I try make the Windows Mail (not
Live) program to be default for mail, and the mailto links do not work
either in this case.

Just because a program is listed as 'default' does not mean it has been
assigned all of the possible default actions or protocols. Try this:
Go to Default Programs, which you can access either from the Start menu
or via the Control Panel, then click the first item: "Set your default
programs."
After a few seconds a list of programs comes up. Click on Windows Live
Mail. If it doesn't respond with "This program has all its defaults" then
fix it by clicking on the option indicated by the first green arrow.

Then, click the back arrow to get back to the first screen, click
"Associate a
file type..." If you scroll all the way down, you should see the
Protocols.

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]

Nope, did not help.

One thing I have noticed - I do not see MAILTO: protocol in "Associate a
file
type or protocol" window (should I?). So, I can't check the protocol
itself, but in "default programs" I do see Live Mail and I do see that it
is
the default program.

I also do not understand, why when I click on the mailto: link, the IE
window opens. Why IE? I am in the mail program or in Firefox or in any
other non-IE place like in gadget, what calls IE out of it? It is as if
IE is associated with mailto protocol.

I notice you are using an older version of Windows Live Mail,
version 12.0.1184. You may want to upgrade to the latest version
(12.0.1365):
http://get.live.com/betas/maildesktop_betas

That should reset your default mail client setting.

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]


When I click link which is mailto:[email protected] in IE or in
Live Mail,
IE window launches with the small error box "could not perform this
operation because the default mail client is not properly installed"

I did make windows live mail as default program. I tried even to make
windows mail (not live) as default program - it does not matter, it
still shows this
message.

HELP!!!

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

It may help to do a reset of Internet Explorer since it is responsible for
hyperlink management. In IE go to Tools, Internet Options, Advanced,
click Reset. Before you do that, you may want to save your cookies since
the reset wipes them out (File, Import and Export...).

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]

Yes, I did it multiple times. Windows Live Mail is set as default for
everything possible.

I do scroll to the bottom of the "associate a file type..." page and I do
see all other protocols there, but I do not see MAILTO protocol. Could it be
that earlier betas somehow screw up my system and removed the protocol
itself? I do not have and did not have (did not install any other mail
program except Windows Mail and this Windows Live Mail.

BTW the protocol does not appear even if I try make the Windows Mail (not
Live) program to be default for mail, and the mailto links do not work
either in this case.

Just because a program is listed as 'default' does not mean it has been
assigned all of the possible default actions or protocols. Try this:
Go to Default Programs, which you can access either from the Start menu
or via the Control Panel, then click the first item: "Set your default
programs."
After a few seconds a list of programs comes up. Click on Windows Live
Mail. If it doesn't respond with "This program has all its defaults" then
fix it by clicking on the option indicated by the first green arrow.

Then, click the back arrow to get back to the first screen, click
"Associate a
file type..." If you scroll all the way down, you should see the
Protocols.

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]

Nope, did not help.

One thing I have noticed - I do not see MAILTO: protocol in "Associate a
file
type or protocol" window (should I?). So, I can't check the protocol
itself, but in "default programs" I do see Live Mail and I do see that it
is
the default program.

I also do not understand, why when I click on the mailto: link, the IE
window opens. Why IE? I am in the mail program or in Firefox or in any
other non-IE place like in gadget, what calls IE out of it? It is as if
IE is associated with mailto protocol.

I notice you are using an older version of Windows Live Mail,
version 12.0.1184. You may want to upgrade to the latest version
(12.0.1365):
http://get.live.com/betas/maildesktop_betas

That should reset your default mail client setting.

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]


When I click link which is mailto:[email protected] in IE or in
Live Mail,
IE window launches with the small error box "could not perform this
operation because the default mail client is not properly installed"

I did make windows live mail as default program. I tried even to make
windows mail (not live) as default program - it does not matter, it
still shows this
message.

HELP!!!

 

[Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM]

Yes. Dosn near the very bottom in the Protocols section.

 

[MxM]

Reset IE, did not help. Still same message and still no MAILTO protocol in
the protocol list.

It may help to do a reset of Internet Explorer since it is responsible for
hyperlink management. In IE go to Tools, Internet Options, Advanced,
click Reset. Before you do that, you may want to save your cookies since
the reset wipes them out (File, Import and Export...).

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]

Yes, I did it multiple times. Windows Live Mail is set as default for
everything possible.

I do scroll to the bottom of the "associate a file type..." page and I do
see all other protocols there, but I do not see MAILTO protocol. Could it
be that earlier betas somehow screw up my system and removed the protocol
itself? I do not have and did not have (did not install any other mail
program except Windows Mail and this Windows Live Mail.

BTW the protocol does not appear even if I try make the Windows Mail (not
Live) program to be default for mail, and the mailto links do not work
either in this case.

Just because a program is listed as 'default' does not mean it has been
assigned all of the possible default actions or protocols. Try this:
Go to Default Programs, which you can access either from the Start menu
or via the Control Panel, then click the first item: "Set your default
programs."
After a few seconds a list of programs comes up. Click on Windows Live
Mail. If it doesn't respond with "This program has all its defaults"
then fix it by clicking on the option indicated by the first green
arrow.

Then, click the back arrow to get back to the first screen, click
"Associate a
file type..." If you scroll all the way down, you should see the
Protocols.

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]


Nope, did not help.

One thing I have noticed - I do not see MAILTO: protocol in "Associate
a file
type or protocol" window (should I?). So, I can't check the protocol
itself, but in "default programs" I do see Live Mail and I do see that
it is
the default program.

I also do not understand, why when I click on the mailto: link, the IE
window opens. Why IE? I am in the mail program or in Firefox or in any
other non-IE place like in gadget, what calls IE out of it? It is as if
IE is associated with mailto protocol.

I notice you are using an older version of Windows Live Mail,
version 12.0.1184. You may want to upgrade to the latest version
(12.0.1365):
http://get.live.com/betas/maildesktop_betas

That should reset your default mail client setting.

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]


When I click link which is mailto:[email protected] in IE or
in Live Mail,
IE window launches with the small error box "could not perform this
operation because the default mail client is not properly installed"

I did make windows live mail as default program. I tried even to make
windows mail (not live) as default program - it does not matter, it
still shows this
message.

HELP!!!

 

[MxM]

Do you know how I can add the protocol there?

Yes. Dosn near the very bottom in the Protocols section.

 

[Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM]

Do you know how I can add the protocol there?

Not really, but try this:

Start | Default programs | Set default programs
Choose Windows Mail and click Set as Default.

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

It sounds like some critical keys may be missing from your
Windows registry. I suggest a repair-install of Vista:
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]

Reset IE, did not help. Still same message and still no MAILTO protocol in
the protocol list.

It may help to do a reset of Internet Explorer since it is responsible for
hyperlink management. In IE go to Tools, Internet Options, Advanced,
click Reset. Before you do that, you may want to save your cookies since
the reset wipes them out (File, Import and Export...).

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]

Yes, I did it multiple times. Windows Live Mail is set as default for
everything possible.

I do scroll to the bottom of the "associate a file type..." page and I do
see all other protocols there, but I do not see MAILTO protocol. Could it
be that earlier betas somehow screw up my system and removed the protocol
itself? I do not have and did not have (did not install any other mail
program except Windows Mail and this Windows Live Mail.

BTW the protocol does not appear even if I try make the Windows Mail (not
Live) program to be default for mail, and the mailto links do not work
either in this case.

Just because a program is listed as 'default' does not mean it has been
assigned all of the possible default actions or protocols. Try this:
Go to Default Programs, which you can access either from the Start menu
or via the Control Panel, then click the first item: "Set your default
programs."
After a few seconds a list of programs comes up. Click on Windows Live
Mail. If it doesn't respond with "This program has all its defaults"
then fix it by clicking on the option indicated by the first green
arrow.

Then, click the back arrow to get back to the first screen, click
"Associate a
file type..." If you scroll all the way down, you should see the
Protocols.

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]


Nope, did not help.

One thing I have noticed - I do not see MAILTO: protocol in "Associate
a file
type or protocol" window (should I?). So, I can't check the protocol
itself, but in "default programs" I do see Live Mail and I do see that
it is
the default program.

I also do not understand, why when I click on the mailto: link, the IE
window opens. Why IE? I am in the mail program or in Firefox or in any
other non-IE place like in gadget, what calls IE out of it? It is as if
IE is associated with mailto protocol.

I notice you are using an older version of Windows Live Mail,
version 12.0.1184. You may want to upgrade to the latest version
(12.0.1365):
http://get.live.com/betas/maildesktop_betas

That should reset your default mail client setting.

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]


When I click link which is mailto:[email protected] in IE or
in Live Mail,
IE window launches with the small error box "could not perform this
operation because the default mail client is not properly installed"

I did make windows live mail as default program. I tried even to make
windows mail (not live) as default program - it does not matter, it
still shows this
message.

HELP!!!

 

[MxM]

Is there anything else I can do without reinstalling Vista?

It sounds like some critical keys may be missing from your
Windows registry. I suggest a repair-install of Vista:
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]

Reset IE, did not help. Still same message and still no MAILTO protocol
in the protocol list.

It may help to do a reset of Internet Explorer since it is responsible
for
hyperlink management. In IE go to Tools, Internet Options, Advanced,
click Reset. Before you do that, you may want to save your cookies since
the reset wipes them out (File, Import and Export...).

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]


Yes, I did it multiple times. Windows Live Mail is set as default for
everything possible.

I do scroll to the bottom of the "associate a file type..." page and I
do see all other protocols there, but I do not see MAILTO protocol.
Could it be that earlier betas somehow screw up my system and removed
the protocol itself? I do not have and did not have (did not install
any other mail program except Windows Mail and this Windows Live Mail.

BTW the protocol does not appear even if I try make the Windows Mail
(not Live) program to be default for mail, and the mailto links do not
work either in this case.

Just because a program is listed as 'default' does not mean it has
been assigned all of the possible default actions or protocols. Try
this:
Go to Default Programs, which you can access either from the Start
menu
or via the Control Panel, then click the first item: "Set your default
programs."
After a few seconds a list of programs comes up. Click on Windows Live
Mail. If it doesn't respond with "This program has all its defaults"
then fix it by clicking on the option indicated by the first green
arrow.

Then, click the back arrow to get back to the first screen, click
"Associate a
file type..." If you scroll all the way down, you should see the
Protocols.

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]


Nope, did not help.

One thing I have noticed - I do not see MAILTO: protocol in
"Associate a file
type or protocol" window (should I?). So, I can't check the protocol
itself, but in "default programs" I do see Live Mail and I do see
that it is
the default program.

I also do not understand, why when I click on the mailto: link, the
IE window opens. Why IE? I am in the mail program or in Firefox or in
any other non-IE place like in gadget, what calls IE out of it? It is
as if IE is associated with mailto protocol.

I notice you are using an older version of Windows Live Mail,
version 12.0.1184. You may want to upgrade to the latest version
(12.0.1365):
http://get.live.com/betas/maildesktop_betas

That should reset your default mail client setting.

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]


When I click link which is mailto:[email protected] in IE or
in Live Mail,
IE window launches with the small error box "could not perform this
operation because the default mail client is not properly
installed"

I did make windows live mail as default program. I tried even to
make
windows mail (not live) as default program - it does not matter, it
still shows this
message.

HELP!!!

 

[Guest]

When I click link which is mailto:[email protected] in IE or in Live
Mail,
IE window launches with the small error box "could not perform this
operation because the default mail client is not properly installed"

I did make windows live mail as default program. I tried even to make
windows mail (not live) as default program - it does not matter, it still
shows this
message.

HELP!!!

I'm getting the same message except I'm using MS Outlook 2003. Any suggestions on how to fix that?

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

I don't know. I looked around for a registry fix for the MailTo
protocol, but didn't see anything.
The Vista repair-reinstall is supposed to leave existing programs
and data intact, so you shouldn't lose anything.

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]

Is there anything else I can do without reinstalling Vista?

It sounds like some critical keys may be missing from your
Windows registry. I suggest a repair-install of Vista:
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]

Reset IE, did not help. Still same message and still no MAILTO protocol
in the protocol list.

It may help to do a reset of Internet Explorer since it is responsible
for
hyperlink management. In IE go to Tools, Internet Options, Advanced,
click Reset. Before you do that, you may want to save your cookies since
the reset wipes them out (File, Import and Export...).

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]


Yes, I did it multiple times. Windows Live Mail is set as default for
everything possible.

I do scroll to the bottom of the "associate a file type..." page and I
do see all other protocols there, but I do not see MAILTO protocol.
Could it be that earlier betas somehow screw up my system and removed
the protocol itself? I do not have and did not have (did not install
any other mail program except Windows Mail and this Windows Live Mail.

BTW the protocol does not appear even if I try make the Windows Mail
(not Live) program to be default for mail, and the mailto links do not
work either in this case.

Just because a program is listed as 'default' does not mean it has
been assigned all of the possible default actions or protocols. Try
this:
Go to Default Programs, which you can access either from the Start
menu
or via the Control Panel, then click the first item: "Set your default
programs."
After a few seconds a list of programs comes up. Click on Windows Live
Mail. If it doesn't respond with "This program has all its defaults"
then fix it by clicking on the option indicated by the first green
arrow.

Then, click the back arrow to get back to the first screen, click
"Associate a
file type..." If you scroll all the way down, you should see the
Protocols.

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]


Nope, did not help.

One thing I have noticed - I do not see MAILTO: protocol in
"Associate a file
type or protocol" window (should I?). So, I can't check the protocol
itself, but in "default programs" I do see Live Mail and I do see
that it is
the default program.

I also do not understand, why when I click on the mailto: link, the
IE window opens. Why IE? I am in the mail program or in Firefox or in
any other non-IE place like in gadget, what calls IE out of it? It is
as if IE is associated with mailto protocol.

I notice you are using an older version of Windows Live Mail,
version 12.0.1184. You may want to upgrade to the latest version
(12.0.1365):
http://get.live.com/betas/maildesktop_betas

That should reset your default mail client setting.

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]


When I click link which is mailto:[email protected] in IE or
in Live Mail,
IE window launches with the small error box "could not perform this
operation because the default mail client is not properly
installed"

I did make windows live mail as default program. I tried even to
make
windows mail (not live) as default program - it does not matter, it
still shows this
message.

HELP!!!

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Hi MxM,

Click Start, type the following in the Search box and press ENTER.

cmd /k reg query hkcr\mailto

Copy the output and post it here.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Is there anything else I can do without reinstalling Vista?

 

[MxM]

Here it is:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto
FriendlyTypeName REG_EXPAND_SZ @%ProgramFiles%\Windows
Mail\winmail.ex
e,-211

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto\DefaultIcon
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto\shell

C:\Windows\system32>

Hi MxM,

Click Start, type the following in the Search box and press ENTER.

cmd /k reg query hkcr\mailto

Copy the output and post it here.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Is there anything else I can do without reinstalling Vista?

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

My output is somewhat different:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto
(Default) REG_SZ URL:Mail Protocol
EditFlags REG_DWORD 0x2
URL Protocol REG_SZ
FriendlyTypeName REG_SZ @ieframe.dll,-910

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto\DefaultIcon
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto\shell

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]

Here it is:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto
FriendlyTypeName REG_EXPAND_SZ @%ProgramFiles%\Windows Mail\winmail.ex
e,-211

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto\DefaultIcon
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto\shell

C:\Windows\system32>

Hi MxM,

Click Start, type the following in the Search box and press ENTER.

cmd /k reg query hkcr\mailto

Copy the output and post it here.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Is there anything else I can do without reinstalling Vista?

It sounds like some critical keys may be missing from your
Windows registry. I suggest a repair-install of Vista:
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html

 

[MxM]

So, what does it mean?

My output is somewhat different:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto
(Default) REG_SZ URL:Mail Protocol
EditFlags REG_DWORD 0x2
URL Protocol REG_SZ
FriendlyTypeName REG_SZ @ieframe.dll,-910

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto\DefaultIcon
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto\shell

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS-MVP WLM]

Here it is:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto
FriendlyTypeName REG_EXPAND_SZ @%ProgramFiles%\Windows
Mail\winmail.ex
e,-211

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto\DefaultIcon
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto\shell

C:\Windows\system32>

Hi MxM,

Click Start, type the following in the Search box and press ENTER.

cmd /k reg query hkcr\mailto

Copy the output and post it here.

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


Is there anything else I can do without reinstalling Vista?

It sounds like some critical keys may be missing from your
Windows registry. I suggest a repair-install of Vista:
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html