Problem launching .HTML files

[Cooler Dude]

This is a long distance friend's problem!

XP SP2


When attempting to launch .HTML files from Windows Explorer, an
error message appears, which reads....
"Windows cannot find C:\pathname\filename.html. Make sure you
typed the name correctly, and then try again. To search for a
file, click the Start button, and then click Search."

However, after several seconds, the browser (Firefox) opens and
the file is displayed normally. Clicking on the "X" closes the
error message box.

Any suggestions please to cure this irritating problem which has
only recently started.

TIA

 

[Elmo]

This is a long distance friend's problem!

XP SP2


When attempting to launch .HTML files from Windows Explorer, an error
message appears, which reads....
"Windows cannot find C:\pathname\filename.html. Make sure you typed the
name correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the
Start button, and then click Search."

However, after several seconds, the browser (Firefox) opens and the file
is displayed normally. Clicking on the "X" closes the error message box.

Any suggestions please to cure this irritating problem which has only
recently started.

Have the friend try the associations fix for HTM/HTML files:

Fix File Associations.
http://dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

 

[Cooler Dude]

Have the friend try the associations fix for HTM/HTML files:

Fix File Associations.
http://dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm

Elmo, Thanks. Unfortunately it hasn't fixed the problem, so
we'll keep searching!

 

[Elmo]

Elmo, Thanks. Unfortunately it hasn't fixed the problem, so we'll keep
searching!

Try the URL fix too.

 

[Cooler Dude]

Try the URL fix too.

URL's are working fine.

Have suggested a "repair" (if it's an option) for Firefox, and/or
a re-install of Firefox, in the vain hope it may re-establish the
associations. Failing that, I have sent instructions to manually
configure the "HTM File" and "HTML Document" associations for
"Open", etc. Fingers crossed!!

 

[Nightowl]

When attempting to launch .HTML files from Windows Explorer, an error
message appears, which reads....
"Windows cannot find C:\pathname\filename.html. Make sure you typed the
name correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the
Start button, and then click Search."

However, after several seconds, the browser (Firefox) opens and the
file is displayed normally. Clicking on the "X" closes the error
message box.

Any suggestions please to cure this irritating problem which has only
recently started.

Hi Cooler Dude

Has your friend installed a Firefox update recently? Since FF 2.0 there
seems to have been a little bug in the updates where sometimes the
settings get a little garbled.

Try this:

First make sure Firefox is not running.

In any folder window, go to Tools | Folder Options and click on the File
Types tab. Near the top of the window look for "URL:HyperText Transfer
Protocol". Click to highlight it, then click the Advanced button.

In the new window highlight Open then click the Edit button. Un-check
Use DDE and OK your way out. (Next time your friend runs Firefox, it
will reinstate DDE with the correct settings.) Do exactly the same for
"URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol with Privacy".

Be sure to run Firefox once first (then close it again if you like) to
have it rewrite the settings before you try double-clicking on a file.

Hope this helps -- let us know how your friend gets on

 

[Cooler Dude]

Nightowl wrote:

Try this:

First make sure Firefox is not running.

In any folder window, go to Tools | Folder Options and click on
the File Types tab. Near the top of the window look for
"URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol". Click to highlight it, then
click the Advanced button.
In the new window highlight Open then click the Edit button.
Un-check Use DDE and OK your way out. (Next time your friend
runs Firefox, it will reinstate DDE with the correct settings.)
Do exactly the same for "URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol with
Privacy".
Be sure to run Firefox once first (then close it again if you
like) to have it rewrite the settings before you try
double-clicking on a file.
Hope this helps -- let us know how your friend gets on

Hi Nightowl. My friend tried the above. It didn't solve the
problem *but* it has identified a possible cause.

If she un-checks the "Use DDE" setting and *without launching
Firefox* double-clicks on a .HTML file, it opens in Firefox
perfectly, with no error. However, as you stated above, Firefox
has now reinstated the "Use DDE" setting, so the next time she
attempts to open a .HTML file, the problem is back.

Any ideas please?

 

[Nightowl]

Hi Nightowl. My friend tried the above. It didn't solve the problem
*but* it has identified a possible cause.

If she un-checks the "Use DDE" setting and *without launching Firefox*
double-clicks on a .HTML file, it opens in Firefox perfectly, with no
error. However, as you stated above, Firefox has now reinstated the
"Use DDE" setting, so the next time she attempts to open a .HTML file,
the problem is back.

Hi Cooler Dude

It might be an idea to check that the settings *have* been reinstated
correctly. What sometimes happens is that the "DDE Message" field gets
filled with the settings for IE. It should be blank. Here's what I have
in mine:

Action: open

Application used. . .:
C:\PROGRA~1\MOZILL~1\FIREFOX.EXE -requestPending -osint -url "%1"

Use DDE: [checked]

DDE Message: [blank]

Application: FIREFOX

DDE Application Not Running: [blank]

Topic: System

I really hope this helps, but if your friend still has the problem I'd
suggest posting in the Firefox forum at:
http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewforum.php?f=38

Good luck and merry Christmas!

 

[Cooler Dude]

Hi Cooler Dude

It might be an idea to check that the settings *have* been
reinstated correctly. What sometimes happens is that the "DDE
Message" field gets filled with the settings for IE. It should
be blank. Here's what I have in mine:

Action: open

Application used. . .:
C:\PROGRA~1\MOZILL~1\FIREFOX.EXE -requestPending -osint -url
"%1"
Use DDE: [checked]

DDE Message: [blank]

Application: FIREFOX

DDE Application Not Running: [blank]

Topic: System

I really hope this helps, but if your friend still has the
problem I'd suggest posting in the Firefox forum at:
http://forums.mozillazine.org/viewforum.php?f=38

Good luck and merry Christmas!

Hi Nightowl,

Thanks for the info. My friend has solved her problem by following
the suggestions at this link:-
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Windows_error_opening_Internet_shortcut_or_local_HTML_file_-_Firefox

She says that in addition to the two file associations which
needed fixing (as you mentioned in your earlier post) there was
another two to be attended to.

The link also mention that it MAY be necessary to repeat the fixes
following further Firefox updates. Hopefully they may fix the
problem before too long!

Thanks for all your help.

 

[Nightowl]

Thanks for the info. My friend has solved her problem by following the
suggestions at this link:-
http://kb.mozillazine.org/Windows_error_opening_Internet_shortcut_or_loc
al_HTML_file_-_Firefox

She says that in addition to the two file associations which needed
fixing (as you mentioned in your earlier post) there was another two to
be attended to.

The link also mention that it MAY be necessary to repeat the fixes
following further Firefox updates. Hopefully they may fix the problem
before too long!

Thanks for all your help.

You're welcome, very glad to hear you've fixed it now