Member Avatar for mnbrsslr34

Hi! I'm new to this so if I don't post properly please forgive me ;)
Anyway my question is, I have been having problems with my IE opening when I click on any link that would usually open my explorer, I use AOL for my ISP and the links don't even open a page on AOL. Example, I have Webshots and when I click on the link to take me to the daily photos nothing happens. I believe this all started when I downloaded and installed SP2 :confused: I know you used to be able to set IE as the default browser through the file menu but there isn't anything there anymore for that, I also checked in my Internet Options and I can't find it.. System Info: Microsoft Windows Xp Home edition 2002 Service pack 2 : Hewlet-Packard Pavilion
I would appreciate any help on this matter.
Thank you
Monica

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by dlh6213

Dani AI

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Short summary: ’s suggestion and ’s follow-up show the problem was the known post‑SP2 URL/IE-handling issue — the Microsoft update fixed that machine. For anyone who still sees “nothing happens” when clicking links, these are the next, safe steps to try before reinstalling anything.

Make sure Internet Explorer is set as the default browser (this is where XP/IE expose the option): open IE → Tools → Internet Options → Programs tab → click “Make default”, then OK. On Windows XP you can also use Control Panel → Add or Remove Programs → Set Program Access and Defaults. (support.microsoft.com)

If setting the default doesn’t help, re-register the IE DLLs that control link handling. Run each command from Start → Run (or an elevated command prompt), then restart the PC:

regsvr32 urlmon.dll
regsvr32 actxprxy.dll
regsvr32 shdocvw.dll
regsvr32 mshtml.dll
regsvr32 browseui.dll
regsvr32 jscript.dll
regsvr32 vbscript.dll
regsvr32 oleaut32.dll

This sequence is a documented Microsoft remedy for “click link → blank window / nothing happens” symptoms. Create a System Restore point first and run the commands as an administrator. (support.microsoft.com)

Also check file‑type associations (Control Panel → Folder Options → File Types → URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol → Advanced) and verify the open action points to your iexplore.exe and DDE values (IExplore / WWW_OpenURL) if present. Third‑party ISP/browser wrappers (AOL), firewalls, or toolbars can intercept links; temporarily disable those and test. If nothing fixes it, try a Repair/Remove‑and‑reinstall of IE or restore to a pre‑SP2 point.

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Member Avatar for mnbrsslr34

Thank You, Tried the Update and it worked! :p

Edited by Dani because: Formatting fixed
Member Avatar for dlh6213

Great! Glad it worked! :)

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