Member Avatar for colinryall

First lmust explain I am very ignorant on computers/software. Having trouble with Windows Explorer 6 and Outlook - many links will not work, making many websites, eg. Microsoft Support unusable. Eg. if click on web addresses in e-mails don't work- have to cut and paste. Worse is buttons don't work - get a blank dialogue box. I've gone through Internet Options with ISP adviser , no difference - they're stumped. I am on Windows XP upgrade of Windows 98 (1st edition). Can anyone say what to do?

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This thread describes a classic hyperlink/handler problem: links in Outlook and Internet Explorer either do nothing or open a blank dialog after an OS upgrade (reported by ). The usual root causes are corrupted .htm/.html/URL protocol associations or damaged Internet Explorer COM/registration entries created when the browser or default-program settings become inconsistent. Microsoft’s documented repairs focus on resetting IE, repairing file-type associations, and re-registering core IE DLLs. (learn.microsoft.com)

Recommended sequence (safe to follow in order):

  • Reset Internet Explorer settings and ensure IE is the default browser (Internet Options → Advanced → Reset, or Tools → Internet Options → Programs → Reset Web Settings for IE6).
  • Re-register core IE DLLs from an elevated command prompt (log on with administrative rights), for example:
regsvr32 urlmon.dll
regsvr32 mshtml.dll
regsvr32 shdocvw.dll
regsvr32 browseui.dll
regsvr32 msjava.dll
  • Test Internet Explorer in “No Add‑ons” mode to rule out a bad add‑in, and test a newly created Windows user profile if available. These steps are the standard Microsoft troubleshooting flow for links that don’t open. (learn.microsoft.com)

If the above fails, repair the registry association for HTML files: export the working machine’s key HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\htmlfile\shell\open\command and import it, and verify HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.html has the default value htmlfile. Back up the registry and create a System Restore point before making changes. These registry-import steps are shown in Microsoft’s Outlook/IE hyperlink guidance. (learn.microsoft.com)

Regarding earlier suggestions: ’s mcrepair.EXE appears aimed at older MSN/WIN98 components and is unlikely to be appropriate for an XP install; running unfamiliar executables carries risk. ’s clean install advice is sound as a last resort when in-place repairs fail, but the reset/register/association steps above often restore hyperlink behavior without reinstalling the OS. If links still won’t open after all repairs, consider repairing/reinstalling Outlook or Internet Explorer, or a full clean install after a complete backup. (learn.microsoft.com)

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Member Avatar for Dani

Was it always like this or did it just start? To be perfectly honest, I would never have upgraded Windows XP from Windows 98 - the upgrade could cause many conflicts down the road. What should have been done was to back-up your important files, and then to use the WinXP ugprade CD to do a clean install. You'll be much happier with a cleaner, faster, bugfree machine in the long run.

As to fixing the problem you're having right now: As I said, did this always happen since your WinXP upgrade? Did you recently install a program, etc. right before the problem started, etc??

Member Avatar for Yves

I had the same problem with mine and repaired successfully by running the program mcrepair.exe. You can get it at this address:

If it doesn't help, you can get more detail at

You probably won't be able to open the links by clicking on them due to your problem. You have to right click on it and click on "copy short cut" and paste it on your desktop and then clik on it, you'll get to it.

Let me know if it worked.

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