Shortcuts to URLs all started failing

[HOEsd]

I have developed a problem with all shortcuts that reference a URL
and which are supposed to invoke a Browser to access this or that
target web site. I also use Mozilla Firefox on this computer but did
not notice this failure when I installed it. I also have Internet
Explorer installed.

Yesterday, I ran Windows Update and it did install a new Internet
Explorer Version 7. I had been running with the trial version and did
not have problems with it.

Here is the message I get when I click on any Icon with a URL as a
target.

"This file does not have a program associated with it for performing
the action. Create an association in the Folder Options Control
Panel."

Now I have seen this in the past for executable targets whose
extensions have not been associated with a given program and am able
to deal with that OK. But this time it is not an executable lacking
an association but rather a URL which is supposed to bring up either
of the Internet Browsers (where it decides which one I do not know
either).

I have also notice a similar problem now when I double click on a
reference URL in an Email message. That no longer works either and
as I recall it is bringing up a program recently installed which I
believe is designed to create a DVD with JPG files as images. I have
used that program now only twice and it seems to be working OK but
when I click on a LINK in an Email message, that program is invoked
and I do not know why or where to direct the Email program to open the
Browser instead. It is quite certain that these two problems are
related.

Does anyone have a clue as to where the correction for this problem
should be made within Windows. It could be something screwed up in
the registry but I do not understand the registry very well and tend
to keep my hands off unless directed to change it by an expert. It
has not been changed for a long time unless it got glitched.

I have gone to different web sites and created NEW URL type shortcuts
and they seem technically correct to me but will not function and
produce the same error as the old ones.

 

[HOEsd]

I did a search to see if anyone else had a similar problem and I found
the following posted suggestion:

=======================================
1. Click Start, Run and type INETCPL.CPL
2. Click the Programs tab, and click "Reset Web Settings" button
3. Select "Yes" when prompted, and click OK to close the dialog

--
Regards,

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

=======================================

Now, the instructions did not seem to track my dialog box but I fooled
around and did find something on a different TAB related to removing
secondary features from Internet Explorer and restoring it to the
original. This caused a bit of confusion but after rebooting and
running I find that the Shortcuts on the Desktop which contain URL
references now all seem to work. Furthermore when I go into my Email
and click on a Link that want to bring up a URL, that link now works
properly. I used to get some completely unrelated program relating to
manufacturing a DVD as a slide show but that is no longer happening.
Many thanks to Ramesh Srinivasa, Microsoft MVP.

I seem to be out of the woods on this issue and still don't know what
hit me as I did load some new software, ran Windows Update, Installed
IE 7.0 etc. Any one of these changes bit me in the ass.

============================