OS can't find URL message

"Red X" error message from Win XP on URL click

[Georganna]

When I click on a shortcut link to a web page, Windows XP gives me a "red X" error message stating that it can't find the URL. THEN the website opens in FF, my preferred browser. I'm thinking this might be an IE problem. Both IE and Windows update automatically.

[jdMorgan]

Sounds like your selection of the "default browser" is corrupted, and is confusing Windows.

The registry entries for the shell handlers are probably half one way and half the other.

Short of an OS reinstall, I'd suggest using the configuration dialog boxes of each browser to tell both IE and Firefox that neither of them is the default browser, and telling both not to check when they start up. Save those settings, and then re-select whichever one you want to use as the default browser.

Jim

[Georganna]

Thanks for the suggestion. I had checked to ensure FF was chosen and IE not, but it didn't occur to me to repeat the process. I'll give it a try.

[Receptional Andy]

Otherwise, a poke around in the "File Types" entries within the "Folder Options" of the control panel can usually fix this sort of problem. I don't remember which entry actually controls this particular behaviour though - the internet shortcut ones, maybe?

[Georganna]

Hmm. It seems to be a Catch-22 situation with two browsers. I can find no way to "deselect" both as the one of choice. The selections only allow making one dominant, not vice-versa, and determining whether or not the browser checks to see if it is chosen. I don't get the error message, however, if IE is dominant. Now that I think about it, this problem began after a recent FF update.

I also associated Internet Shortcuts with FF and found other applicable items were correctly associated with FF.

Although I hate to ask, is there an item in the Register I could check and maybe change?

[Georganna]

I stumbled into a couple of fixes at:

[kb.mozillazine.org...]

and the first one seemed to work. The problem is having the "Use DDE" checked in the protocol(?) for opening certain types of FF files.