[pgebcr]

Somewere in the account opening profusion of papers was the same problem as I'm having. A quick look gave the hint that I'm not alone, so this must be a MicroSoft bright idea.
As with others noted Office won't open links. So this must have hapened in one of the very recent downloads from Microsofts Upgrades. My Security pakage of joice is "AVG Internet Security" (installed by my computer guy when we got this new machine) and just recently upgraded. It sounds like various security/virus software are not the problem - Office is. I've done all the setting changes (and there are a TON of them) and problem persists. My computer guy says to "copy/paste" the offending link into the web browser. It works that's how I got here, but it seems like an onerous task to perform for every e-mail.
Any better/shorter ideas?

[Advertisements]

In response to my original question: I have been looking through all the similar complaints, and came to the obvious conclusion, that this "link" problem is likely a Microsoft response to malware hijacking a ride on links in emails. It seems that Microsoft software writers are making use of the move to "open link in a browser" for greater security, and expanded capabilites with internet content access. Where the "open in browser" option isn't given at top of address bar, then right click the mouse and "select hyperlink" then "paste hyperlink" into the browser search panel. It's slower and more cumbersome, but a heck of a lot safer. So, that's the way I'm going. Good luck.

[pgebcr]

In response to my original question: I have been looking through all the similar complaints, and came to the obvious conclusion, that this "link" problem is likely a Microsoft response to malware hijacking a ride on links in emails. It seems that Microsoft software writers are making use of the move to "open link in a browser" for greater security, and expanded capabilites with internet content access. Where the "open in browser" option isn't given at top of address bar, then right click the mouse and "select hyperlink" then "paste hyperlink" into the browser search panel. It's slower and more cumbersome, but a heck of a lot safer. So, that's the way I'm going. Good luck.

[SongCloud]

I have not had any problem opening links in Office. It is possible that something got corrupted. A lot of times I see this after Google Chrome is uninstalled as it will not remove the file associations for ChromeHTML from the registry which it sets as the default for all hyperlinks when it is installed. A simple modification to the registry to re-set the .html association back to htmlfile from ChromeHTML is all that is needed.

Let me know if this is something you would like to try and I can create a .reg file that will automate the process for you.

[loydo]

SongCloud - in ref to "Let me know if this is something you would like to try and I can create a .reg file that will automate the process for you."

I'd certainly be interested. Seems I did indeed uninstall Chrome some time ago, lost my spreadsheet hyperlink capabilities somewhere along the line.

Step by step or auto process, whatever uses less of your time. Windows 7 Pro w/ Office Pro 2010, let me know what other info you need. thx, loydo

[SongCloud]

No problem Loydo.

I'll get something together today for you.

Automated .reg file is definitely better as it will allow the changes to be made quicker without having to worry about accidentally messing up the wrong registry entry.

[SongCloud]

Loydo,

Please read all of my responses through at least once before attempting to follow the procedures described. I would recommend printing them out, if you can, as you can check off each step as you complete it. If there's anything you don't understand or isn't totally clear, please come back to me for clarification.

Step1

We are going to get a good backup of the registry before we begin, just in case something goes wrong.

Backing Up Your Registry with ERUNT
Making changes to the registry is potentially dangerous and incorrect changes can prevent your system from booting properly. ERUNT (Emergency Recovery Utility NT) is a free program that allows you to keep a complete backup of your registry and restore it when needed. Compatible with Windows NT, 2000, 2003, XP, Vista, Windows 7, 32 & 64-bit versions.

• Download ERUNT
• Double-click erunt_setup.exe to run.
  
  • Vista and Windows 7 users will need to right click the erunt_setup.exe file and click Run as Administrator. If prompted by Windows UAC, allow it.
• Follow the prompts and install using the default configuration:
  
  
  • Select your preferred Setup language.
    
  • At the Setup screen click Next.
    
  • Accept the default destination folder by clicking Next.
    
  • Accept the default Start Menu Folder by clicking Next.
    
  • On the Select Additional Tasks Window, click Create ERUNT desktop icon only. Do Not check the Create NTREGOPT desktop icon. Then click Next.
    
  • Ready to Install. The Create NTREGOPT desktop icon will not be on the list. Click the Install button.
    
  • Say No to the portion that asks you to add ERUNT to the start-up folder, if you like you can enable this option later.
    
  • Setup has completed. Uncheck the check box to Show documentation. Click Finish.
    
  
  
• Click OK to start ERUNT
  
  
• Choose a location for the backup
  

  The default location C:\WINDOWS\ERDNT\[today's date] is preferred

• The first two check boxes are ticked by default (System registry and Current user registry).
• Press OK
  
  
• When prompted, click YES to create a new folder.
  
  
• Progress bars will show backup status.
  
  
• A confirmation window will pop up when complete.
  
  
• Click Ok to close.
  There is a Readme.txt file in the C:/Program Files/ERUNT folder that explains the program if you wish to know more about it.

Step2

Now we are going to create a .reg file to automatically remove the leftover Chrome entries from the registry.

Removal of leftover registry entries after Google Chrome uninstall

** BE SURE TO EXIT FROM ALL OTHER PROGRAMS BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH THE STEPS BELOW. **

• Open Notepad and copy/paste the text in the codebox below into the new Notepad document:
  

  Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
  
  [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.htm]
  @="htmlfile"
  
  [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.html]
  @="htmlfile"
  
  [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.shtml]
  @="htmlfile"
  
  [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xht]
  @="htmlfile"
  
  [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xhtml]
  @="htmlfile"
  
  [-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ChromeHTML]
  
  [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.htm]
  @="htmlfile"
  
  [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.html]
  @="htmlfile"
  
  [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.shtml]
  @="htmlfile"
  
  [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.xht]
  @="htmlfile"
  
  [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.xhtml]
  @="htmlfile"
  
  [-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\ChromeHTML]

• Save the file to your desktop as ChromeFix.REG, make sure to change the save as file type from Text Documents (.txt) to All Files.
  
  
• Double Click on the ChromeFix.reg icon on your desktop.
  
  
• Click Yes to the prompt asking if you wish to add the information into the registry.
  
  
• Click OK to the prompt informing you that the information was successfully added to the registry.
  

That's it! Now try to open Outlook and click on a hyperlink again. The link should open properly in Internet Explorer again.

If you are still having problems or if you receive an error message, please post back and let me know.

Edited by SongCloud, 15 December 2012 - 10:12 PM.

[loydo]

Loydo,

Please read all of my responses through at least once before attempting to follow the procedures described. I would recommend printing them out, if you can, as you can check off each step as you complete it. If there's anything you don't understand or isn't totally clear, please come back to me for clarification.

Step1

We are going to get a good backup of the registry before we begin, just in case something goes wrong.

Backing Up Your Registry with ERUNT
Making changes to the registry is potentially dangerous and incorrect changes can prevent your system from booting properly. ERUNT (Emergency Recovery Utility NT) is a free program that allows you to keep a complete backup of your registry and restore it when needed. Compatible with Windows NT, 2000, 2003, XP, Vista, Windows 7, 32 & 64-bit versions.

• Download ERUNT
• Double-click erunt_setup.exe to run.
  
  • Vista and Windows 7 users will need to right click the erunt_setup.exe file and click Run as Administrator. If prompted by Windows UAC, allow it.
• Follow the prompts and install using the default configuration:
  
  
  • Select your preferred Setup language.
    
  • At the Setup screen click Next.
    
  • Accept the default destination folder by clicking Next.
    
  • Accept the default Start Menu Folder by clicking Next.
    
  • On the Select Additional Tasks Window, click Create ERUNT desktop icon only. Do Not check the Create NTREGOPT desktop icon. Then click Next.
    
  • Ready to Install. The Create NTREGOPT desktop icon will not be on the list. Click the Install button.
    
  • Say No to the portion that asks you to add ERUNT to the start-up folder, if you like you can enable this option later.
    
  • Setup has completed. Uncheck the check box to Show documentation. Click Finish.
    
  
  
• Click OK to start ERUNT
  
  
• Choose a location for the backup
  

  The default location C:\WINDOWS\ERDNT\[today's date] is preferred

• The first two check boxes are ticked by default (System registry and Current user registry).
• Press OK
  
  
• When prompted, click YES to create a new folder.
  
  
• Progress bars will show backup status.
  
  
• A confirmation window will pop up when complete.
  
  
• Click Ok to close.
  There is a Readme.txt file in the C:/Program Files/ERUNT folder that explains the program if you wish to know more about it.

Step2

Now we are going to create a .reg file to automatically remove the leftover Chrome entries from the registry.

Removal of leftover registry entries after Google Chrome uninstall

** BE SURE TO EXIT FROM ALL OTHER PROGRAMS BEFORE PROCEEDING WITH THE STEPS BELOW. **

• Open Notepad and copy/paste the text in the codebox below into the new Notepad document:
  

  Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
  
  [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.htm]
  @="htmlfile"
  
  [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.html]
  @="htmlfile"
  
  [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.shtml]
  @="htmlfile"
  
  [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xht]
  @="htmlfile"
  
  [HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xhtml]
  @="htmlfile"
  
  [-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ChromeHTML]
  
  [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.htm]
  @="htmlfile"
  
  [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.html]
  @="htmlfile"
  
  [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.shtml]
  @="htmlfile"
  
  [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.xht]
  @="htmlfile"
  
  [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.xhtml]
  @="htmlfile"
  
  [-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\ChromeHTML]

• Save the file to your desktop as ChromeFix.REG, make sure to change the save as file type from Text Documents (.txt) to All Files.
  
  
• Double Click on the ChromeFix.reg icon on your desktop.
  
  
• Click Yes to the prompt asking if you wish to add the information into the registry.
  
  
• Click OK to the prompt informing you that the information was successfully added to the registry.
  

That's it! Now try to open Outlook and click on a hyperlink again. The link should open properly in Internet Explorer again.

If you are still having problems or if you receive an error message, please post back and let me know.

[loydo]

I just replied to SongCloud, but do not see my response other than a copy of the message I was responding to. Please delete the posted reply from moments ago, I'll review procedure and try again.
-Loydo

[SongCloud]

You can always edit any post that you make, so if you need to, you can edit your post quoting my instructions to include any other information that you wanted to post originally.

Typically, the admins and mods don't delete posts except for extreme circumstances.