Links within email open a problematic browser window

When I click on links in Outlook Express 5 email, it no longer takes
me to the link. It opens a new browser window as before, but the
address line stays blank and it goes nowhere. This just started
happening.

When I tried again today, I noticed that the news browser window is
NOT the same as the browser window that opens when I click on my IE
launch link. I sa that because there are two different versions of my
customized toolbar on them. The browser window opening when I click
on a link within email is a slightly older & screwed up version based
on what shows up in the toolbar. (I say "screwed up" because that
toolbar dropped the Customization option somehow.)

If I copy the shortcut from the email and paste it into the address
bar on that new browser window, then IE does go to the link AND the
toolbar in that window changes to match my launch-link version.

??? Now what? I have not a clue as to what to do about this.

One factor that may or may not have played into this. I used "Toolbar
Chest" to save/restore my IE toolbar because from time to time it
would go kaflooey on me. I don't know whether that has anything to
do with this current problem. I have used Toolbar Chest several times
to restore my toolbar setting and it never before affected the
connection of links from within email.

When I noticed the "screwed up" toolbar a few days ago -- that is, it
no longer had a Customization option, I just rebooted. I don't think
I even used Toobar Chest. The Customization option reappeared, so I
added an icon to the toolbar, and then saved it with Toobar Chest. It
appeared to work fine; it comes up when I launch Internet Explorer.
Rather, it is the new browser window generated by clicking on an email
link that is problematic.

Am running Win98SE, OE5, IE5, on IBM pc.

(1) "START, Run, MSInfo32, Tools menu, IE Repair Tool"
It produces a rather large "Fix IE Log.txt" in C:\Windows. IE & E
are basically one & the same. If this crashes, an over-install of IE is
indicated.

(2) Over-install IE. Try first without, but I believe it will request an
internet connection. Perhaps it is best to let it connect, actually. If
you don't care to get this fancy, just skip to step (c).

(a) Turn off interfering programs. Use http://www.pcmag.com/ 's
"StartupCop" or "EndItAll2". Or "START, Run, MSConfig, Startup tab".
Note what is unchecked, if anything. Then, go to the General tab &
disable the entire Startup Group, by clicking "Selective.." & unchecking
"Load Startup...". Reboot.

(b) Perhaps, if you haven't got EndItAll2, then "Ctrl-Alt-Del" & end
task all but Explorer & Systray. If this goes badly, start again from
top, & skip it next time.

(c) "START, Find, F/F, IE6Setup.exe". Click it in the Find window.
NOTE: If you are IE5, then it's "IE5Setup.exe". If there are more
than one (I have two each), click the one in "C:\WINDOWS\Windows
Update Setup Files" or "C:\Windows Update Setup Files", as applicable.

(d) Re-enable the Startup Group. That will automatically check all
items. Go to the Startup tab & uncheck any noted in step (a). Reboot.

(e) Perhaps go to Windows Update, to see whether it now offers
criticals.


--
Thanks or Good Luck,
There may be humor in this post, and,
Naturally, you will not sue,
should things get worse after this,
PCR

"BArun" wrote in message
om...
| When I click on links in Outlook Express 5 email, it no longer takes
| me to the link. It opens a new browser window as before, but the
| address line stays blank and it goes nowhere. This just started
| happening.
|
| When I tried again today, I noticed that the news browser window is
| NOT the same as the browser window that opens when I click on my IE
| launch link. I sa that because there are two different versions of my
| customized toolbar on them. The browser window opening when I click
| on a link within email is a slightly older & screwed up version based
| on what shows up in the toolbar. (I say "screwed up" because that
| toolbar dropped the Customization option somehow.)
|
| If I copy the shortcut from the email and paste it into the address
| bar on that new browser window, then IE does go to the link AND the
| toolbar in that window changes to match my launch-link version.
|
| ??? Now what? I have not a clue as to what to do about this.
|
| One factor that may or may not have played into this. I used "Toolbar
| Chest" to save/restore my IE toolbar because from time to time it
| would go kaflooey on me. I don't know whether that has anything to
| do with this current problem. I have used Toolbar Chest several times
| to restore my toolbar setting and it never before affected the
| connection of links from within email.
|
| When I noticed the "screwed up" toolbar a few days ago -- that is, it
| no longer had a Customization option, I just rebooted. I don't think
| I even used Toobar Chest. The Customization option reappeared, so I
| added an icon to the toolbar, and then saved it with Toobar Chest. It
| appeared to work fine; it comes up when I launch Internet Explorer.
| Rather, it is the new browser window generated by clicking on an email
| link that is problematic.
|
| Am running Win98SE, OE5, IE5, on IBM pc.