IE8 Fails to open web site from email

I am running XP Home 32 bit SP3. IE8 is the default browser and I also
use Firefox, Thunderbird is my mail program. This has been my setup for
quite awhile. Just recently when I click on a link in an email an IE8
window opens but it is totally blank and the tab says "Connecting..."
however it never connects. If I right click the email link and select
Copy Link Location and then paste it into the address bar and hit Enter,
the window connects to the site. I believe something has changed in
IE8's setting but I cannot determine which one. Please advise what
might have happened so I can correct it.

Thanks,
Neil

Neil H wrote:

> I am running XP Home 32 bit SP3. IE8 is the default browser and I also
> use Firefox, Thunderbird is my mail program. This has been my setup for
> quite awhile. Just recently when I click on a link in an email an IE8
> window opens but it is totally blank and the tab says "Connecting..."
> however it never connects. If I right click the email link and select
> Copy Link Location and then paste it into the address bar and hit Enter,
> the window connects to the site. I believe something has changed in
> IE8's setting but I cannot determine which one. Please advise what
> might have happened so I can correct it.
>
> Thanks,
> Neil

Internet Options -> Advanced tab -> Reset button
Does that work to fix the problem?

As I recall, a reset sets all add-ons to disabled. You'll have to
reenable them after doing a reset. However, it could be the reset that
disabled all add-ons also disabled the add-on that causes the problem.

1a. Start | Settings | Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs | Set Program
Access and Defaults | Click on the downward-pointing arrows to the right of
the configuration that's already checked | Browser: Select "Internet
Explorer" here (not "Use my current...").

Illustration: http://www.winsupersite.com/images/r...p1_beta_03.gif

1b. Now check your settings here: IE Tools | Internet Options | Programs |
Default web browser.

2. If no joy, see http://www.oehelp.com/ielnk.aspx (ignore the reference to
OE)
--
~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-IE, Mail, Security, Windows Client - since 2002
www.banthecheck.com


Neil H wrote:
> I am running XP Home 32 bit SP3. IE8 is the default browser and I also
> use Firefox, Thunderbird is my mail program. This has been my setup for
> quite awhile. Just recently when I click on a link in an email an IE8
> window opens but it is totally blank and the tab says "Connecting..."
> however it never connects. If I right click the email link and select
> Copy Link Location and then paste it into the address bar and hit Enter,
> the window connects to the site. I believe something has changed in
> IE8's setting but I cannot determine which one. Please advise what
> might have happened so I can correct it.
>
> Thanks,
> Neil

I tried both of the above suggestions and neither did the job. IE8 does
seem to run faster but it will still not open a web site from an email
web link....

Neil


PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
> 1a. Start | Settings | Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs | Set Program
> Access and Defaults | Click on the downward-pointing arrows to the right
> of the configuration that's already checked | Browser: Select "Internet
> Explorer" here (not "Use my current...").
>
> Illustration: http://www.winsupersite.com/images/r...p1_beta_03.gif
>
> 1b. Now check your settings here: IE Tools | Internet Options | Programs
> | Default web browser.
>
> 2. If no joy, see http://www.oehelp.com/ielnk.aspx (ignore the reference
> to OE)

Contact TBird Support.

Neil H wrote:
> I tried both of the above suggestions and neither did the job. IE8 does
> seem to run faster but it will still not open a web site from an email
> web link....
>
> PA Bear [MS MVP] wrote:
>> 1a. Start | Settings | Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs | Set Program
>> Access and Defaults | Click on the downward-pointing arrows to the right
>> of the configuration that's already checked | Browser: Select "Internet
>> Explorer" here (not "Use my current...").
>>
>> Illustration:
>> http://www.winsupersite.com/images/r...p1_beta_03.gif
>>
>> 1b. Now check your settings here: IE Tools | Internet Options | Programs
>>> Default web browser.
>>
>> 2. If no joy, see http://www.oehelp.com/ielnk.aspx (ignore the reference
>> to OE)
<paste>
>> I am running XP Home 32 bit SP3. IE8 is the default browser and I also
>> use Firefox, Thunderbird is my mail program. This has been my setup for
>> quite awhile. Just recently when I click on a link in an email an IE8
>> window opens but it is totally blank and the tab says "Connecting..."
>> however it never connects. If I right click the email link and select
>> Copy Link Location and then paste it into the address bar and hit Enter,
>> the window connects to the site. I believe something has changed in
>> IE8's setting but I cannot determine which one. Please advise what
>> might have happened so I can correct it.