Every time I click on a link in an email in Outlook, a "locate link browser" window appears. There's a lot of help on the web to fix it for Win XP, but those steps don't appear to work for Windows 7.Here are some URL's of what I've tried already: http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/821692 http://www.slipstick.com/problems/firefox.htm(Some of these link refer to the DDE options in the advanced settings, but in Windows 7, the Control Panel's "Set Associations" screen doesn't have any advanced options.)The "locate link browser" window is asking for an exe file... so, I pointed the "locate link browser" window to "C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\iexplorer.exe" and the window isn't coming up anymore, but it just launches IE and my home page... not the link that was in the email. I also tried setting the default browser as Firefox (using the Control Panel's "Set Associations") . That works fine. the links from Outlook emails open fine in Firefox, but when I switch the default browser for the HTTP protocol (using the Control Panel's "Set Associations") back to IE, it goes back to launching IE and my home page and not the link that was in the email.Any idea on how to resolve this?

Please still try the method in the article KB821692 The Locate Link Browser dialog box appears when you open a Web link in an e-mail message in Outlook 2003 Also refer the following article. Identify File Types, Files, and Folders Arthur Xie - MSFT

Thank you...I checked out article KB821692. This article has steps for WinXP. They can be done using "Set Associations" in Windows 7 however, Windows 7 does not have any DDE checkbox or any advanced settings. So, when associating the HTTP protocol with IE, it reverts back to my old problem... which is that it just launches IE and my home page... not the link that was in the email. Could it be related to DDE? Is that a setting that can be adjusted elsewhere in Windows 7 since its to in the "Set Associations" screen?I also looked at the "Identify File Types, Files, and Folders" and it also discusses setting file associations like above. So, that didn't resolve the issue either.Any help you can provide would be appreciated.Thank you.

The KB article is applied for Windows 7. However the steps for changing the registered file type are for Windows XP. Therefore you may refer the Technet article to change the registered file type in Windows 7. FYI: 1. Click Start->Default Programs, and click Associate a file type or protocol with a program.2. On this screen, the registered file types are displayed.Arthur Xie - MSFT

Yes, I had already run that process. I can switch the HTTP protocol to either IE or Firefox without any problem... and yes, the "locate link browser" does not appear any more, but like I said, when it is associated with IE and I click on a link in an Outlook 2003 email, it launches IE and just my home page, but not the URL from the link in the email. Any idea there?

Please reset Internet Explorer and register files================= 1. Click Start, please type “inetcpl.cpl” (without quotation marks) in the Start Search bar and press Enter to open the Internet options window.2. Switch to the Advanced tab.3. Click the "Reset Internet Explorer Settings" button.4. Click Reset to confirm the operation.5. Click Close when the resetting process has finished.6. Uncheck the "Enable third-party browser extensions" option in the Settings box.7. Click Apply, click OK. If the issue still occurs, please temporary disable the antivirus and firewall, then check the result. If the isuse persists, temporarily remove the antivirus. Arthur Xie - MSFT

Thanks for the response.I walked through each step, but the issue still remains, when clicking on a link in an outlook email, it only launches my home page... not the link itself.Could it be an issue with outlook? If I create a link in Word and click on it, it lauches IE and to the correct page. Works perfectly.Its only an issue with links in outlook emails.

Thanks for the response. I walked through each step, but the issue still remains, when clicking on a link in an outlook email, it only launches my home page... not the link itself. Could it be an issue with outlook? If I create a link in Word and click on it, it lauches IE and to the correct page. Works perfectly. Its only an issue with links in outlook emails. Exactly the same problem here. I followed all the steps I could find on the net to no avail. (there aren't that many). I agree, it is an Outlook problem as other embedded links in other apps work just fine. But it is also and IE problem, as, when i make my default browser say, Chrome, everything works fine. Come on Microsoft, please give us a fix. This problem has been out in the wild long enough for it to have crossed some bright spark's desk.

I experienced this same problem described here and ultimately found that the links I was clicking on in the e-mails were malformed, e.g. starting with "ttp:\\" (missing the leading "h" from "http"). Check the links that are misbehaving by mousing over them to confirm that they are properly formed.

Does anyone has a step by step solotion using windows 7, all the recommended existing solution are for XP or 2000, and the steps listed does not exist on windows 7, come Microsoft please help...

Yes, I have the same problem and have searched for hours..... to no avail... nothing that fixes it.

Same problem here. I've spent the last week scouring the internet to no avail.

I believe it's been determined that Windows7 is not compatible with Outlook 2003. No fix available.

On Sat, 26 Feb 2011 04:20:13 +0000, gwong333 wrote: I believe it's been determined that Windows7 is not compatible with Outlook 2003.  No fix available. Sorry, that's not correct. Outlook versions older than 2003 are not compatible. Outlook 2003 is. Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP

Ken, you know someone with Outlook 2003 that CAN open the links inside the email on the Windows 7 OS?

This problem is still out there as of 3-15-11. I have a user that has the same problem. I have tried all kinds of fixes, but nothing has worked. No matter what link is clicked on in Outlook 2003 installed on Windows 7, it opens IE in it's home page. Please can someone help with this?

My wife has a VAIO desktop with Windows 7 Home Premium and Outlook 2003... and I have a Dell laptop with Windows 7 Professional and Outlook 2003. I've never switched my default browser away from IE. But her computer recently developed the Link Browser issue and I suspect it occurred when one of our daughters switched association of the default browser to Chrome. About a week ago, I switched it back to IE. But the problem has continued. 1) The .htm and .html associations on her computer are set to IE 2) The default browser is back to IE 3) The link in the preview pane of the email message does not work (it brings up Link Browser) but if you "forward" the message into a message window and then use CTRL+left-click on the same hyperlink, the link works. There must be secondary association coding that pertains only to the preview pane of Outlook 2003 which gets disrupted by the switch to another default browser... and which does not get reset when you revert to IE. Does that help someone who can pinpoint the change needed to remove this annoying problem?

I have a similar problem, and I followed all the recommendation above with no joy. Some links in an email work and some do not, although in some emails no links work, (when I say they do not work, I mean they go to no browser, it just displays the HTML code) and I moused over the links and they all appear to be fine. BTW, my default browser is Maxthon, although I have had IE as the default browser, and I get the same results. Surely, there must some fix for this, please???

I somehow fixed this problem of mine utilizing the "Default Programs" in the Control Panel. What I did was made sure Maxthon was the default browser, although it was, and made sure Outlook was my default email client, which it also was the default. But for some reason it allowed me to click on links in an email that previously did not work at all. It shouild be interesting if this so called fix does fix it, because it baffles me, for sure.

hi guys same problem with windows 7 and outlook 2003. however found a solution that works and gets rid of the 'locate link browser' SOLUTION: navigate to start menu and select 'default programmes' then select 'set programme access and computer defaults' once in this screen you will see choose a cionfiguration, select 'microsoft windows' your web browser should say internet explorer and e-mail programme should say 'use my current e-mail programme' click ok and this will resolve the issue. please be aware that the configuration will revert back to custom configuration. not sure why but the fix still works good luck guys

This should help all of you. I spent hours trying to fix this and I just happened to stumble upon the fix. Open your IE web browser Select Tools, Internet Options Got to your Programs tab, and click on Set Programs under Internet Programs Click on Set Program Access and Computer Defaults Click on the Custom pull down menu Select the IE radio button and deselect "Enable access to this program" for all other web browsers Click OK Chrom will immediately try to install DO NOT run it again. Chrome is the culprit here. I did this and it worked again. Good luck all!

I believe it's been determined that Windows7 is not compatible with Outlook 2003. No fix available. That's BS, plain and simple. You should avoid posting stuff that you know nothing about. I use Outlook 2003 with Windows 7 x64 Ultimate and it works just fine. I can click through links no problem. Something the original poster has done has broken this. I suspect it's something in the Outlook configuration, but I don't know what, specifically. Edit: Now that I've read the entire thread, I see Fackunda has posted a possible solution. Nice work! -Noel

Hi, I just wanted to let you know that your solution worked for me. I only wish I had taken the time to read down far enough before trying every other suggestion on this page. Also, according to Microsoft, Office 2003 and all of it's components are compatible with Windows7, 32 and 64 bit systems.

To Connor98: Thank you for your solution. It worked great for me.

Yeah it worked well on my system.. Thanks a lots :)

Same thing happens to me except it clears itself eventually. I use Firefox because IE began developing problems, then Chrome. Any suggestions for a different fix. Thanks.

IE "develops problems" primarily because of things web sites add into it. One strategy for cleaning it up is to try running IE without Add-ons. You can do this by clicking Start, typing add-on into the search box, then clicking Internet Explorer (no Add-ons) when it comes up. If you find the Add-ons are what are giving you problems, look in Tools - Manage Add-ons and disable those you don't know you need. IE really doesn't need Add-ons to function. -Noel

thanks noel, i'll definitely try that. i was looking for an adapted fix for the "locate link browser" problem which i also have from time to time but which though originating from outlook 3 as with others in this thread is, in my case, connected to firefox which is now my default browser. BUT i'll be interested to see how eliminating the add ons affects my IE browsing in case returning to IE seems to be a good idea. thanks again.