cannot open links in my e-mail or help section in windows Live Mail

Hi gang,
For about a week I haven't been able to open links to websites that my
contacts send me in their E-mails. The only way I can go about it is to
copy the link and paste it in Explorer. Even more peculiar, I have the same
problem when I try to go to the Help section of Windows Live Mail. When it
first started, I was using Windows Mail. I thought that it would solve
itself by switching to Windows Live Mail, but it remained the same. I get
is a message that says "Application not found". What can I do?

Is Internet Explorer your default browser? Make sure it has all
of its defaults:
Open the Default Programs applet, which you can access either from
the Start menu or via the Control Panel, then click the first item:
"Set your default programs."
After a few seconds, a list of programs comes up. Click on "Internet
Explorer". If it doesn't respond with "This program has all its defaults"
then fix it by clicking on the option indicated by the first green arrow.

I've had a similar problem for some time - although it is not consistent.
Some links work - the majority do not. If I hover the cursor over the link
it turns into a hand. If I click on the link then a series of dots appear
all the way around the link - but nothing happens.
I've done a fair bit of Googling on the subject and the only advice I have
come across is to ensure that all the defaults are set for Windows Mail and
for IE7. I have - and they are - but the problem persists. It's annoying to
have to copy and paste the link but I'm learning to live with it!!

See the resolution I gave Robert yesterday.

Whilst I appreciate your interest - if you read through my post you will
note that I have already tried your 'resolution' - and it doesn't work!

I reread your post and did not see a specific cite of my resolution.
There was an unspecific reference to "ensure that all the defaults are set"
but that means different things to different people.

There is a variation of the Default Programs fix which is sometimes
more successful in stubborn cases. The following procedure will
rewrite the default protocol assignments in the registry:
Open the Default Programs applet, then click on "Set program
access and computer defaults." Expand the Custom selection, and
select Windows Mail. Click OK.
Repeat for Internet Explorer.

I have a question. Do you have ANY suggestions to try if the Windows Live
Mail still is saying "application not found" when trying to click on a link
and I have followed all adivce on setting the defaults for Internet Explorer
and Windows Live Mail??

If you have done both of the Default Programs fixes mentioned below
for Internet Explorer, then I don't know what else you can do.

I had same problem but just fixed mine. In IE8 I went to tools and
clicked on "Manage Add-ons". Went to email and Windows Live Was enabled
but not default (even after I had made it my default) I made it default
there and wa-la everything is working fine again. Hope this helps.