error message: default mail client not properly installed

Apologies if answer is elsewhere I am not very proficient at searching.
I just clicked on a hyperlink to email someone and get a message saying
the message could not be sent because the default email client is not
installed. Would appreciate knowing how to fix this. Thanks.

You need to tell us what your normal or desired email method is.
Do you prefer to use a specific email program, or do you use webmail
via Hotmail, Yahoo or some other method?

it sounds like Windows Mail does not have all of its defaults,
in particular, the MailTo protocol. To fix this:
Go to Default Programs, 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 Windows Mail.
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.

Did you verify through Default Programs that Windows Mail has
all three of its defaults? Please describe the symptoms you are
seeing, what error message you get, and the steps that cause
that error message to pop up.

I have now managed successfully to add the 'MailTo' protocol to the protocol
list and everything works ok.
Thank you very much for the help that you have given me to sort this problem
out.

If that first Default Programs procedure did not fix the problem,
try this variation:
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.

I am having the same issue, after installing a trial of outlook. I am not a
computer tech by any means, but I stumbled on the fix for my computer after
trying the fixes above. In vista, in the same box with the set default
programs is (Set program access and computer details). In that link I chose
the Custom drop down and found default email program then selected windows
mail. It fixed my error.

Repeat the Default Programs procedure I gave earlier,
except click on Internet Explorer instead of Windows Mail.

If that does not fix it, open Default Programs, select "Associate
a file type or protocol..." When that opens, scroll all the way down
to where the Protocols section is, then see which program is
assigned to the MailTo protocol.

Hi Gary,
1. did not fix it.
2. I think you have hit on the problem as 'MailTo' is not in the list of
protocols.
I have:-
FTP set to default Internet Explorer
GOPHER set to default Navigator
HTTP set to default Internet Explorer
HTTPS set to default Internet Explorer
LDAP set to default Windows Contacts
MMS set to default Windows Media Player
NEWS set to default Windows Mail.
NNPT set to default Windows Mail
SNEWS set to default Windows Mail

I am not sure how to add 'MailTo' as a protocol.

[mklink]

Hi Gary - hoping you can help here too.

Using Windows XP, Outlook 2003, Internet Explorer 6

Problem: when clicking 'email video' on a website (keloland.com) system freezes for about 20 seconds, begins opening 59 copies of Internet Explorer. Once all have opened, I right click on task bar and click 'close group'. Error message that is displayed is 'Could not perform this operation because the default mail client is not properly installed'.

Tried: IE Tools set to Outlook (moved to hotmail and back again)
Start, Set Program Access & Defaults - My Microsoft Email Program
Installed update of Windows Media Player
IE 7 wont install (haven't taken the time to troubleshoot that yet)

Help any ideas???

Thanks in advance...

I use Windows Mail, but after installing and un-installing a free
version of Microsoft Office, I started getting the error message
"default mail client not properly installed" when I would click on web
page email links. I tried all the fixes I could find in this forum but
none solved my problem. However, I was able to get Windows Mail working
properly again simply by going to start, default programs, set program
access and computer defaults, then chose Microsoft Windows and click OK.
This action somehow added the MailTo protocol back into the file
associations and the configuration automatically went back to custom.
Hope this works for you too.

HERE'S WHAT WORKED FOR ME. I was unable to click any "mailto" links and
"send link by email" was greyed out in Internet Explorer as well. Per
other suggestions, I'd already made sure Windows Mail was the default
program, even selected something different and set it back to Mail, but
no change.

So this is what I did and everything works now! :D

You can always revert to the original settings, so be sure to make a
note of what they were before you changed them.

(1) click Start (you know, the symbol)
(2) click Default Programs
(3) click Set Program Access and Computer Defaults
(4) click Continue
(5) click the dot next to Custom
(6) click the down arrows next to Custom
(7) set Choose a default e-mail program = Windows Mail
(8) other changes as you wish
(9) click OK
(10) close window

This gibberish is like me telling you how to install a new set of pistons in
Harley 2009 Davidson motor. All I want to do is end my email messages and
there is all this nightmare tech stuff to deal with. Guess I will just send
the message via USPS and forget about this BS.

Installing pistons in an engine is quite easy.
As is configuring an email program, if you use the correct instructions and
settings.

[bettyjo22]

i was having the same problem and tried everything. this worked for me. thank you so much!

well, I also followed the instructions exactly, and did not work.

(btw, I HAVE reinstalled pistons & all sorts of other parts in a H-D engine, and I assure you this email nightmare is MUCH more difficult & time-consuming)

With all this MVPs and experts and stuff, here on this forum, isn't there anyone who can help those of us who get this "email client not properly installed" message ?????

I'm sure it's not that difficult, as long as a knowledgeable person is providing the instructions.

You didn't say which instructions you followed, so I have no idea
what you tried already. I also don't see a problem statement
from you in this thread.