Could not perform this operation because the default mail client is not properly installed

[andrewcroll@shaw.ca]

Have a Vista Home Premium 32 Bit Toshiba Notebook. I keep getting the
following error:

"Could not perform this operation because the default email client is
not properly installed."

whenever I try to follow an email link on a web page. I tried
installing Outlook 2007 and Windows Mail Live, and of course I have
Windows Mail on my computer whether I want it or not. I get the same
answer no matter what client I try to use. Of course, I can get the
mailto address from properties, and it works just fine if I drop this
into the address line of an email.

Atthe moment I'm using Windows Mail Live as a client.

I have looked at some of the threads on this topic, and I must confess
I don't understand what most of this is all about. However I get worried
about some of the remedies causing the computer to freeze.

I would really appreciate it if someone could explain in pretty simple
language what is wrong, what I need to do, and how to protect my files
etc if the computer locks. I have a continuous background backup to a
standalone harddrive, but I'd hate to have to start from scratch.

Thanks in advance for any help anyone can give me.

[philo]

Make sure that whichever email client you have configured
is set as your default

Have you set a default mail client in Internet Explorer Tools/Internet
Options/Programs?

I have set each of my email clients in turn as the default. And after
setting it as the default, I still get the same message.

[santashelper]

alright I had this same problem and the fix is pretty easy.

you need to do to the tools tab in IE and then to the internet options.

then click the programs tab and at the bottom select - set programs

then click on set program access and computer defaults

then select custom and click on the double arrows on the far right. this will pull down a screen that has the computers current settings... the second option down should be default email program - make sure you select a specific program on the list and not just "use my current email problem" - once you start using multiple mail clients this is a common problem.

that should fix it!

[Disney]

Thanks santashelper, I was stupid enought because of work time constraints to
pay somebody to come out and fix this issue. They could not. I found some
time and did a search and found your solution, which once you know the
information is very easy to do.

Thanks for sharing the information. I may not have saved money this time,
but being aware now that there are helpful people out there like yourself , I
look at this website in the future for any similar problems.

[Empress of China]

I have had this same problem and I tried the solution from santashelper with
no luck. I tried exactly the same thing but unfortunately no luck. Very
frustrating. Any other suggestions?

[phanhuuhoan]

why ? demo !