All this while I’ve been using The Bat! as my email client to download and check all my emails. I noticed that whenever I click on any hyperlink or URL in the email message, I will get an error message that says it couldn’t find the file specified. But weirdly in a few seconds, my default browser (Firefox) opens and loads the website. It works, except that I must click see the annoying error message and click the OK button. I finally got fed up of this error and researched on what is causing this problem and how to fix it.
For people who are using Windows Mail in Windows Vista, you’ll get an error that says “Windows cannot find ‘http://www.website.com/’. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again.“
If you’re using Microsoft Outlook, you’ll get a slightly different error that says “General failure. The URL was: “http://www.website.com/”. The system cannot find the file specified.” Even one of the most powerful email client The Bat! is not spared from this error. It will only say “http://www.website.com/” – The system cannot find the file specified“
I’ve manage to find the cause of this problem and also how to fix general failure when opening a link or URL from Outlook, Windows Mail and The Bat!
If you’re only using Internet Explorer, very likely you won’t encounter this problem but if you do, simple setting the Internet Explorer as default browser will fix the problem.
This problem will exist when all 4 criterias are met:
1. Firefox is installed
2. Firefox is set as default browser
3. Google Toolbar extension for Firefox is installed
4. Firefox is not running
To fix this problem in Windows XP and Vista, you need to edit the registry. Go to Start > Run > type regedit and click OK. Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FirefoxURL\shell\open\ddeexec. At the right pane, double click the (Default) name to bring up the Edit String window. You should see the data value “%1″,,0,0,,,,. Just clear off and leave the value data blank. Click OK to close the Edit String window.
You will no longer see the annoying general failure error window anymore whenever open a link from Outlook. This is only a temporary fix because whenever you’ve updated a newer version of Firefox, you might need to do this all over again. Let’s hope the upcoming Firefox 3 will fix this problem. So far I’ve tested Outlook Express, Mozilla Thunderbird, The Bat!, Windows Mail and Microsoft Outlook. Only Outlook Express and Thunderbird are not affected by this.
works a treat!well done!
After trying the registry edit and a few other things to no avail, I found a very simple solution that worked.
Open Internet Explorer and make it the default browser. Then open Firefox and make it the default browser. Now my Outlook links open in Firefox like I want them too instead of producing errors.
It works for mee too.
(Got this problem just after installing FireFox 4)
If any of the previous does not fixt this the key at HKCR\HTTP\shell\open\command with a Default value of “”C:\Program Files\Internet Explorer\IEXPLORE.EXE” -nohome” was the fix that corrected the issue.
Thanks it worked by making IE as the default browser.
The issue started after I uninstalled Firefox from my laptop.
Elizabeth says:
February 19, 2009 at 4:12 pm
I solved the above problem by setting my default browser as Firefox as per instructions above. However, now, when I click a link from an email instead of getting the error I get absolutely nothing…..nothing comes up at all. What would you recommend now?
used to have that error too! but i was able to fix it by using the “Set program access and computer defaults” option of windows.
- Click the Start menu
- Click All Programs
- Click �Set program access and computer defaults�
- Select Custom then click on the drop arrow
Look for �Choose a default web browser� and select Mozilla Firefox
Above inputs are very valuable/simple solution to fix this issue, and I got the issue sloved by using this method. btw, my web browser is maxthon.
Followed your steps and still the problem persists!!
it didn’t work for me :o(
Thanks Brad.
Finally something worked for those of us using IE.
I still haver this problem and I only have IE8 installed on XP SP3 Outlook 2007. The Firefox fix does not apply to me any ideas?
Thanks
thank you. so straight forward.
Very good! I switched back to Thunderbird because of this but found out that I really didn’t like Thunderbird and just decided to put up with the error.
It really didn’t start happening until the latest version of FF was installed.
Anyway, this did the trick and I THANK YOU!
I had the problem with IE8, no firefox installed. To fix, I backup these 2 registry keys and deleted the default values. Seems happy now.
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\http\shell\open\ddeexec]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\https\shell\open\ddeexec]
If that doesn’t work, also try these two keys:
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\htmlfile\shell\opennew\ddeexec]
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\htmlfile\shell\open\ddeexec]
I’ve now run into this running WinXP SP3, IE8, Firefox 3.0.0.6 and Outlook 2007. IE8 is the default browser and the Firefox DDE entry is nonexistent in the registry. Any other suggestions?
Elizabeth’s instructions fixed it for me. I did not have to play with the registry or set IE (blech) as the default browser. Closed both Firefox and Outlook, restarted them and am good to go. Thanks, Elizabeth!
I am having the problem with Google Chrome as the default,,, any help?
I solved the above problem by setting my default browser as Firefox as per instructions above. However, now, when I click a link from an email instead of getting the error I get absolutely nothing…..nothing comes up at all. What would you recommend now?
used to have that error too! but i was able to fix it by using the “Set program access and computer defaults” option of windows.
- Click the Start menu
- Click All Programs
- Click �Set program access and computer defaults�
- Select Custom then click on the drop arrow
Look for �Choose a default web browser� and select Mozilla Firefox
plez give me kaspersky internet security 2009with 1 year key file
hi Raymond,
Thank you for your valuable advice. I fixed the problem by making IE my default browser.
Thanks i was able to resolve the error after making ie as default browser, thanks again
it is very nice
eu estou sem entende.
como criar um url?
alguem pode me informa
fico muito agradecido ,obrigado
Ever since I went back to Firefox 2.0 from 3.0 (a subject for another day!) I have not been able to open links in emails when using Outlook 2002. Used your suggestion to edit the registry and Yes! – don’t get the annoying message with the accompanying inability to open links. Works great not, thanks Ray!
great, the issue with “general failure the url was” FIXED!
I use The Bat! and Firefox on Windows XP SP3 an had this problem. Before this day, when find this solution :)
Thanx!
Boa dica, mas e quando o valor já esta zerado… e continua dando o mesmo erro.
Não precisei alterar, já estava zerado.
Thank you
I ONLY and i cant stress that out enough .. I only got the mentioned problems when i installed foxy proxy addon in firefox browser.
For some strange reason i never had those kind of EXACTLY the Same issues described above untilll i installed the \”foxy proxy addon\” for FF2 and above!!!!
I noticed that issue arrised right after i start to used foxy proxy!!
and not because i made firefox my default browser or a nything
STrange strange…!
Merci !
Par contre cela ne marche qu’une fois…
Après l’erreur revient.
Dommage…
Firefox solved:
Make IE default.
Close all browsers.
Make Firefox default again.
Solved.
Thanks for solving this annoying problem!
Danke Gut.
Geholfen hat diese Festhaltung sehr.
Das Problem startete auf meinen Nerven zu laufen.
F
i used to have that error too! but i was able to fix it by using the “Set program access and computer defaults” option of windows.
- Click the Start menu
- Click All Programs
- Click
I still get the error after removing the information in default. I dot not have the google bar for firefox installed. Firefox is running and still gives the error.
The only solution I dislike greatly is setting ie as the default. It defeats the purpose of using firefox.
super
Thanks for the fix, I was having this problem opening links from Pidgin.
One thing I’d like to point out is that your third criterion, having the Google toolbar installed, is not necessary for this problem to occur (although maybe I’ve done something else that would have the same effect).
Final-freaking-ly!
Thanks. It worked perfectly. It has annoyed me for long enough.
Easy when you know how?:)
Bonjour,
Sous xp j’avais une autre solution mais sous Vista je n’ai pas peu retrouver ou je devais le faire.
Parcontre tu dis donne une solution dans la base de donnée mais par exemple moi sous vista je n’ai pas le dernier dossier du nom /ddeexec, je n’ai que celui-ci /command avec seulement la valeur “%1″ et non “% 1″, 0,0,,,,. J’ai supprimé la valeur “%1″ et tout roule.
Merci
dude, that was getting on my last nerve! I don’t really like IE as much as I like FireFox so thanks sooooo much for the info and quick fix! keep rockin!
Raymond,
This work-around worked perfectly for me!
MANY THANKS!!!
Raymond,
This problem has plagued me and my family for more than a year. Your solution did the trick. You are a genius, Raymond. I wonder how this gets set incorrectly in the register, but if I never find out the root cause, I’m still a happy camper!
Thanks, Dan
It worked once. After I reopened a link in OUTLOOK the same error reappeared.
Thanks for the great post. I don\’t use Outlook, but your post helped me figure out a problem I was having with links in Thunderbird suddenly not opening in my default browser.
Thanks, that has been a problem for toooooo long.
hai Raymond,
I am planning to make a website. Can you suggest me some excellent softwares for web page creation. I should be able to make impressive websites using javascripts, flash etc. Doesn\’t matter even if it NOT a free software.
Please do help me
I had this problem once, when updating my XP to Vista. I solved it by making IE7 my default browser. Thanks Raymond