Error message when you click a Mailto: link-Windows Xp Tips and Tricks-Windows Xp Tips and Tricks

Error message when you click a Mailto: link

Applies to:

Windows XP/2000

When you click on a Mailto: link, you may receive the following error message:

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

The mail client may also invoke several windows followed by the error message:

Action Cancelled

The reason these errors could occur is due to either:

A missing String value in the Windows Registry

-or- 

Registry Mailto key permissions are set incorrectly

To resolve this issue:

Resetting the default email client:

Go to Start>> Run. Type in: control inetcpl.cpl [Enter] or click OK.

Select the Programs tab.

Open the email dropdown menu and select another email client.

Click Apply.

Go back through steps 1 - 5 and reset your email client from the email dropdown menu. Click

Apply.

If this does not resolve your issue, try this:

Note: The following instructions involves editing the Windows Registry. Please be sure to make a backup copy before making any changes.

Create a new registry string value:

Note: Administrators, be sure that all users have READ access to the following Registry key.
Go to Start>> Run. Type in: regedit [Enter] or click OK.

Navigate to:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto
Single click the "mailto" entry to view its contents in the right pane.
Right click an empty portion of the right pane.
Select New>> String Value
Name the new string value: URL Protocol
Exit the Windows Registry.