"PA Bear [MS MVP]" wrote in message
...

David Haggas wrote:
paste
I recently lost ability to launch a usenet link from IE8 favourites.
Normally OE6 is launched and the newsgroup opened. IE8 has stopped
working
in this way even when the news URL is copied directly into the address
bar.
Chrome and Firefox browsers continue to work normally and automatically
launch OE. I have not (knowingly) changed any IE8 settings and it is my
default browser.
/paste
Start he Start he http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com

Then make IE your default browser again.

Made Firefox default then IE8. Made no difference.
FF and Chrome both launch OE even when they are not the default browser.
There must be a corrupt or missing file somewhere. Re-install IE8?
Windows update is up to date.

To keep track of things, it helps immensely if you quote all of the
previous
message(s) in your replies to the newsgroup. Thank you.

Apologies.

Do links in an OE message open in IE, FF, or Chrome?

Yes.


1a. Start | Settings | Control Panel | Add/Remove Programs | Set Program
Access and Defaults | Click on the downward-pointing arrows to the right
of
the CUSTOM configuration | Browser: Select "Internet Explorer" here (not
"Use my current...").

Illustration:
http://www.winsupersite.com/images/r...p1_beta_03.gif

1b. Now check your settings he IE Tools | Internet Options | Programs |
Default web browser.

This is set to Internet explorer is the default web browser

2. If still no joy, see
http://www.slipstick.com/problems/li...trict.htm#reg2

TIP: Setting up Outlook Express to access Microsoft newsgroups
http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/ou...snewreader.htm

Outlook express is set up. Other browsers open it from favourites or from a
news URL in the address bar.

To repeat the problem I am trying to resolve:
Typing (for e.g)
news:microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6_out lookexpress into the IE8
address bar has no effect.

Typing news:microsoft.public.windows.inetexplorer.ie6_out lookexpress into
the address bar of Chrome or Firefox launches outlook express and opens the
newsgroup. IE6 (and initially IE8) did the same. Now, IE8 will not do for
some reason.

David