A common issue with Microsoft Internet Explorer is controlling the e-mail program used when you click on a mail address on a web page. If it’s not set correctly, you may get a "Can’t create object" error message.
Changing the default program
The easiest way to set the program is to use the Internet applet in Control Panel or choose View | Internet Options in MSIE. On the Programs tab, select the program you want to use from the Mail list.
If you don’t see a change, even after restarting MSIE or restarting Windows, then you can make this change manually. In Windows Explorer, choose View | Options. On the File Types tab, you’ll need to edit the Open event for "URL:MailTo Protocol." Sample entries are as follows, for different Microsoft e-mail programs:
Internet Mail and News | rundll32.exe C:\Windows\System\Mailnews.dll,Mail_RunDLL |
| Outlook Express | "C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\Msimn.exe" /mailurl:%1 |
| Windows Messaging or Microsoft Exchange | rundll32.exe url.dll,MailToProtocolHandler "%1" |
| Microsoft Outlook | "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\Outlook.exe" -c IPM.Note /m "%1" |
Adjust the path to Mailnews.dll or Outlook.exe as needed to match your own system.
Notes
Outlook 8.02 and later versions support additional parameters in mailto commands placed in web pages and e-mail messages, to add the subject and more recipients. Some examples:
mailto:someone@slipstick.com;test@example.com?subject=Comment mailto:test@example.com?subject=Suggestion?cc=me@mycompany.com?bcc=myboss@mycompany.com
More Information
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Last reviewed on Dec 5, 2011
Thanks for bringing this to my attention. In Windows 7, in Internet Options, Programs tab, click Programs – or in the Start menu’s Search field type default programs – on the default programs dialog, use the top entry, Set your default programs.
WINDOWS 7 DOES NOT HAVE ANY OF THE TABS THAT YOU
SPEAK OF IN YOUR TUTOTIAL. HOW DO I FIND OUT HOW TO
SET UP DEFAULT FOR WINDOWS 7.
That still does not correct the problem. Att/Yahoo does not show up as a default program so you can’t select it. I’ve tried everything to change the MAILTO protocol. The only choices I get are Google and Windows live. I want to use my yahoo/att to send mail. Also in the Internet Explorer options under the programs tab, att/yahoo isn’t in the list. How do I get it to be my default MAILTO program?
If you access Yahoo through the web browser, you can’t set it as the default. unless you install the yahoo toolbar – http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/mail/classic/settings/settings-10.html
still confused….I already have the yahoo toolbar installed. ATT and yahoo are the same; well actually it’s called att powered by yahoo. I have the yahoo toolbar installed with messenger. So I don’t understand what you are saying I need to do in reference to accessing yahoo through web browser. what does that mean?
When I access the Internet Options/Programs on my computer it shows that EUDORA is the program default used for e-Mail. In reality, when I click on a link to an e-Mail account my system tries to start the Outlook Wizard, which I do not wish to use. I have not been able to disable this function, and my setup still continues to show EUDORA as the default program for e-Mail. Is there any work around? I currently use Windows XP SP3, with MS Office 2002 and 2010 installed on my system. Is this a function of MS Office 2010, in that it will not recognize my settings?
The mailto: protocol is probably associated with Outlook. If you aren’t using Outlook, I would uninstall it… otherwise, go to Windows Explorer’s Tools, Options, file types tab and look for url:mailto in the file type column. It’s near the bottom (I actually have two on my windows xp install) – select it and click advanced, then select open and click edit. I’m not sure i you just need the path to eudora, only that you don’t want Outlook.