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
Problem- MSIE 3.0 Error – "Cannot Find …"
OL2002 Error Message When You Send E-Mail from Third-Party Program Either There Is No Default Mail Client or the Current Mail Client Cannot Fulfill the Messaging Request
Articles that may interest you:
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?