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Opening default mail client (Thunderbird) via links opens a dialoque box in IE, and results in a crash of both firefox and IE

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  • Last reply by crankygoat

Julia K
Julia K
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I am using firefox as default web browser and Thunderbird as default mail client on a Windows 7 system (and have been doing so for many years). Lately, when I click on an embedded email link, such as an email address displayed on a website, rather than opening Thunderbird directly, internet explorer opens a dialogue box and asks me to confirm to open Thunderbird, which then results in a crash, as IE continues to open the dialogue box several times at once. The result is that both firefox freezes and IE crashes, and the entire operation is not successful.

Please note that I did not change any settings manually, and I do not use IE for any operations.

I am using firefox as default web browser and Thunderbird as default mail client on a Windows 7 system (and have been doing so for many years). Lately, when I click on an embedded email link, such as an email address displayed on a website, rather than opening Thunderbird directly, internet explorer opens a dialogue box and asks me to confirm to open Thunderbird, which then results in a crash, as IE continues to open the dialogue box several times at once. The result is that both firefox freezes and IE crashes, and the entire operation is not successful. Please note that I did not change any settings manually, and I do not use IE for any operations.

All Replies (1)

crankygoat
crankygoat
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Unfortunately i am not anywhere near my Win 7 box, but can you check these 2 easy things for starters?

In the Start Menu, somewhere there should be a Default Programs setting. Maybe in the list on the right, or a shortcut. You should be able to pull it up by typing Default Programs in the search box in any event. Check that Thunderbird and Firefox are both set as defaults for mail and browser, respectively.

In Firefox, in Preferences (Menu → Preferences), scroll down to the Applications section and see that the mailto entry is set to Use Thunderbird Mail.

There may be some setting in Internet Control Panel making trouble, but the web is not being overly helpful in showing me all the tabs and settings.

Since we are getting a crash (or two), though, what you can do is to duplicate the crash (so there is a fresh log entry) and look at the Event Viewer. Absent looking for an Administrative Tools shortcut in the Start Menu, you can type eventvwr.msc in the search or run box and start it. In the Applications section, you should find some Error messages for Firefox and IE at the least. You may be able to copy text from the lower pane after selecting an error event. If you do this for all errors after the time the crash was initiated and paste it here, it might help.