This is an actual Windows OS issue, specifically with assigning default programs. However, it may also be a browser setting issue. Regardless the following explains both how to assign for Windows XP OS itself & as default browser client.

The following link will show you how, where, and what to do regarding assigning gmail as your default email for windows XP OS

http://techfleece.com/2011/02/18/how-to-make-gmail-your-default-email...

Set Gmail as your default email in firefox

Additionally you can also set gmail as your default email client for your browser, in this case FireFox as follows.

Go to > Tools > Options, switch to the > Applications tab and type > mailto into the search field. You can now select an > Action for mailto links from the drop-down menu.

Let me know if you need any further help if neither solves your issue.

When I set Gmail as my default as you have suggested and I already tried, I go and click on the email link all I get is a blank page. will try the first option and let you know. It is all so frustrating as things had been working and now they are not edited to say that first option fixed the problem second one did not

Did the first option solve your problem? If so please select solved to close this question, if you are still encountering issues please inform & we will try something else.