Outlook 2010 is preventing the use of links

I run up-to-date Windows 10 (2004) on a PC. I am still using Office 2010.


Since yesterday (30th August, 2020) I have been unable to use any links which occur in my received emails - I could before. When I click on any link I get this message:


"This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator."


Now, I am the system administrator, and I certainly haven't put such a restriction into effect. Sadly, I don't know how to remove this restriction either.


Can anyone help me with this, please?


Cheers


Ralph

Ralph,

link just corrected

This is a known problem with an established solution [but I am slightly concerned by seeing your report of it now because the last time must have been years ago].

See Removed IE and now I cannot open hyperlinks in Outlook 2010

Denis

Thanks for your prompt reply.
I'm still using Office 2010 because it does what I want and I can't see why I should upgrade.
The solutions to which you have pointed me are from some time ago and the registry on my PC does not have the suggested pathway. Also, I don't have a PC which does allow Outlook links to work, so I can't just export/import the relevant registry setting. The downloadable fix file does not mention Windows 10, so probably is not applicable.
My Browser is Firefox, which I've just reset: this didn't resolve the problem.
Assuming the solution lies with the registry, do you have a detailed version of how to fix this problem.
I'm not a numpty when it comes to computing, but I'm always a bit wary of dealing directly with the registry.
Cheers
Ralph

ralphholmes said:

Thanks for your prompt reply.
I'm still using Office 2010 because it does what I want and I can't see why I should upgrade.
The solutions to which you have pointed me are from some time ago and the registry on my PC does not have the suggested pathway. Also, I don't have a PC which does allow Outlook links to work, so I can't just export/import the relevant registry setting. The downloadable fix file does not mention Windows 10, so probably is not applicable.
My Browser is Firefox, which I've just reset: this didn't resolve the problem.
Assuming the solution lies with the registry, do you have a detailed version of how to fix this problem.
I'm not a numpty when it comes to computing, but I'm always a bit wary of dealing directly with the registry.
Cheers
Ralph

Ralph,

The thread I linked you to is a year old and
- The MS article that it has a link to was checked and updated a year ago. I can see that they took that opportunity to introduce a typo that might cause confusion but Method 3 remains the appropriate method.
- The Slipstick solution is only two years old.
- The problem itself has existed for at least a decade.
The solutions do apply to Windows 10.

Which Registry key do you not have? HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\htmlfile\shell\open\command?
Which 'downloadable fix file' do you mean? My reg file was written for IE [albeit with a note about Firefox] and Slipstick's was for IE/Chrome.

The reg file I provided in the thread that I linked you to can be amended {as noted below it} to cover Firefox as the default browser. I suggest 'Exporting' that Registry key before you start so you can return to the before state if you want [right-click on the key, Export and make sure you choose the SaveAs type .reg not .txt].

So copy this into Notepad

Code:

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\htmlfile\shell\open\command]
@="\ "C:\\Program Files\\Mozilla Firefox\\firefox.exe" %1"
"DelegateExecute"="{17FE9752-0B5A-4665-84CD-569794602F5C}"

and save it with a name like ResetBrowserCommand.reg then double click on it. You'll get one or two confirmation dialogs and then it will take action and report that it has been successfully 'merged'.

You should be fine with this fix but a more detailed version of the procedure is described in the Slipstick article.
Or you could simply reinstall Firefox [not just reset it] because a lot of people have reported that doing so makes the system sort the problem out at some stage during the installation process.
On at least one occasion, a user reported that reinstalling IE solved the problem even though another browser was the default.

Denis

wiganken said:

wiganken,

Where is that from? I'd like to study it properly.

Denis

wiganken said:

... but I have realised that my post #4 refers to links within MS Excel whereas this thread refers to links in MS Outlook emails ...

The problem has always affected any MS Office application. It's just reported more often for Outlook because people use links in it more often.

If you ever do remember where you got that page of instructions then please do come back to this thread to say so.

All the best,
Denis

Thanks for posting the source.

Denis