Windows error opening Internet shortcut or local HTML file - Firefox: Difference between revisions

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Note that the "File Types" user interface as described above is not available in Windows Vista [http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=726848&SiteID=17] so you will need to edit the registry.
Note that the "File Types" user interface as described above is not available in Windows Vista [http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=726848&SiteID=17] so you will need to edit the registry.
(In Windows Vista)
Start menu -> All programs -> Default programs -> 
* Set this  program as default  -- Use the selected program (Firefox) to open all file type and  protocols it can open by default.  --or--
* Choose default for this  program -- Choose which file types and protocols the selected program (Firefox) opens by default.
Start menu -> All programs -> Associate a file type or protocol  with a program
*  Choose which file types and protocols the selected program (Firefox) opens by default.
** .htm, .shtml,  .xht, xhtml  and .html    --  Firefox Document  --  open with Firefox  ---- file extensions
** FTP, GOPHER, HTTP, HTTPS                --  Firefox URL          --  open with Firefox  ---- URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol
Sources:
* [http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/article02-500 annoyances.org] 


==Registry edit==
==Registry edit==

Revision as of 23:54, 26 October 2007

On some Windows systems, if Firefox is not already running and you click an Internet shortcut or local HTML file, two instances of Firefox may open, or Firefox may open along with the error dialog,
"Windows cannot find <url or path to file>. Make sure you typed the name correctly, and then try again. To search for a file, click the Start button, and then click Search."

Also, if Firefox is not open and you click a webpage link in a document or spreadsheet, Firefox may open a window with a message that the page could not be found with the address bar showing "FirefoxHTML%5CShell%5COpen%5CCommand" appended to the URL. [1]

An installed extension can cause the error dialog, specifically Adblock Plus version 0.7.5.2 [2] (fixed in version 0.7.5.3) so you should update your extensions as a first step. If the problem continues, try the following solutions (you may need to repeat these steps after a Firefox update):

File Types edit

(In Windows XP and Windows 2000)

  1. Open Windows Explorer (or My Computer).
  2. Go to Tools -> Folder Options -> File Types
  3. Select Extension: "(NONE)" File Type: "URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol"
  4. Click "Advanced". In the "Edit File Type" window, select "open" and click "Edit"
  5. Uncheck "Use DDE" (the dialog should then hide the lower part).
  6. Click OK for that dialog and the next one (afterwards, the "Use DDE" box is still checked but the "DDE Message" box will be cleared, as shown here)
  7. Repeat for Extension: "(NONE)" File Type: "URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol with Privacy" (and any other protocols you want to fix)
  8. Repeat for Extension: "(NONE)" File Type: "Firefox URL"
  9. Repeat for Extension: "HTM" (or "HTML") File Type: "Firefox Document"

Sources:

Note that the "File Types" user interface as described above is not available in Windows Vista [3] so you will need to edit the registry.

(In Windows Vista)

Start menu -> All programs -> Default programs ->

  • Set this program as default -- Use the selected program (Firefox) to open all file type and protocols it can open by default. --or--
  • Choose default for this program -- Choose which file types and protocols the selected program (Firefox) opens by default.

Start menu -> All programs -> Associate a file type or protocol with a program

  • Choose which file types and protocols the selected program (Firefox) opens by default.
    • .htm, .shtml, .xht, xhtml and .html -- Firefox Document -- open with Firefox ---- file extensions
    • FTP, GOPHER, HTTP, HTTPS -- Firefox URL -- open with Firefox ---- URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol

Sources:


Registry edit

You will need to manually edit the registry in Windows Vista or in cases where the File Types listing is missing certain entries such as "URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol" (HTTP) and "URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol with Privacy" (HTTPS).

Caution: Editing the registry incorrectly can damage your system. Do not attempt these steps if you are inexperienced or uncomfortable using the Registry Editor.

  1. Go to "Start -> Run" (or press the windows key+R) then type regedit and click OK
  2. Use the directory tree hierarchy to navigate to "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\HTTP\shell\open\ddeexec"
  3. Delete the "ddeexec" registry key
  4. Repeat for "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\HTTPS\shell\open\ddeexec" (and any other protocols you want to fix)
  5. Repeat for "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FirefoxURL\shell\open\ddeexec"
  6. Repeat for "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\FirefoxHTML\shell\open\ddeexec"

Sources:

Related bug reports