Windows error opening Internet shortcut or local HTML file - Firefox
From MozillaZine Knowledge Base
On some Windows systems, an error dialog, "Windows cannot find [URL]" may appear (or two Firefox windows/tabs may open) whenever you click on an Internet shortcut or local HTML file. If you are experiencing these problems, try the following:
File Types edit
In Windows XP or Windows 2000:
- Open Windows Explorer
- Go to Tools -> Folder Options -> File Types
- Select Extension: "(NONE)" File Type: "URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol"
- Click "Advanced". In the "Edit File Type" window, select "open" and click "Edit"
- Uncheck "Use DDE" (the dialog should then hide the lower part)
- Click OK for that dialog and the next one (afterwards the DDE message box will be cleared, as shown here).
- Repeat for Extension: "(NONE)" File Type: "URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol with Privacy"
- Repeat for Extension: "(NONE)" File Type: "Firefox URL" (and any other protocols you want to fix).
- Repeat for Extension: "HTM (or "HTML") File Type: "Firefox Document".
Sources:
- Bug 246078 comment 6
- MozillaZine forum post (more here and here)
Registry edit
In cases where the URL entries are missing from the File Types listing you can manually edit the Windows registry as follows. Caution: Do not attempt these steps if you are inexperienced or uncomfortable editing the Windows registry.
- In Start -> Run, type "regedit" and press Enter.
- Use the directory tree hierarchy to navigate to "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\HTTP\shell\open\ddeexec".
- Delete the "ddexec" registry key
- Repeat for "HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\HTTPS\shell\open\ddeexec"
Source: Bug 137363 comment 9
