Problem opening https links

[#1]

I've suddenly started having problems opening https links that are in emails. Hopefully, I have been able to attach part of a screen print showing the message I get when I try it.

Does anyone know the solution, please?

In case it helps, I'm using Win 7 and Mozilla Thunderbird

[#2]

Hey @penneck 

It looks like you need to re-associate your default browser with web links. Which browser is it you're using?

i.e. Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Edge, etc?

Thanks 

[#3]

I tend to use IE11, but I also have Chrome (I prefer IE11 but it has developed a few funnies recently). IE11 was loaded with Win 7 all those years ago. Chrome only got loaded a few months ago, so I guess the system still thinks IE11 is my default browser.

I prefer IE11 to Chrome - Chrome seems to prefer finding business sites that want to sell me things rather than the information I am looking for

Cheers

[#4]

Perhaps I should have asked in my previous post "How do I re-associate these links with my browser?"

[#5]

I pasted "How do I re-associate these links with my browser?" into DuckDuckGo & the first hit was

https://www.groovypost.com/unplugged/change-default-web-browser-windows-10/

It seems to have assumed that I was interested in Windows, which I'm not.

[#6]

I'm using Windows 7, not Windows 10.

When I go into Control Panel>Default Programs, down to the bit where it states "Associate a file type or protocol with a program" and it includes .mp3 and http:// as examples of what it means by file or protocol, I click on that line to bring up the list of file types and protocols. Unfortunately http:// doesn't show in the list, not even in the protocols at the bottom.

(1) Does http:// appear in the list, not as http://, but in disguise, so I'm seeing it without realising?

(2) Is http:// not being in the list a clue that somehow something has been lost from my pc, and if so (a) what is it, and (b) how do I recover it?

[#7]

Hi @penneck 

I haven't used W7 for a while I'm afraid so had to rely on third party information.

It looks like this may do the job though:

https://www.dummies.com/computers/pcs/how-to-set-default-browser-and-e-mail-programs-in-windows-7-an...

I think you'd click your browser on the left, then on the right pane set as default.

Many thanks

[#8]

Thanks Jon. I have done what you suggested, but I still get that little 'Launch Application' window. Never mind. Thanks for your help

[#9]

A little bit of additional information. My email program Mozilla Thunderbird updated two days ago. Perhaps there is a fault in it. Is it possible to force Thunderbird do a fresh update instead of waiting for Mozilla telling me to install an update?

[#10]

@penneck  Thunderbird wouldn't be responsible for being unable to open https://  links.

However, if you go into Tools - Options - Advance - Update. You can check if Thunderbird is up to date there. It might download another but I doubt it if it checks out ok.

If you use Firefox at any time, that is being updated now as well.

Regarding IE11..... According to Microsoft, IE11 is supported until the end of Windows 10 which is on October 14, 2025. However, in the recent article by Oliver, UI5 will end the support for IE when MS stops supporting Windows 7 which is on January 14, 2020.

Might be time to move to another browser.

Edit Although I have w8.1 it isn't far removed from Win 7. If you go into Internet Explorer - Tools (Press Alt + X) Then Select Internet Options - Programs - File Associations. When that opens: https should be directly under http in the list under Protocols. Put a tick in the box if unticked and save. Should now open with IE11. If there is a default program for it already, it will show that instead but from the sounds of things you have no default set.

[#11]

Doesn't mean you have to stop using it, though.

[#12]

@VileReynard I don't know. Browsers are funny things. Quite frequently the reason something doesn't play well is because the browser is outdated as sites like YT are streaming things differently. Try opening this link

Unless you are using the next version of FF it won't play properly, if at all.

[#13]

I followed your last paragraph until I got into Programs. At this point, it stated that Internet Explorer was the default web browser.

It didn't mention File Associations at all (could you have missed a stage in your instructions?). Therefore, never found https

[#14]

File Associations is at the bottom . Click the Set Association tab.

That opens another box.

Hopefully you'll find https unticked.

[#15]

Found it. However, where it took me was where I was when I wrote about the Associate Files and Protocols thing in an earlier post, where it mentioned http as an example, but http wasn't in the list. I've taken a screen print of the Protocols part of the list, and attached it to here. Hopefully, you can see it. The list of file extensions is too long to screen print that.