Hi,
You probably have a broken entry in file associations.
But first, try setting IE5 as your default browser. Go to IE tools/internet options/programs and turn on the check box for IE to check if it is the default browser. Shut down and restart IE. When it asks to be default browser, say yes.
Also have a look at this MS article:
<a target="_blank" href=http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q177/0/54.asp>Internet Shortcuts in Outlook Express Don't Start Browser</a>
Go to my computer, view/folder options/file types.
Scroll down to the URL:Hypertext Transfer Protocols, click edit twice and make sure the following is in the application used to perform action box:
"C:\PROGRAM FILES\INTERNET EXPLORER\iexplore.exe" -nohome
The same applies for URL:Gopher
DDE should be set to: "%1",,-1,0,,,,
Application should say: IExplore
DDE application not running should be blank
Topic should be: WWW_OpenURL
Running IE REpair most often fixes this kind of file association trouble too.
Final option: Go to start/run, and paste the following command in the box:
rundll setupx.dll,InstallHinfSection DefaultInstall 132 c:\windows\inf\shell.inf
Good luck, Tony