Links won't link

July 28, 2006 5:24 PM

Why won't my browser open from links embedded in programs? When I click on links to the web (e.g. "check for updates") in, say, Skype chat, or Zone Alarm, or CCleaner, or DeepBurner nothing happens -- no browser or tab pops open to the corresponding site. Firefox is my default browser and works fine on its own.... Thoughts or suggestions?
posted by rumbles to computers & internet (6 comments total)

You could try resetting the default browser setting: go to Firefox's Tools menu, then Options, and click 'Check Now' under the General tab.
posted by reklaw at 6:28 PM on July 28, 2006

Do you have a firewall that also can prevent apps from launching?
posted by orthogonality at 8:15 PM on July 28, 2006

I "checked now" and Firefox is certainly the default. IE won't open either, mind.

The firewall (Zone Alarm) would let me know if it's blocking something (it isn't). Also, the programs (like Zone Alarm itself or AVG) are already set up and able to access the web on their own. But the browser still won't open.... Some obscure setting, I suppose?
posted by rumbles at 9:39 PM on July 28, 2006

Tried this?
posted by Jimbob at 6:06 AM on July 29, 2006

Zone Alarm may not explicitly alert you if you or someone else told it in the past to deny access and to remember the setting. So just clarifying that you actually went into Program Control -> Programs to check on the options for whichever programs aren't bringing up your browser.
Or, if you have TabBrowser Extensions or Preferences, could there be some kind of conflict between how you have it set vs. your main Tools -> Options -> Tabs settings?
posted by solotoro at 8:42 AM on July 29, 2006

Yes, I check program control > programs to make sure everything's OK. I'm the only person who uses this computer. Jimbob's suggestion seems to have fixed a number of the instances that were problematic. My Firefox tabs (no extensions) should not be a problem. They're set to open a new tab in the most recent window.
posted by rumbles at 11:37 AM on July 29, 2006