Web links no longer opening

I recently experienced a very strange event in which most of my programs, for no apparent reason, suddenly started using up 99% of all CPU power when trying to perform random operations (different trigger for each app). I restarted to clear the memory and find my task bar is half there and every couple minutes I hear a beep from the system speaker. Tried running Norton Disk Doctor but I got a message that the installation had been damaged and that I must reinstall. Internet Download Manager was also popping a similar warning.

So I shutdown for a while to ensure the memory is totally cleared. When I booted up again the task bar was back to normal size and NDD was able to be launched so I had it schedule a disk repair. After the disk repair on the next startup everything seemed to be running as usual but then I tried to open an HTML document.

Double clicked it, then saw the hour glass, then nothing. Repeated this several times, but nothing opened. I tried right clicking the document and doing "Open With" and that finally opened the .htm document.

The real irritation came when I just tried to click a link in an MS Outlook email. I receive the following warning everytime I try to follow a link that is in an email: "This operation has been canceled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator."

Problem is, I am the system admin. This is a private computer with no one else having access to it and I have not changed any of the security settings. Anyone have a clue what could be causing this and how to correct it??

 

Try resetting your Web settings in Internet Explorer and see if that solves your links problem.

Reset Web Settings

Start Internet Explorer.

On the Tools menu, click Internet Options.

Click the Programs tab, and then click the Reset Web Settings button.

Under Internet programs, verify that the correct e-mail program is selected.

Click to select the Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser check box.

Click Apply, and then click OK.

NOTE: You may receive the following message when Internet Explorer starts:
Internet Explorer is not currently your default browser. Would you like to make it your default browser?
If you receive the message, click Yes.

Steve

 

Follow your instructions but the problem remains.

 

go to START--> RUN type regsvr32 urlmon.dll
enter
then test..
if not fixed then do the same thing only type regsvr32 mshtml.dll
enter
then test..

report back.

 

Looks like I spoke too soon. The problem is now gone after doing a restart.

Thanks for the help!

 

enjoy surfing!