Windows Mail not opening when click on links on webpages

I tried clicking on a couple of different email links on webpages today and the Windows Mail program did not open. In the past if I clicked on a link on a webpage that was a email address the Windows Mail Program would open up (with the email address in the send to section) and I would type my message; click send and it would be sent. It was working without any issues - in fact the last time I actually did this was on 4/2/13.

At first I thought that perhaps it was the link itself so I opened up Windows Mail (start>programs>windows mail) and then went back to the website for the last time it was working and clicked on that exact same email link and now that will not open up Windows Mail either so it wasn't that website.

I did some searching for information on why it is suddenly not working and the only thing that I could really find (other than info on setting up the program) was something on about.com regarding setting it up as the default program by going into the control panel>programs and then clicking on set your default programs (which is not in mine anyway). At the end of the article it has a link in case you do not have windows mail as a choice under programs in Windows Vista (which is what I am running - windows vista home premium). That link give you information if Windows Mail is not in the default programs listing and reinstating Windows Mail entry into the default programs listing (http://email.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=...issing-from-the-default-programs-listing.html)

However, before going that route I thought I would see if anyone else had any suggestions as to why the Windows Mail is not opening up unless I go to start>programs and click on the program from there.

TIA

 

I forgot to mention that I am running Windows Vista Home Premium 32 bit.

 

Okay, I'm not sure why but as of today the email links are again opening the windows mail program.
I did notice that I was only having the issue with the chrome browser and had done some research looking for a solution - which I did not find.

However, I tried an email link this morning while using the chrome browser and all is back to the way it had been.

Thanks Anyway!