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General discussion

Outlook "Operation has been cancelled" hyperlink problem

May 8, 2007 4:35AM PDT

I am getting the Outlook 2003 "This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer" hyperlink problem that has been raised a few times, but nothing seems to work.

I am running an XP SP2 personal laptop not connected to any network and using a user account that has full Admin rights. I have Outlook 2003 mixed in with Word/Excel/OneNote 2007. Firefox 2.0 is my default browser, and I also have IE 7 installed.

I have tried the following:

1. In IE 7, I tried Tools->Internet Options->Advanced->Reset Internet Explorer settings. This didn't accomplish anything.

2. I went to Set Program Access and Defaults screen (Custom) to make sure that IE was allowed even though Firefox is the default browser. It already was, so this wasn't the problem.

3. I am not running Spybot Search & Destroy, which numerous people have noted may cause problems. I do have Spycatcher installed (though I don't have it run in the background), but I haven't heard anything about problems with this.

4. I imported a registry key to adjust the HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Classes\htmlfile\shell\open\command setting, although I later realized this was a specifically IE6 solution. Regardless, this didn't help matters any.

5. There have been mentions of tweaking other settings in the registry, either at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Restrictions\NoBrowserOptions or at the same path under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE. Neither setting with that full path exists in my registry, set to either 0 or 1. Is this a problem?

Any advice would be welcome. So far I've just lived with it, but it's getting annoying.

Discussion is locked

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The script works also for Vista and outlook 07
Mar 19, 2009 6:21PM PDT

THANK YOU!

I was running out of options, had tried everything! reinstalling, the works. ... upgrading ie8 and so on.

But this one did it for me - I am so grateful I even went through the process of registering here on CNET .. to say thank you!

Happy

Chris

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TOTALLY WORKS!
Apr 14, 2009 9:23AM PDT

super easy fix! I dont know how this problem just randomly popped up for me but now its fixed. took all of 2 minutes. other fixes had us searching for reg files off of other computers (!!) this was fantastic.

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Resolution!
Jul 19, 2009 4:33AM PDT

Thank you, Bob!
I haven't changed a single thing, but somehow my Outlook's hyperlinks stopped working. No idea what caused it, but your solution worked for me too, and almost nothing works with my Vista x64.
So, again, THANKS!

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can't click on links in Outlook...get error message
Aug 31, 2009 2:45AM PDT

I contacted Norton 360 tech support...they were able to fix the problem...free. When I went to HELP on Norton 360, a little window opened on my screen telling me that I was number 53 in the que. Then the count went down rather fast until I was number 1 then online with a tech! A good experience.

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Brilliant!
Sep 22, 2009 2:56AM PDT

Your HTM fix worked like a charm! I must have visited a dozen other forums before finding this one, and none offered the solution I needed. Thank you so much for this quick, easy, and effective solution!

My system: Vista, IE8, Microsoft Outlook

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Excellent Vista/IE8
Feb 21, 2011 1:48AM PST

I tried it with my Vista/IE8. Works like a charm 4 yrs later.
Also this was caused by installing IE9 beta version. Figure that Microsoft made me wast endless hours through days trying to get this resolved.
Thank you again Bob many yrs later. Geovanny

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http://www.dougknox.com/xp/file_assoc.htm
Apr 15, 2011 4:44AM PDT

Will this help in windows 7 ? If so which on do I use for the problem

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(NT) So far it seems to be the same in 7 and prior versions.
Apr 15, 2011 10:26AM PDT
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This link is great.
Apr 1, 2012 3:21PM PDT

Many thanks. It did the job for me.

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Solution to Outlook 2007 email Hyperlink Problem
Jul 3, 2008 4:45AM PDT

In trying to click the hyperlink reference in an outlook email, I got the following popup window error:
"Operation canceled due to restrictions in effect on this computer..."

After several days of trying to solve this problem and trying several posted solutions, here is the one that solved the problem but do not forget to reboot afterwards, do following in sequence:

Click Start/Default Programs/Set program access and computer defaults/Custom then down arrow/Choose Internet Explorer and Outlook/then click OK/ Then RESTART your computer!!!!

All the solutions I found, never said REBOOT or RESTART your computer after making the changes!!!

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Ever ride in a Microsoft car?
Jul 3, 2008 4:52AM PDT

"Then, the Microsoft engineer, not knowing much about anything, comes up with a suggestion, "Why don't we close all the windows, get out, get back in, open the windows again, and maybe it'll work !?"

This is true with almost all such fixes for Windows...

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Outlook "Operation has been cancelled" hyperlink problem
Jul 9, 2008 9:07AM PDT
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Hyperlinks not Working in Outlook if FireFix is Installed
Aug 7, 2008 4:12PM PDT
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Solution to Outlook 2007 email Hyperlink Problem
Oct 1, 2008 5:06AM PDT

Thanks very much for this simple fix, which worked for me. I was just about to give up after diagnosing, repairing office and trying all the other fixes including Microsofts that didn't work. I knew it must be a simple fix as I did nothing other than try Safari as a browser. Now both browsers co-exist o.k.

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Outlook 2003 SP3...This operation has been canceled due to r
Aug 16, 2009 6:28AM PDT

How do I fix Outlook 2003 so that I can click on hyperlinks?