IT problem with hyper-links

You shouldn't be linking to websites from emails.

Not that this answers your question of course!

What happens when you try one that doesn't work?

Nothing. I just left-click and nothing happens. If I right-click, I get a drop-down menu of options. I can't recal what these are off-hand but will try it and advise tomorrow. Nothing happens when I click on any of the options.

I first noticed it with an e-mail from "Which?" inviting me to take part in a survey. To open up the survey, I had to  click on the blue, high-lighted, link. Nothing happened.

Same sort of thing has happened with other e-mails and embedded links, and with one or two websites.

All have been from reputable organisations such as "Which?", Air Canada, professional institutions.

If I forward the e-mail to a computer at work, all seems to work ok. ie left-click opens up the relevant page.

Many thanks for taking time and an interest.

Cheers

Don

Don it can be tricky to diagnose this sort of thing on a message board. It could be related to your email application, your antivirus/spyware software, your default browser or even the OS.

I'll suggest a few things to try and hopefully somebody else with more expertise in this area can be a bit more helpful.

First of all make sure your OS, email application, antivirus etc, firewall and default browser are all up to date. This is good practice anyway and apologies if this seems patronising.

Right click on the link to find the URL, copy and paste that into your browser and see if you can get to the web site that way.

Check the settings for email, antivirus etc for anything remotely related to email links.

Contact the people whose links don't work and see what they have to say.

Try another browser, eg Firefox. I'm sorry but I'm so biased against IE after all its problems in the early days and that would always be my first suggestion anyway.

Sorry I can't be more helpful. It would probably be straightforward for somebody sitting at your PC to sort it.

Finally, don't assume that links sent by a trusted source will always be clean. This is why it's essential to have decent, up to date protection.

Good luck and please let us know how you get it resolved as it will undoubtedly happen to somebody else as well.

First of all make sure your OS, email application, antivirus etc, firewall and default browser are all up to date. This is good practice anyway and apologies if this seems patronising.

Not patronising at all Tom, but everything is up to date and seems to function properly

Right click on the link to find the URL, copy and paste that into your browser and see if you can get to the web site that way.

Right click and I can "sort cut copy" which allows me to paste to my browser and gain access. Or I can "save as" and then open the saved file to give access. Some of the e-mails have suggested this if the link doesn't work directly. I guess this is about as good as its going to get.

Check the settings for email, antivirus etc for anything remotely related to email links.

I've tried chesking settings and made a few (unsuccessful) changes. Computer settings aren't always self-explanatory. I have a feeling this is where the solution probably lies and it might also be where the problem started - although I have no recollection of making any deliberate changes

Contact the people whose links don't work and see what they have to say.

I guess most will suggest "right click, copy and paste"

Try another browser, eg Firefox. I'm sorry but I'm so biased against IE after all its problems in the early days and that would always be my first suggestion anyway.

moving into "difficult" territory for a computer dummy.!!

Sorry I can't be more helpful. It would probably be straightforward for somebody sitting at your PC to sort it.

Thanks for your suggestions Tom, its a big step in the right direction.

Cheers

Don