My computer works on WinXP sp2 with IE8 browser and OE mail.
In several sites I find a link for sending a mail to the site owner. However when clicking on such link I receive error message saying

Could not perform the operation because the default mail client is not properly installed.

What shall I do in order to be able to send messages directly from such link?
Please advise.
Thanks

See OLEXP: Err Msg: Could Not Perform the Operation Because...

thanks
but no. this refers only to very long mail addresses and helps only in specific cases, while on my computer this happens always when i try to connect directly.
I resolve this by rightclicking "properties" and finding the actual mail address there.
Never mind, another MS bug.

Never mind, another MS bug

I don't think so. I think it is a configuration setting. If you want to pursue it, we can. We will need more specific, like which sites? What works and what does not work.

Thank you Digerati
Not even one, of the links to e-mail on the various pages, works, and i receive always the same error message "could not perform..etc."
i enclose here some of the pages with links to e-mail addresses, where I tried to contact the e-mail
the last one is my own - I made a "test.htm" page on my own site, with a mailto link to my OE address, and this gives the same error message
Thanks for your help
Yochanan

See Change which programs Windows uses by default and select OE when prompted to make a default.

thanks Digerati
the link in your answer refers to Win7, but I still found "set program access and default" in the start menu of WinXP and set it to OE. Now it seems that the problem is resolved.
Thanks again

the link in your answer refers to Win7

Sorry about that. I am glad you got it sorted out and thanks for the update.