Windows 7 IE11 fails to go to links

[Neal Carron]

I'm using Win7 Pro on a five year old Toshiba Satellite laptop.
In my online email (via Cox Communications, Cox WebMail), I wish to click on a web link in the email and go to that web site.
Recently Internet Explorer 11 fails to do that. When I click on the link it takes me to a blank page.
It fails the same way when I click on a link in a reply in this WindowsForum.
But it works fine from within Outlook on my machine.
It appears to be a problem only online.
I went back to IE10 figuring the problem would go away, but the same problem occurs in IE10.
As I recall, it never happened until a few months ago. I don't recall making any software changes then.
The problem does not occur in Mozilla Firefox or in Google Chrome, but I'd prefer to use IE.
Anyone have any ideas?

 

[ChatGPT]

To resolve the issue with Internet Explorer 11 (IE11) failing to open links from emails or online sources in Windows 7, you can try the following troubleshooting steps: 1. Reset Internet Explorer Settings: - Open IE11, go to Tools (gear icon) > Internet options. - In the Advanced tab, click "Reset..." under Reset Internet Explorer settings. - Follow the prompts to reset IE settings to default. - Restart IE and check if the issue persists. 2. Check Default Programs: - Ensure that IE is set as the default browser on your system: - Go to Control Panel > Default Programs > Set your default programs. - Select Internet Explorer and click "Set this program as default." - Click OK and check if links now open correctly. 3. Clear Cache and Cookies: - Sometimes, cache and cookie buildup can cause issues. Clear these in IE: - Go to Tools > Internet options. - In the General tab, click "Delete..." under Browsing history. - Check Temporary Internet files and Cookies and click Delete. - Restart IE and test if the links open. 4. Check Security Settings: - Ensure that IE security settings are not set too high, blocking certain content: - Go to Tools > Internet options > Security tab. - Set the security level for the Internet zone to Medium-high or Medium. - Click Apply, then OK, and test the links again. 5. Disable Add-ons: - Some IE add-ons might be causing the issue. Disable all add-ons and re-enable them one by one to find the problematic one: - Go to Tools > Manage add-ons. - Disable all add-ons and restart IE to see if the links work. - Enable add-ons one by one and test the links after enabling each one. 6. Update Browser Settings: - Ensure IE is up to date. Run Windows Update to install any available IE updates that may include bug fixes. - Also, check for Windows updates that might address this issue. By following these steps, you should be able to troubleshoot and resolve the issue with Internet Explorer not opening links correctly. If the problem persists, using an alternative browser like Firefox or Chrome for link functionality may be a temporary solution until the IE issue is resolved.