How Default Programs Work

• In Windows most file types are associated with a default program -- this is the program which opens when a file is double-clicked, opened from an email attachment, and so on. When an email address is clicked the operating system is typically ordered to create a new email message using that address so Windows launches the default program associated with that action. Default programs can be set by the user, by the operating system, or by the installed applications -- Web browsers which ask to set themselves as the default is one of the most common examples.
  
  

Changing the Email Message Association

• To change the default associations for new emails or any other file type open the Control Panel, select "Programs" and click on "Default Programs". Follow the link labelled "Associate a file type or protocol with a program" and then find the "MAILTO" link near the end of the list. Select it and click the "Change program..." button in the top right-hand corner. On the subsequent dialog box you can select which application you would like to handle composing new messages.
  
  

Using Web-based Email Services

• The option to compose new messages in a Web-based email client such as Gmail or Hotmail, isn't currently available in Windows. The easiest workaround is to copy the email address (most programs enable you to right-click on the address to copy it), then open up your Web-based email client and choose to compose a new message before pasting the address into the To: field. Some third-party browser extensions are available to automate this process -- visit the extension gallery for your default browser to check if there is a compatible add-on.
  
  

Further Information

• If the these steps don't fix the problem or cause other unwanted behaviour, it's possible there is a problem with the Windows registry. If the email links only recently started misbehaving, try running a System Restore (from the Accessories folder on the Start menu) to roll back to the previous settings. Alternatively run a registry fixing program such as Registry Repair from glarysoft.com. Further information and tips are available from the official Microsoft Support site at support.microsoft.com.