Links in Outlook 2003 Not Working

IE is my primary browser.

I run Outlook 2003 and links to web sites have stopped working. When I click on any link in an email, it just does NOT go to the link. There are NO errors of any kind.

Help please.

At that time it probably did work but I know I did not try the "I'm using Word to edit my e-mail messages. If you don't have yours set that way, that is one possibility." suggestion because I never saw a way to do that.

This one may probably worked at that time:
Start> In search box type default programs> Click on Set program access and computer defaults> Click on check next to Microsoft Windows> This should show your web browser as Internet Explorer and e-mail program should say Use my current e-mail program> Ok your way out and try it again.

Here is what I see there now:



As you can see there is NO Microsoft Windows that would show IE and email program.

One other thing I have noticed is that Microsoft Word documents that have links; links there do NOT work either. Right now I have to copy all links and paste them into IE to get to the page I want to go to. This is a real PITA.

Any other suggestions would be great. Thank you

I am not sure why it worked but I went back to "default programs" and set IE as the default again. The links then started to work. I made a note for my records how fix the problem so hopefully it will not happen again. If it does then I should know how to fix it.

Thank you.