I click on link/ad in email it opens documents & settings instead of a new browser

What browser are you using ? Is it working properly for everything else ?
Spyware often targets IE.Did you run those scans in Safe Mode with Ewido and Bit Defender ? The only other thing I can think of is that you reinstall IE - http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_ie_reinstall.htm
Somebody else might have a better idea.

I'm using Mozilla firefox.

I actually installed the latest IE and Outlook Express last week or so because I was having outlook issues. They seem to be fixed, but not the issues of opening links in e-mail.

Yeah, my links work everywhere else as pop-up browsers or whatever, just all of a sudden not if the link is in e-mail or if I am clicking on an ad in e-mail that takes me to a site to view the sale or whatever.

Ok, interesting thing just now: I tried opening a link through Mozilla thunderbird and it WORKED. So it's the outlook Express and/or IE that's messed up. I did install the new beta IE to try to fix everything, but it didn't fix the link problem.

Not to be a putz, but I don't want to get my XP disc out to do all this crap with fixing IE/outlook Express. I guess just installing the newest version didn't erase the old version?

I dug out other possibilities from here - http://www.mcse.ms/archive170-2005-7-1757966.html

In IE, go to: Tools>Internet Options>Programs. Click: Reset Web
Settings - (uncheck box for homepage) - Click Yes.

Make Firefox the default browser.

You could also try lowering your security settings in IE (Tools/Options/security)

http://www.cybertechhelp.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-5361.html

Yay!

Ok, I got it to work again by deleting the beta IE 7. I clicked on the remaining IE icon and IE 6 popped up. Maybe the 2 had some sort of conflict... I wish I recalled when the problem started.. before or after I installed IE 7.

THANK you for your time and VERY quick replies. This site rocks and although I'm pretty good at comps in general, sometimes I still get a little frazzled.

You guys are greatly appreciated

From what I`ve bee reading,when you upgrade IE,it upgrades the security settings as well.That`s probably what happened.

yeah, possibly. Was just strange that clicking on e-mail ads would open up my documents and settings folder.

Thanks again!