Need Help Using Google

Jethro

Suddenly when I double click on desktop shortcut to

I get an error window that says in part:
Windows cannot find 'http://www.google.com'. Make sure you typed
the name correctly and try again.
When I click OK, it brings up Google search window (in Firefox) just
fine.

So what is wrong? How do I fix it?

Thanks

Jethro

Ron Badour

Either create a new shortcut or if Firefox permits it, set Google as your
home page and then there will be no need for a special shortcut.

--
Regards

Ron Badour
MS MVP 1997 - 2007


"Jethro" <Wilson@somewhere.org> wrote in message
newsjs0b3hr1rtjsno18v80hs7jg009o9tv52@4ax.com...
> Suddenly when I double click on desktop shortcut to
>
> I get an error window that says in part:
> Windows cannot find 'http://www.google.com'. Make sure you typed
> the name correctly and try again.
> When I click OK, it brings up Google search window (in Firefox) just
> fine.
>
> So what is wrong? How do I fix it?
>
> Thanks
>
> Jethro

dobey

Actually, this is a problem with web links in general, any link in the
Favourites list. It only started
happening sometime since the last couple of Firefox or Windows updates.

It occurs if no session of Firefox is running, and it is the default
browser.

I'm fairly certain it is because Firefox takes several seconds longer than
IE to fire up, so an error is returned to Windows, prompting it to display a
"Cannot Find <URL>, try searching" message. However Firefox does start and
displays the correct page, whether you click OK or not.

If the OP starts Firefox then double-clicks the google link, he will find no
message appears.

Were I a cynic I would suggest MS has reduced the timeout, (or whatever
mechanism they use), to make Firefox users think something is wrong, or just
annoy them back into using IE.

To the OP, did you just update Firefox, or Windows? When you say "suddenly",
today, yesterday, two weeks ago?

I want to get rid of the message as well, but it's not that bothersome to
me.


>"Ron Badour" <Sorry@NoAddress.com> wrote in message
>news:u316JLD1HHA.5764@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Either create a new shortcut or if Firefox permits it, set Google as your
> home page and then there will be no need for a special shortcut.
>
> --
> Regards
>
> Ron Badour
> MS MVP 1997 - 2007
>
>
> "Jethro" <Wilson@somewhere.org> wrote in message
> newsjs0b3hr1rtjsno18v80hs7jg009o9tv52@4ax.com...
>> Suddenly when I double click on desktop shortcut to
>>
>> I get an error window that says in part:
>> Windows cannot find 'http://www.google.com'. Make sure you typed
>> the name correctly and try again.
>> When I click OK, it brings up Google search window (in Firefox) just
>> fine.
>>
>> So what is wrong? How do I fix it?
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Jethro
>
>

Jethro

On Wed, 1 Aug 2007 06:54:58 -0500, "Ron Badour" <>
wrote:

>Either create a new shortcut or if Firefox permits it, set Google as your
>home page and then there will be no need for a special shortcut.


Thanks for response Ron -

I deleted the shortcut, and created a new one to
'http://www.google.com' (same as before).
The problem remains.

I have my own home page (c:\myhomepage.html), so I would rather not
use Google as home page. I tried it anyway and voila! no error
window. I wonder why this problem is occurring now after all these
years.

Jethro

Jethro

On Wed, 1 Aug 2007 20:48:00 +0800, "dobey" <a@v.nox> wrote:

>Actually, this is a problem with web links in general, any link in the
>Favourites list. It only started
>happening sometime since the last couple of Firefox or Windows updates.
>
>It occurs if no session of Firefox is running, and it is the default
>browser.
>
>I'm fairly certain it is because Firefox takes several seconds longer than
>IE to fire up, so an error is returned to Windows, prompting it to display a
>"Cannot Find <URL>, try searching" message. However Firefox does start and
>displays the correct page, whether you click OK or not.

I do notice that.

>
>If the OP starts Firefox then double-clicks the google link, he will find no
>message appears.

I saw that also.

>
>Were I a cynic I would suggest MS has reduced the timeout, (or whatever
>mechanism they use), to make Firefox users think something is wrong, or just
>annoy them back into using IE.
>
>To the OP, did you just update Firefox, or Windows? When you say "suddenly",
>today, yesterday, two weeks ago?

I would say - yesterday or just maybe today. Can't be sure.

>
>I want to get rid of the message as well, but it's not that bothersome to
>me.
Nor to me - I just wondered.

Thanks again

Jethro

>
>
>>"Ron Badour" <Sorry@NoAddress.com> wrote in message
>>news:u316JLD1HHA.5764@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> Either create a new shortcut or if Firefox permits it, set Google as your
>> home page and then there will be no need for a special shortcut.
>>
>> --
>> Regards
>>
>> Ron Badour
>> MS MVP 1997 - 2007
>>
>>
>> "Jethro" <Wilson@somewhere.org> wrote in message
>> newsjs0b3hr1rtjsno18v80hs7jg009o9tv52@4ax.com...
>>> Suddenly when I double click on desktop shortcut to
>>>
>>> I get an error window that says in part:
>>> Windows cannot find 'http://www.google.com'. Make sure you typed
>>> the name correctly and try again.
>>> When I click OK, it brings up Google search window (in Firefox) just
>>> fine.
>>>
>>> So what is wrong? How do I fix it?
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>>
>>> Jethro
>>
>>
>
>

Ayush

[Jethro] wrote-:
> Suddenly when I double click on desktop shortcut to
>
> I get an error window that says in part:
> Windows cannot find 'http://www.google.com'. Make sure you typed
> the name correctly and try again.
> When I click OK, it brings up Google search window (in Firefox) just
> fine.
>
> So what is wrong? How do I fix it?


Control Panel > Folder Options > File Types
Select "URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol" and click Advanced
Click Edit
In "Application to perform action", enter:
"PATH TO FIREFOX.EXE" "%1"
e.g.: "C:\Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" "%1"
Uncheck "Use DDE" and click OK twice
Repeat for "URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol with Privacy"



Good Luck, Ayush.
--
XP-Tips [Change the thumbnail picture of a folder] :

dobey

"Jethro" <> wrote in message
news:...
> On Wed, 1 Aug 2007 20:48:00 +0800, "dobey" <> wrote:
>
>>Actually, this is a problem with web links in general, any link in the
>>Favourites list. It only started
>>happening sometime since the last couple of Firefox or Windows updates.
>>
>>It occurs if no session of Firefox is running, and it is the default
>>browser.
>>
>>I'm fairly certain it is because Firefox takes several seconds longer than
>>IE to fire up, so an error is returned to Windows, prompting it to display
>>a
>>"Cannot Find <URL>, try searching" message. However Firefox does start and
>>displays the correct page, whether you click OK or not.
>
> I do notice that.
>
>>
>>If the OP starts Firefox then double-clicks the google link, he will find
>>no
>>message appears.
>
> I saw that also.
>
>>
>>Were I a cynic I would suggest MS has reduced the timeout, (or whatever
>>mechanism they use), to make Firefox users think something is wrong, or
>>just
>>annoy them back into using IE.
>>
>>To the OP, did you just update Firefox, or Windows? When you say
>>"suddenly",
>>today, yesterday, two weeks ago?
>
> I would say - yesterday or just maybe today. Can't be sure.
>
>>
>>I want to get rid of the message as well, but it's not that bothersome to
>>me.
> Nor to me - I just wondered.
>
> Thanks again
>
> Jethro
>
>>
<snip>

I've also just noticed the message doesn't appear if no session of Firefox
is runing and you follow a URL in an Outlook Express message. I haven't
another email client or newsreader to test those.