Windows 10: 'Class not registered' error when searching or clicking links

I have only had Windows 10 for a few days --- mostly it is working well but a major fault is that when searching from Cortana, or clicking on a link, I almost always get the error 'class not registered'. Yesterday I was prevented from installing Belarc Advisor because of this. No searches of the web from Cortana work.

I have run SFC and DISM --- some errors were corrected but it has not solved this problem.

:)

 

Class Not Registered error message when clicking on Internet shortcuts

Problem: Microsoft Edge is no longer an option for the HTTP protocol. It
is no longer available as the default Web Browser in Windows 10 since the update last night. Instead of Microsoft Edge, the option is "Launch Windows App". It doesn't work.

 

Class Not Registered error message when clicking on Internet shortcuts

Shortcuts to Internet pages on my desktop will not open in the Edge browser. Instead, an error message stating "Class not registered" appears.

I have noticed since the update last night:

1. My Edge browser Favorites are gone.

2. In Settings => Accounts and Sync, nothing appears in the pane of the window to adjust my account settings.

3. The default app and default protocol settings for any http, https, or similar types is now set to "Launch Windows App" instead of "Microsoft Edge".

Help!

***Post moved by the moderator to the appropriate forum category.***

 

Does this error occur when starting up the browser or when file explorer is running? Does the error pop-up show the source of the error in the title bar?

 

It mainly occurs when I am trying to search with Cortana. But if I open a browser myself (including Edge) I can browse / search OK. It does not seem to be related to file explorer.

The error pop-up displays 'OpenWith.exe' every time.

 

The problem is likely you are opening something with an unexpected program. Try resetting the applications to the MS defaults in Settings then Default Apps.

 

Thanks. I will give that a try.

 

Oh! You are absolutely right. I am surprised and very grateful, I feared it was going to be something far more complicated. All I had done was make Chrome my default browser because Norton (anti-virus) advised me to, as 'Edge is not yet protected'. I reinstated it. I will have to investigate the implications of that, but at the very least it is good to know what was causing the error.

 

Thank you. Worked perfectly.

 

Although some of the early issues with Cortana have been resolved it still does not work very well, something which has been made more clear by comparing it with the behaviour of Cortana on my Lumia phone.


1. I cannot get Cortana to respond to any commands, like Run, Open, Show, Take a Note, Open Calendar, Display, Run, Send Email, Make an Appointment and so on. This applies to both typed and spoken commands

2. While she is OK for searches intended for the web, she is quite poor at dealing with 'my stuff' --- frequently I get the 'something went wrong' response, or a very inadequate list of results which does not include my documents or apps or even items on the desktop

3. I know this is probably at least partly due to the need for 'training' but she is weak when dealing with my voice on both my Tablet and 8.1 phone ---I have not even been able to get her to recognise my email name. I would find voice commands particularly useful for the phone, if it worked. Some voice commands do work on the phone, such as Take a Note, or Show My Note Taking apps and Send an Email.

If this does not improve considerably I will conclude the much hyped Cortana is rubbish. How do I achieve improvements?