Opera 9.xx in Windows 98

[Sfor]

I found Opera to be a very good internet browser. Still, there is a problem related with opening links using DDE with both Opera 9.2x and the newest 9.5x betas.

While trying to open Opera through running .URL file or clicking on an Internet link in a third party application, Opera displays an error message saying "it can not locate the file or it's component" (translation from Polish), then the browser is starting without the clicked link oppened.

If the Opera is running, the same action works as it should to.

I found, the problem can be corrected through removing DDE from the file associations created by Opera:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\http\shell\open\command]
@="\"C:\\PROGRAM FILES\\OPERA\\OPERA.EXE\" \"%1\""

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\http\shell\open\ddeexec]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\https\shell\open\command]
@="\"C:\\PROGRAM FILES\\OPERA\\OPERA.EXE\" \"%1\""

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\https\shell\open\ddeexec]

Still, the Opera will renew the bad registry settings every time it is selected as the default browser.

Edited May 14, 2008 by Sfor

[Th3_uN1Qu3]

Works fine for me in WinME, didn't get any of that. But please stay away from the 9.5 betas, they're SLOW.

[Mijzelf]

Maybe you could report this to Opera? http://www.opera.com/support/bugs.

[Sfor]

It would be good to confirm the problem first, I believe. I hope the problem is not Windows language version related.

[awergh]

the betas being slow is interesting cause i agree beta 1 is slower then 9.27 but after beta 1 and before beta 2 those snapshots were much faster but then beta 2 seemed about slow again maybe you should look for the lastest snapshot

[Sfor]

I've tested the bug with the newest Opera 9.5 beta build 10024.

I found the bug still present, so I sent a bug report.

[Dave-H]

Works OK for me.

My registry entry is slightly different from that quoted, this may by significant, I don't know.

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Opera.HTML\shell\open\command]

@="C:\\PROGRAM FILES\\OPERA\\OPERA.EXE \"%1\""

[Sfor]

In my case the regisrty key you have posted is the same as yours:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Opera.HTML\shell\open\command]
@="\"C:\\PROGRAM FILES\\OPERA\\OPERA.EXE\" \"%1\""

I found the problem to be depandant on a different registry keys:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\http\shell\open\command

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\https\shell\open\command

So, you did compared wrong registry keys, I'm afraid.

[Dave-H]

Ah, OK.

My equivalent of those keys look like this -

REGEDIT4


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\http\shell\open]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\http\shell\open\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\Opera\\Opera.exe\""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\http\shell\open\ddeexec]
@="\"%1\""
"NoActivateHandler"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\http\shell\open\ddeexec\Application]
@="Opera"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\http\shell\open\ddeexec\Topic]
@="WWW_OpenURL"

REGEDIT4


[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\https\shell\open]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\https\shell\open\command]
@="\"C:\\Program Files\\Opera\\Opera.exe\""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\https\shell\open\ddeexec]
@="\"%1\""
"NoActivateHandler"=""

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\https\shell\open\ddeexec\Application]
@="Opera"

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\https\shell\open\ddeexec\Topic]
@="WWW_OpenURL"

It uses the DDE function, which yours doesn't seem to be doing.

[Sfor]

Another misunderstanding happened. My HTTP and HTTPS registry keys are exactly the same as yours. The registry file I've posted was made to remove the problem. So, it remowes the DDE related keys from the registy.

Another problem is, why you do not experience the same effects as I do. Could you explain your testing procedure?

As far as I understand the problem, links oppened through Explorer (system shell) are causing the problem. It's quite possible, other system shells or file managers are not affected.

[RJARRRPCGP]

Sounds like Windows 98 may be giving an error about a file, because of the DDE file associations.

Messed up registry updates done by Opera is possible.

[Dave-H]

Sorry for the misunderstanding(s) Sfor!

If when you click a web link Opera opens but doesn't display the page, it sounds like it's not recognising the "%1" bit of the command.

I have that happen sometimes, but it's usually (I think) because my installation of Opera (9.27 Build 8841) takes a long time to open up when running on Windows 98. It's much faster on Windows 2000 (dual boot).

It's almost as if the fact that Opera is taking so long to load is causing the command to be forgotten somehow!

How long does it take the Opera GUI to appear when you run it?

If it's longer than 5 seconds this could be the problem.

I found it was greatly improved after I emptied the Opera cache (Tools>Preference Settings>Advanced>History>Empty Now).

If that helps, try setting the cache size to no more that 50MB or the problem will quickly come back.

I queried this a lot on the Opera user forums, but never got a satisfactory answer.

Edited June 3, 2008 by Dave-H

[Sfor]

Please save the following data as a .REG file and import it to the registry:

REGEDIT4

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\http\shell\open\command]
@="\"C:\\PROGRAM FILES\\OPERA\\OPERA.EXE\" \"%1\""

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\http\shell\open\ddeexec]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\https\shell\open\command]
@="\"C:\\PROGRAM FILES\\OPERA\\OPERA.EXE\" \"%1\""

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\https\shell\open\ddeexec]

It will switch off the DDE by removing the DDE registry entries, and the Opera should start with the proper link opened. According to my experiment results, the situation does not have anything to do with the speed of the Opera application.

[erpdude8]

You can try out the latest Opera 9.5x beta builds here:

http://my.opera.com/desktopteam/blog/

[Sfor]

I've tried the latest Opera 9.5 beta build 10048. The problem is still present there.