The OS is WinXP and SP2

I cannot send email when I click a link on a web page that is marked
mailto:address

This happens with either IE6 or Firefox. The message that comes back is
"Could not perform the operation because the default mail client is not
installed properly."

As many as 60 copies of a page that reads "Internet Explorer was unable to
link to the web page you requested."

A search through the KB only found KB182985. This does not fit the
parameters of the link.

The configuration in "Set program access and defaults" is set to custom.

The "Choose a default e-mail program" is set to "use my current e-mail
program"

The box beside "Outlook Express" is checked.

If I select OE, it does not stay selected after closing the configuration
screen, but reverts back to the previous settings.

How is this fixed?

Charlie