@burnout426 I've already done/tried all that with defaults; I uninstalled IE years ago.
I've gotten pretty comfortable with Opera now, but maybe I'll just move over to Brave or Vivaldi after all.

@burnout426
Thanks for your help on this. I suspect that somehow I missed choosing 64-bit on the original install. I still can't figure that one.
I was checking to see when I actually installed it; I downloaded and installed it last Jan., but here's another "wtf?." Opera shows up in a search, but if I just try to go there with Explorer, the folder isn't does show. I'm sure I didn't hide it, so there's another reason to un/reinstall.
Also, as to why Vivaldi, I listened to several review and analysis of the various top (3-5) and decided on Brave, then a demo and further comments sent me to load up Vivaldi. Since I've been using Opera and tried a bit just finding my way around Brave, then Vivaldi, if Opera works as it should with OE, I like having my workspaces and will probably just stick with it after all. Unless something happens to convince me otherwise.
In the meantime, I've still got to get some other $#!^ done before I tone for my sins against Opera.
Thanks for setting me straight, if this works out, I might want your help tuning an ATV I've recently acquired.

@burnout426 I got no chance to "Make Opera the default browser"
What is "Opera Stable"?
Problem persists. OE giving similar error notices as before.
Opera not listed in Default Programs but is in assigning file associations. Opera Setting says Opera is the default.
When was Opera supposed to let me choose it as Default. I remember this being peculiar somehow before.
I backed up my Profile folder, but was presented choice to keep the during first part of install.

@burnout426 I got no chance to "Make Opera the default browser"
What is "Opera Stable"?
Problem persists. OE giving similar error notices as before.
Opera not listed in Default Programs but is in assigning file associations. Opera Setting says Opera is the default.
When was Opera supposed to let me choose it as Default. I remember this being peculiar somehow before.
I backed up my Profile folder, but was presented choice to keep the during first part of install.

@burnout426
Thanks for your help on this. I suspect that somehow I missed choosing 64-bit on the original install. I still can't figure that one.
I was checking to see when I actually installed it; I downloaded and installed it last Jan., but here's another "wtf?." Opera shows up in a search, but if I just try to go there with Explorer, the folder isn't does show. I'm sure I didn't hide it, so there's another reason to un/reinstall.
Also, as to why Vivaldi, I listened to several review and analysis of the various top (3-5) and decided on Brave, then a demo and further comments sent me to load up Vivaldi. Since I've been using Opera and tried a bit just finding my way around Brave, then Vivaldi, if Opera works as it should with OE, I like having my workspaces and will probably just stick with it after all. Unless something happens to convince me otherwise.
In the meantime, I've still got to get some other $#!^ done before I tone for my sins against Opera.
Thanks for setting me straight, if this works out, I might want your help tuning an ATV I've recently acquired.

@burnout426 Thanks for the guidance. I thought I'd just assumed that I'd installed Opera 64-bit, but found that I had not and why. Using your link took me to a download area, but it did not provide a choice and the only one it would download was the general, Operasetup.exe, so I poked around and found where it did offer both and downloaded the 64-bit unit. I'm not at a good point to attend the switch just now, so I'll let you know how it goes very soon. Sure hope you're right about not losing any data. I gave up on keeping track of programs, dll's and all are tangled together a long time ago, so I'm hoping my tabs, history, etc. won't be lost.
If you have any warnings, I think maybe I'll wait for whatever cautions you want to toss in.
I'm still wondering if/how Opera is more secure than Brave and/or Vivaldi. Your expert opinion has high value, thanks.

@leocg Yes, no problem at all. With Brave or Vivaldi. I rarely use Chrome now.

@burnout426 I've already done/tried all that with defaults; I uninstalled IE years ago.
I've gotten pretty comfortable with Opera now, but maybe I'll just move over to Brave or Vivaldi after all.

 When Opera set as default browser, links in emails result in display error boxes. Setting other browsers work fine. Opera does not appear in list to "Set your default programs." where other browsers and programs are listed.


I'm using Windows 7, Home Premium and Outlook Express Classic.

@ljfried Solved the mystery; did @ljfried's suggestion do it or something else? I might have a similar problem...