Question about Outlook Express

The links in my emails are un-clickable.  For the last few days, whenever I click the links to open an email, select an email, or switch between folders, or anything of that nature, nothing happens.  Also, selecting an email does not bring up the usual horizontal menu across the top of the page.   Normally, when you highlight an email in your list, you get the submenu for that page that gives you the option to delete or move or do other things with the email.  But, highlighting an email does not activate this dialog.   This is very aggravating.  Perhaps, 1 in 20 attempts to open email result in the email opening.   It's as if all links have been turned off and do not work.