On your keyboard press Ctrl, and then left click while holding control to open links in a Browser Window.

did not resolve the problem with firefox. opening hyperlinks works when microsoft edge is the default browser but not when firefox is.

It might be something deeper in the default settings in Windows that you need to look at to see which default apps settings. I do know if you have MS Office install clicking on emails send will open Outlook or links in IE or Edge and that most likely something with Windows default apps settings. So you have to look there to see if there are something that isn't changed or Windows needs to be set to pick a default to work.

the hyperlinks had always opened in firefox until yesterday when they stopped doing so. i know how to change my default browser but i don't feel secure about going to the next screens to assign different services to different file types etc. i'd appreciate if you could give me some more guidance. thanks