Outlook 2003 hyperlinks no longer open the target

I know this is a Microsoft software question, but I am asking it anyway just in case anyone else out there has had the same problem and figured out how to resolve it. I have had Microsoft Outlook 2003 and IE11 installed on my new DS computer (Windows 10) for months now. Everything was working perfectly up until just last week when clicking on hyperlinks in Outlook emails no longer go to the target in IE11. The hyperlinks work properly in the native Windows 10 email application, but no longer work when clicking in Outlook 2003 (even on the identical email). All clicking on Outlook email hyperlinks does now is JUST open my IE11 homepage. And not only does clicking Outlook hyperlinks not open the intended target, but it only brings up my IE11 homepage in a separate window (not in a new tab on the existing open IE11). I have searched every Microsoft forum I can find about this, and have followed all the instructions about re-designating IE11 and Outlook as the default programs over and over, but to no success. Is there something I am missing? Or is my Outlook hopelessly corrupt and requiring a re-install? Any help would be greatly appreciated.   

Hi FrankW,

Thanks for your tip. I finally was forced to uninstall Outlook 2003 and reinstall it, and the issue fixed itself, but only for about a day. Then Outlook went right back to not opening target hyperlinks (only my IE11 homepage). WTH? So I took your advice and downloaded eM Client. Not only does it (hopefully forever) work perfectly, but I can see why people use it as an Outlook replacement. Aside from a few (very) minor format differences from Outlook (I still like Outlook's Calendar display better), it is almost a direct clone. And eM Client has a few neat things that Outlook doesn't.

Thanks again for your response and your advice!