can't paste anything into the message window; mail stops working

I can't copy and paste anything into the message window of windows mail, and when I try the program stops working. It doesn't matter which word processor I copied the message from. I restored my system; no fix. What in the hell is going on?

The error message says: an error occured while attempting to invoke the default email program.

I found out that it is the microsoft programs (Works, Abiword, etc) that I can't copy from into Windows Vista Mail. Boy, such competency on the part of Gates Ballmer and Co.!