You mentioned a local html file on your hard drive, right? Try this:

#!/usr/bin/perl -w
use strict;

my $filename = "/xyzzy.html";  #whatever
system("start file://$filename")
[download]

A few things to remember:

1. Start was added sometime between Windows 95 and Windows 98. I believe it was added in 95 OSR/2, but may not be remembering that correctly. (That detail may or may not help you troubleshoot an old system someday.)
2. When loading files on the local drive, use the file:// prefix, not the http:// prefix.
3. Perl prefers to see forward slashes.

Update: thanks, jc.

P.S for **NODE DELETED**: Please get a grip or go away. Some of us aren't as 7337 as you and simply cannot cope with your profundity. Update 2: Looks like that node got reaped, so strike the friendly criticism for the Anonymonk.