Why can't I open up attachments?
 

Now I'm getting really mad. Alan did something while he was fooling around with the computer. I have no idea what he did with the email opening up attachment thingee but when people send me stuff that's attached, well it prompts me "where do I want to open up this attachment"?

Since I don't know what this attachment is, how do I know where to open it up.

Help, puleeeeze, anybody!!!

mel

Are you using Outlook (or similar) for mail?

It sounds as if, previously, attachments were configured so that they were viewable as embedded or inserted images and that he changed the preference on how attachments are viewed.

I don't use Outlook but I'm sure that someone will be along shortly to help and explain how to re-set the configuration or preference.

:)

maybe these will help you - got a bad cold so my brain isn't up to snuff tonite -

http://www.slipstick.com/outlook/esecup/getexe.asp
http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1158022215/s-12/

Hi Bobbi:

Yes, I use Outlook express as my default mail thing. And I'm SURE MY HUSBAND FOOLED AROUND WITH SOMETHING! because every time he does, something goes wrong, and then he goes "oh, what did I do this time". I WANT TO BANG HIM!!!

Oh, and for some reason, when I switch identities, (my husband's email is the default), and when I want to view, mine, I go to File, then switch identities, then I click on my e-mail, then okay.

Well, it always switches immediately (at least that's what it used to do).

Now for some reason, it takes forever, so I have to go to Verizon to view my mail.

Hope someone can figure this out and help me.

I feel like such a dodo bird. lol

Jo55

After I clicked on the first link, and I read all the information on re-registering, or changing the registering, or unlocking the keys, or WHATEVER it said to do, after I stopped laughing m head off I picked myself off of the floor.

You're lucky I know how to do youtube.

I am absolutely hysterical that people understand all this. My god, the next generation could build spaceships to Venus.

Mel

mmm so you might have more than just attachment problems...
attachment info I found-
[If you haven't worked it out yet, here are some other possibilities. I don't know how much computer experience you have, so please forgive me if I give the instructions in the same way that I do for my Mother-in-law, who is just starting.

Before all else, please be sure that the file you want to see is safe: that does not have any virus or spyware associated with it or contained it it. But that's another (very important) discussion.

1. Highlight the file by clicking on it once. The file should now appear as if it had been coloured by a blue highlighter.

2. Now point to that file with your mouse, and "right-click" it -- click once with the right button on the mouse.

3. Wait for a few seconds, and you should see a menu appear. One of the items on the menu should be "Open with" with a black triangle on the right side.

4. Run your mouse up to (or down to) that item on the list. As the pointer goes up (or down) the list, each item it passes will be highlighted in order.

5. When you get to "Open with" another Menu should appear beside the one you are "in". It will list one or more programs that your computer thinks may work for that particular attachment.

6. You can try out each of the programs in the list. If any of them work, then that's good. Problem solved.

7. However, if those do not work, there is still another choice in the "Open With" menu. You will find it at the bottom, where it says: "Choose program..."

8. Choose that option, and you will find a list of most of the programs on your computer. If you look through that list, one of them might seem to be a good one to try.
NOTE: If you do that, let me suggest that you do NOT have a check-mark in front of the line at the bottom of that little "dialog box" which says "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file." In otherwords, please click on that box to REMOVE the check-mark if it is there.

If none of that works, perhaps you can do a couple of things.

Post the name of the file here (we do not want the complete file, just its name. Most importantly, we want to be sure to see what the three-letter "extension" is -- that is, the three letters that are at the end, just after the dot in the filename. (For example: filename.txt, fielename.doc, filename.pdf, filename.vmv, filename.jpg or whatever -- we need the .txt, .doc, .pdf, .vmv, .jpg and so on.) This will give someone a clue as to what the program might be that you need.

Finally, if you are, or anyone else is curious, there is an interesting web-site that helps to explain all this "file extension" stuff. It also lists all the file extensions known to those who run the site, and tells you what program(s) are associated with any particular extension. You will find it at:

http://filext.com/


I hope that this will help you, or anyone else having the same problem. We all get it at one time or other.]
http://www.regvac.com/forum/m-1158022215/s-12/#num7

boy - i think I'd make separate user accounts for the whole computer.

make your account the administrator - you can make major changes :D
make his a limited account - he can't make major changes..:)

then you would both have your own setup and your own copies of programs.
___

Or you could use the Thunderbird mail program for your self only -and he can keep using the Outlook Express program.
I don't remember if you deleted it or just stopped using it.

I really couldn't guess at what he might have changed to lose your email identity.
unless you go thru the settings if you think he was messing around in those- he must have been...

Hi. I went through all the steps that you said to go through. I have always been able to open up attachments.

In outlook express, I would go to the subject thing, and there would be a little thing to the left of the subject, which I would double click on, and then it would prompt me to Open or to Save to Disc. I would always choose Open.

Then it would give me various methods to open with. Now, for some reason, it prompts me to open EVERYTHING with Wordpad. Now how stupid is that?? If it's an image or something, of course Wordpad can't open this. It's usually a bunch of code up on the screen.

I tried opening it up in Paint, in all the other options. After a while it doesn't let me open up anything.

I even went back to Verizon mail (where all my mail goes first). I know this guy and he sent me an email with an attachment.

It prompted me to "download the attachment". I did. Then it gave me (on the left side of my screen), the prompt to "Open it". I clicked on Open. And nothing happened.

I'm going a bit crazy. I mean, it's not the most serious thing in the world, but I'd like to not go nuts over this.

I'm not computer illiterate by any means, but I'm not a techno savvy person like many of the younger ones are today. I know people in their 40's (who do not own, nor will they go near a computer) who look at me incredously and they go: "you know how to use a computer???"

sigh!!!!!

i copied that attachment info from that one website.
just in case it would help.

I'm thinking Alan must have changed something the settings, preferences or tools section of Outlook Express
I haven't used it for years..ok got it loaded up-

let's see --
did you check both the manage identity and the switch identity sections , and the properties
if that looks normal like you remember it

then go to tools
and check thru each tab and section to see if you can find anything that seems different?

if all else fails you might try a system restore - since OE is part of XP it should restore it back -but i'm not 100% sure on it..

or re install OE from your XP CD
but then I don't know for sure if that would fill in whatever is changed or give you a whole "new" copy and you would have to start fresh or not??

sorry not much help

Alan may have even gone into the main hard drive files and deleted something by accident.

:idea:oh check in the recycle bin- maybe if he did that is is there and you can restore it from there. It goes back to where it came from.
just right click and click restore.

Okay, here's what I just did. I went back to the e-mail with the attachment. I clicked on open and it told me that the type was a Thunderbird document (I have no idea what this is).

the ending of the document was .eml

Does this tell you anything. Maybe you can tell me which program to open it up with??

When prompted it told me to go on the internet to choose the program to open it with. I did so, and I got a webpage from Windows telling me it did not recognize this type of document.

Very confusing.

I think I'll do a system restore.

God knows what will happen when I do this.

mel

Melody...
I found this on Microsoft's site:

RESOLUTION

To resolve this behavior, either run the Msimn executable file with the /reg option to force Outlook Express to re-register its file types, or re-register the .eml file type in My Computer.

To run the Msimn executable file with the /reg option:
1.Quit Outlook Express.
2.Click Start, and then click Run.
3.In the Open box, type msimn /reg, and then click OK.

To re-register the .eml file type in My Computer:
1.On the desktop, double-click My Computer.
2.On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
3.Click the File Types tab.
4.Under Registered file types, click EML Outlook Express Mail Message, and then click Advanced.
5.Click Open, and then click Edit.
6.Type the following single line in the Application used to perform action box: "C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\MSIMN.EXE" /eml:%1
7.Click OK, click OK again, and then click Close.


Hope this helps...
Abbie

Abby:

Well, my jaw just came up from the floor. I'm saying to myself "if these kind people are nice enough to give me the instructions, I must comply"

So I'm complying.

I'll let you know if the complying accomplished anything.

Be back later. and much thanks,

melody

Well, this is a fine mess now isn't it??
 

Okay, I did the first thing first.

I Clicked Start, clicked Run, I typed in msimn/reg. and hit okay.

This is what I got:

Windows cannot find msimn/reg. Make sure you typed the name correctly (I did), and then try again. blah blah blah.

So that went NOWHERE!!!

Then I tried the second thing.

To re-register the eml file type in My Computer.............

Guess what??? Under Registered file types. THERE IS NO EML OUTLOOK EXPRESS MAIL MESSAGE, (I was then to click advanced).

Well, the only thing with a EML next to it is Thunderbird Document.

Nothing else says eml and absolutely nothing else says OUTLOOK EXPRESS MAIL MESSAGE.

I do not have Thunderbird on my computer. I did try it many months ago, didn't like it for some reason, I then went the add/remove program thingee and removed it. Maybe that's why there's still a remnant of it on my Registered files thingee???

So where is my EML Outlook Express Mail Message thingee??


Help Help!!!!!

melody

P.S. I just went to add/remove programs (to see if maybe Thunderbird was still there and IT'S NOT). neither is Outlook Express. It's nowhere to be found in my add/remove programs. I wonder how this can be. I have been using it all the time. So how come Outlook Express is not showing up in my add/remove programs , but it's on my computer. How strange, no???

[So how come Outlook Express is not showing up in my add/remove programs , but it's on my computer. How strange, no???]


It doesn't show up on my ad/remove list either - I think it is because it comes as part of windows XP - not a separate program that you have to install.


I think you got rid of Thunderbird because it didn't have the identities option.

On the actual attachment doc/file - can you right click on it and go to properties

then it should say -file type --with a {change} button?
you can try changing to different types to see it it will open that way.
usually there is a list with options to pick from.
after you change file type close and double click to see if it works or not.

Oh my god, I'm 60 years old and I have to worry about changing file types??

I should be bouncing grandchildren on my knee at this time of my life.

Oh well, since that's not going to happen, I'll go and try the file changing thingee.

be back soon. and much thanks,

Melody

Okay, let's try this one more time.

Exactly where am I right clicking?? I went to my e-mail, and I went to the subject line where it has the attachment (to the left of the subject word). I right clicked on that, but no where does it give me the option PROPERTIES.

It just prompts me to Open, and if I click on Open, up comes all these selections and it highlights wordpad.

oh brother!!!

WAIT, I SPOKE TOO SOON.

I just went to Outlook Express and right clicked on the paper clip and saw the word properties.

Be back soon.

some more Microsoft info links-
#1
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/ie/.../oerepair.mspx
============================================
#2
SUMMARY
This article describes how to reinstall or to repair Internet Explorer in Windows XP. You may have to do this if you have problems with Internet Explorer because of damaged files or missing registration information.

Note In some cases, the steps to reinstall or to repair Internet Explorer 6 will also resolve problems in Microsoft Outlook Express.

Back to the top
Introduction
You may have to reinstall or to repair Internet Explorer in Windows XP if you have problems with Internet Explorer because of damaged files or missing registration information. You may also decide to reinstall or to repair Internet Explorer 6 to resolve problems with Outlook Express in Windows XP.
http://support.microsoft.com/default...23120121120120
=============================
#3
[from a forum- Thanks, this is what I did which I think ended up fixing the problem:
After going into the folder options and file tab, I couldn't find "EML Outlook Express Mail Message". Instead, I found "EML Email File". I then clicked on 'restore' and it reverted to "EML Outlook Express Mail Message". Now, everything works perfectly again, thanks!]

Okay, I right clicked on the paper clip and saw Properties. I clicked on that and this is what it showed:

General Details

Type - Mail message
Location - deleted files (i had deleted it already),
Size - 12kb
Priority - Normal
Sent
Received



Now when I clicked on the word Details, all it had was a bunch of info and Sun Java. blah blah


Nothing about changing file types.

I'm screwed aren't I???

mel

P.S.. I dont use INTERNET EXPLORER. I USE FIREFOX. Does that make any difference???

Jo:

I went back to my computer, to the resolution thing.

Where it has the words EML, it had Thunderbird, right?

I clicked on Open, and then edit and here's what it said:

""C:\Program Files\Mozilla Thunderbird\thunderbird.exe" "%1"

So it has something to do with Thunderbird, right??

I tried deleting that line and putting in

"C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\MSIMN.EXE" /eml:%1

THIS DID NOT WORK. IT SAID 'FILE NOT FOUND or something like that.

The difference between these two lines are the quotation marks before the percentage thingees.

If you look at the thunderbird line, all the way to the right it has "%1"

if you look at what I am to type in regarding Outlook express, there are no quotation marks.

Do you think I should try re-editing the thunderbird thing and adding the quotation marks.

Do you understand what I'm saying?? bit confusing I know.

mel

Well, I'm screwed!!!
 

I went back to my computer, and went to the File Type thing, and I saw the EML thunderbird document, then I clicked on open, and edit and I typed in the whole "C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\MSIMN.EXE"/eml: with quotatio marks because they were already there, I just substituted the Outlook Express for the Thunderbird.

Well, it accepted the change, I hit OK, THEN OK, then close.

Then I gleefully went back to open up an attachment.

Now it doesn't even prompt me to open it up with anything.

I'm really screwed now.

I can't open up any attachments. Now I know this is not the worst thing in the world, and I can probably go to my Verizon Server (doesn't open up there either).

But why the heck doesn't it work.

OH, I had such hope!!

mel

hmm - I'm thinking you must have some files/parts of Thunderbird left on your system {maybe in the registry}and it is overriding OE opening of the file.

#2 on that other post of mine says if IE got messed up it can affect OE - since we don't know what Alan might have done - that might be an option to try.
Even if you don't use IE - if it still shows somewhere on the computer he might have deleted something or changed something...

I use Firefox mainly too but still have IE available for websites that require it.

Let's try the forwarding email thingee. If it doesn't work, I'll do a system restore to last month or something.

jeez.

mel

After watching that video I had to post about it on Social Chat - so many travel to Drs for health issues and even vacations...

disposables for me now after seeing that.

I know they don't wash the bedspreads every time either YUCKY:eek:

Mel, did what you've tried help? or has a system restore rolled back and everything now working as you want with your mail?

Nope, Nothing Works Now!!!
 

So I'm going to do a system restore. (not that I think it's going to do anything).

I may not ever be able to open up an attachment again.

I hesitate to call Verizon tech. (only because I can't open anything in my verizon email (attachments I mean), so they would have to help me.

Have you ever tried to call tech support? Most of them are located in India. They don't speak english that well.

Once I had to call them and I wound up telling the guy how to fix the problem and after I thanked him he said "why thank me?? you did all the work, and we both laughed".

Oh my god, if I have to do the tech thing again I'll go crazy.

I could call my genius tech savvy son, but I really don't want to go that route. He just makes my neuropathy worse. We only have a computer related relationship. He could be laying down on his bed imagining being in front of the computer, and he could fix my problem in five minutes.

I once called him (long time ago) because I was having some difficulty with Windows. I said 'are you in front of your computer? " and he said "nah, don't need to be"

He asked me "what is in front of you". I said "my desktop" he then proceeded to tell me , Go to start, pull up my computer, go to Window updates, press on this (then when I got to the point he was referencing), he continued, "now you should have this in front of you, blah blah, blah. One hour on the phone. About 50 steps. All from his head, while he was NOT AT THE COMPUTER.

To me, that's a genius mentality. Too bad he doesn' want to work. Think of the tech support he could be giving people.

So I'll just do a system restore and we shall see. Will update later on.

Mel