Outlook Express won't open my attachments!
In an effort to stop the quick spread of computer viruses, Microsoft changed the way Outlook Express handles attached files. Microsoft's solution? After people install Windows XP's Service Pack 1, Outlook Express can no longer open or save most attachments. Outlook Express users can see the attached file's name, but it's "grayed out" and can't be selected, opened, or saved.If this creates a problem, here's how to make Outlook Express open your attachments.
- Choose Options from Outlook Express' Tools menu.
- Click the Security Tab.
- Click to remove the checkmark by the option called, "Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus."
- Click the OK button.
- Close and restart Outlook Express, if necessary.
Outlook Express will then let you open and save attachments.
Instead of opening your attachments directly from Outlook Express, it's safest to save them to your hard drive and scan them with a virus checker. Then open them.
You'll find more detailed information about the new attachment policy in Outlook Express from Microsoft's KnowledgeBase Web site. Microsoft's KnowledgeBase also lists the types of attached files Outlook Express won't let you open.
It seems that Outlook Express also won't let you open files that Windows XP doesn't recognize. This includes many files created by third-party companies.