command failed to execute.

[Craig and Vicki Sorenson]

I upgraded to IE8 yesterday, and have experienced this problem since then. I
was previously able to open the attachments, but now I am getting the error
message, Command failed to execute.

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

The only known fix at this time is to uninstall IE8:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957700

 

[Grady Fuller]

Gary, in another post someone suggested to abandom opening email thru the
Start Icon and opening email from IE8. This works very well!! click on
Start, then the double arrows to the right opening IE8. Then click on
"mail"! ...........
Grady

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Thanks. It was Rainald who posted earlier today that changing the icon used
to start Windows Mail may fix all but .TXT and .JPG attachments.

--
Gary VanderMolen, MS-MVP (Mail)

Gary, in another post someone suggested to abandom opening email thru the
Start Icon and opening email from IE8. This works very well!! click on
Start, then the double arrows to the right opening IE8. Then click on
"mail"! ...........
Grady

 

[Rainald Taesler]

Gary, in another post someone suggested to abandom opening email thru
the Start Icon and opening email from IE8. This works very well!!
click on Start, then the double arrows to the right opening IE8.
Then click on "mail"! ...........

This method works for most file types (Office files, PDFs etc.).
The problem remains with JPG and TXT attachments, however.

That it works has to do with the fact that the standard link
(LNK)/shortcut in the Start menu (and on the desktop / the QuickLaunch
lost) is not used when WinMail is called from IE.

The same effect can be obtained if one fixes the entry in the LNK's
properties in the field "Run in".
The default entry causes that the a temporary file needed for opening
the attachment can not be created and therefore not be found in the
specified directory.

If one edits the field and enters a location with full write access
(f.e. %UserProfile%) the temporary files are created there and be
opened.

Taking this route is easy enough and provides the normal access to
WinMail.

Caveat: JPG and TXT file will not be opened (as said above).

HTH
Rainald

 

[Rainald Taesler]

Thanks. It was Rainald who posted earlier today that changing the
icon used to start Windows Mail may fix all but .TXT and .JPG

attachments.

Thanks for referring to my findings.
To be complete: Not changing the "icon" but editing the properties of
the LNK/shortcut used for launching WinMail (specifying a different
destination in the field "Run in:").

IMO you might add this recipe to your standard recommendation as an
alternative to the radical solution of uninstalling IE8.
I for one can live with this workaround, opening TXT and JPG attachments
after saving to a temp directory. May others feel the same.

Rainald
P.S. Thanks for your kind e-mail. I'll reply tomorrow.

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Good point. Will do.
Incidentally, in my Win7 the field is labeled 'Start in', and the path says
"C:\Program Files\Windows Mail".

 

[Rainald Taesler]

Good point. Will do.

OK, fine ;-)

Incidentally, in my Win7 the field is labeled 'Start in',

Oh I see. This seems to be the correct term.
"Run in:" was *my* translation (my Win speaks German and unfortunately I
do not have a MUI pack)

and the path says
"C:\Program Files\Windows Mail".

Yes, that's the culprit!
I assume that with the bug the system tries to place the temporary file
there (god knows why). At least it's trying to open it from there (the
error messages from Office apps show this path).
If one changes the destination to a directory with full writing
permissions this fixes the problem (except the said JPG and TXT files).
I think just %UserProfile% will be the best replacement for the
program's path.

Regards
Rainald

 

[G.Dorsey]

I also installed OE8 & can no longer open attachments. HP suggested that I
reinstall Windows Mail; I tried it...doesn't work. WHAT CAN BE DONE? As an
alternative, I'm saving mail with attachments to Documents, and opening
there. I want solution!

 

[Chero]

IMHO, uninstalling IE8 is not a "drastic" solution to this problem (and it
worked for all attachments). It is unacceptibly tedious (to me) to have to
save .jpg, .txt or even forwarded .eml files and then open them somewhere
else. Sincere question: What does IE8 offer that makes up for the loss of
productive time?

Home user

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Does the error message say something like, the file can not be found?
If so, that's a known issue that is affecting some who installed IE8.
One workaround is to uninstall IE8, which reverts you back to IE7.
Even without uninstalling IE8 you can make it work for all but TXT and
JPG attachments by doing the following:

Right-click on the shortcut that you use to open Windows Mail.
Select Properties. In the field labeled 'Start in' change the entered
value to %UserProfile%. Click OK. Restart Windows Mail and try opening
attachments.

 

[KayCee]

This doesn't work for me as Yahoo is my default home page when I open IE8. I
can't open Windows mail from my Yahoo page. just Yahoo mail. How do I
uninstall IE8?
Kathy

Gary, in another post someone suggested to abandom opening email thru the
Start Icon and opening email from IE8. This works very well!! click on
Start, then the double arrows to the right opening IE8. Then click on
"mail"! ...........
Grady

 

[Rainald Taesler]

I also installed OE8 & can no longer open attachments. HP suggested
that I reinstall Windows Mail; I tried it...doesn't work.

Strange advice.
But most HP support is not yet aware if the IE8-WinMail bug.

Just curious: How does one re-install WinMail?

WHAT CAN BE DONE? As an alternative, I'm saving mail with
attachments to Documents, and opening there. I want solution!

Many - not only *you* - want a solution <g>.

But there is none at present, except uninstalling IE8.

If you could live with my workaround which reduces the problem to only
JPG and TXT attachments:
Right-click on the shortcut that you use to open Windows Mail.
Select Properties. In the field labeled 'Start in' change the entered
value to %UserProfile%. Click OK. Restart Windows Mail and try opening
attachments.

It would be nice if you could report back if this works for you.

Rainald

 

[Nancy Hogue]

As a work around, if you really want to see the attachment. Right click on
the attachment and Save to your documents. Go to documents and open/run.
Worked for me anyway and I have IE8.

Nancy Hogue

 

[Rainald Taesler]

As a work around, if you really want to see the attachment. Right
click on the attachment and Save to your documents. Go to documents
and open/run. Worked for me anyway and I have IE8.

Yes, this always works. But it's just a workaround and no solution.

Rainald

 

[KCROCKET]

What is IEB???

I had no problems getting my attachments until today. I recently upgraded
from a trial software program that included outlook, powerpoint, excel and
word. Now, I only have the student edition which excluded "OUTLOOK". I also
noticed I now CAN NOT send an email to someone from that direct website. I
have to save the site to my desktop and then go the the desktop to SEND to an
EMAIL RECIPIENT. Does anyone have any good info on this? Thanks - Rick

 

[Nancy Hogue]

"re Krocket question whais IEB

IE8 is Internet Explorer version 8 which some of us have recently upgraded
to and hence the problems with attachments on Vista.

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Outlook tends to hold unto the default mail program designation.
Open the Default Programs applet, which you can access either from
the Start menu or via the Control Panel, then click the first item:
"Set your default programs."
After a few seconds, a list of programs comes up. Click on "Windows
Mail". If it doesn't respond with "This program has all its defaults"
then fix it by clicking on the option indicated by the first green arrow.

 

[Bob Hart]

I have two PCs. One with Vista and one with XP, both have IE8. The one with
XP has no problem, the one with Vista does.

Bob Hart

 

[Rainald Taesler]

:

I have two PCs. One with Vista and one with XP, both have IE8. The
one with XP has no problem, the one with Vista does.

That's just normal.

The Bug only appears with WinMail (not with OE).

It's a Vista security settings issue.
So it does not affect XP systems.

Rainald