Another cannot open attachments - detailed

[Guest]

This has just started on my WinMail/Vista Home PC after working fine for
months. Here are some details:

Won't open any email attachments (all associations are there - I checked)
Won't save either, puts up a "command failed to execute" message
Started about 2-3 weeks ago
Also running Norton Internet Security, but have been since day 1 when it
would open the attachments

Here's what I have done so far, without any success:
Turned off the "don't allow attachments that may be viruses"
Disabled Norton
Booted into safe mode
Downloaded and installed the Symantec Norton Vista "fix" for this problem
Restored at a point before this problem started
Checked the restore points - lots of Vista updates but since I can't
remember the exact day this problem started, that didn't really help, other
than showing me that updates had happened around the time the problem started
Ran LiveUpdate for Norton
Searched all sorts of groups and have seen many postings with the same basic
problem - no root cause known and no good solutions yet though.
and finally....cursed an awful lot

Other than re-installing Vista and WinMail I am at a loss. If it had never
opened attachmenst it would be a different story, but again, it was fine for
months then just failed recently.

Is there some interface driver that may have been corrupted? Any other ideas?

Anyone know if one of the latest Vista updates did this or have any other
solutions that they have tried with success? I was on-line with HP Support
for hours the other night with no luck (Microsoft won't support it since it
is an OEM PC with Vista).

Thanks.

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Thanks for including a recap of everything you have tried so far.
Have you tried it with Norton completely uninstalled? Although
you don't suspect Norton as the culprit, many of us experienced
techs do, and it will take only 20 minutes of your time to uninstall
it, test your mail program, and then reinstall Norton (if desired).

 

[Guest]

Gary - I will try that. Just need to to find my key code so I can re-download
it if I find it isn't the culprit.

Found out yesterday that if I download (not in an email) a zipped file, it
won't extract it either. Won't even try, just tells me it's an empty folder.
You think that is related to the mail problem (Norton also)? I have seen your
name on a lot of responses and you seem very knowledgeable so I value your
thoughts.

I will post a response for the results of un-installing Norton once I try it.

Thanks.

Thanks for including a recap of everything you have tried so far.
Have you tried it with Norton completely uninstalled? Although
you don't suspect Norton as the culprit, many of us experienced
techs do, and it will take only 20 minutes of your time to uninstall
it, test your mail program, and then reinstall Norton (if desired).

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS MVP-WLM]

This has just started on my WinMail/Vista Home PC after working fine for
months. Here are some details:

Won't open any email attachments (all associations are there - I checked)
Won't save either, puts up a "command failed to execute" message
Started about 2-3 weeks ago
Also running Norton Internet Security, but have been since day 1 when it
would open the attachments

Here's what I have done so far, without any success:
Turned off the "don't allow attachments that may be viruses"
Disabled Norton
Booted into safe mode
Downloaded and installed the Symantec Norton Vista "fix" for this problem
Restored at a point before this problem started
Checked the restore points - lots of Vista updates but since I can't
remember the exact day this problem started, that didn't really help, other
than showing me that updates had happened around the time the problem started
Ran LiveUpdate for Norton
Searched all sorts of groups and have seen many postings with the same basic
problem - no root cause known and no good solutions yet though.
and finally....cursed an awful lot

Other than re-installing Vista and WinMail I am at a loss. If it had never
opened attachmenst it would be a different story, but again, it was fine for
months then just failed recently.

Is there some interface driver that may have been corrupted? Any other ideas?

Anyone know if one of the latest Vista updates did this or have any other
solutions that they have tried with success? I was on-line with HP Support
for hours the other night with no luck (Microsoft won't support it since it
is an OEM PC with Vista).

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

There is a possibility that the ZIP problem is related to your
mail problem, Norton antivirus being the common factor.
There's no way to determine this for sure until Norton is
completely uninstalled.
--
Gary VanderMolen [MS MVP-WLM]

Gary - I will try that. Just need to to find my key code so I can re-download
it if I find it isn't the culprit.

Found out yesterday that if I download (not in an email) a zipped file, it
won't extract it either. Won't even try, just tells me it's an empty folder.
You think that is related to the mail problem (Norton also)? I have seen your
name on a lot of responses and you seem very knowledgeable so I value your
thoughts.

I will post a response for the results of un-installing Norton once I try it.

Thanks.

Thanks for including a recap of everything you have tried so far.
Have you tried it with Norton completely uninstalled? Although
you don't suspect Norton as the culprit, many of us experienced
techs do, and it will take only 20 minutes of your time to uninstall
it, test your mail program, and then reinstall Norton (if desired).

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS MVP-WLM]

This has just started on my WinMail/Vista Home PC after working fine for
months. Here are some details:

Won't open any email attachments (all associations are there - I checked)
Won't save either, puts up a "command failed to execute" message
Started about 2-3 weeks ago
Also running Norton Internet Security, but have been since day 1 when it
would open the attachments

Here's what I have done so far, without any success:
Turned off the "don't allow attachments that may be viruses"
Disabled Norton
Booted into safe mode
Downloaded and installed the Symantec Norton Vista "fix" for this problem
Restored at a point before this problem started
Checked the restore points - lots of Vista updates but since I can't
remember the exact day this problem started, that didn't really help, other
than showing me that updates had happened around the time the problem started
Ran LiveUpdate for Norton
Searched all sorts of groups and have seen many postings with the same basic
problem - no root cause known and no good solutions yet though.
and finally....cursed an awful lot

Other than re-installing Vista and WinMail I am at a loss. If it had never
opened attachmenst it would be a different story, but again, it was fine for
months then just failed recently.

Is there some interface driver that may have been corrupted? Any other ideas?

Anyone know if one of the latest Vista updates did this or have any other
solutions that they have tried with success? I was on-line with HP Support
for hours the other night with no luck (Microsoft won't support it since it
is an OEM PC with Vista).

 

[Frank Saunders, MS-MVP OE/WM]

Gary - I will try that. Just need to to find my key code so I can
re-download
it if I find it isn't the culprit.

Found out yesterday that if I download (not in an email) a zipped file, it
won't extract it either. Won't even try, just tells me it's an empty
folder.
You think that is related to the mail problem (Norton also)? I have seen
your
name on a lot of responses and you seem very knowledgeable so I value your
thoughts.

I will post a response for the results of un-installing Norton once I try
it.

Thanks.

Thanks for including a recap of everything you have tried so far.
Have you tried it with Norton completely uninstalled? Although
you don't suspect Norton as the culprit, many of us experienced
techs do, and it will take only 20 minutes of your time to uninstall
it, test your mail program, and then reinstall Norton (if desired).

--
Gary VanderMolen [MS MVP-WLM]

This has just started on my WinMail/Vista Home PC after working fine
for
months. Here are some details:

Won't open any email attachments (all associations are there - I
checked)
Won't save either, puts up a "command failed to execute" message
Started about 2-3 weeks ago
Also running Norton Internet Security, but have been since day 1 when
it
would open the attachments

Here's what I have done so far, without any success:
Turned off the "don't allow attachments that may be viruses"
Disabled Norton
Booted into safe mode
Downloaded and installed the Symantec Norton Vista "fix" for this
problem
Restored at a point before this problem started
Checked the restore points - lots of Vista updates but since I can't
remember the exact day this problem started, that didn't really help,
other
than showing me that updates had happened around the time the problem
started
Ran LiveUpdate for Norton
Searched all sorts of groups and have seen many postings with the same
basic
problem - no root cause known and no good solutions yet though.
and finally....cursed an awful lot

Other than re-installing Vista and WinMail I am at a loss. If it had
never
opened attachmenst it would be a different story, but again, it was
fine for
months then just failed recently.

Is there some interface driver that may have been corrupted? Any other
ideas?

Anyone know if one of the latest Vista updates did this or have any
other
solutions that they have tried with success? I was on-line with HP
Support
for hours the other night with no luck (Microsoft won't support it
since it
is an OEM PC with Vista).

Norton automatically downloads updates with new and innovative ways to screw
up your computer.

 

[Steve@OutdoorFrontiers]

There is a possibility that the ZIP problem is related to your
mail problem, Norton antivirus being the common factor.
There's no way to determine this for sure until Norton is
completely uninstalled.

Gary,

What do you do when you've checked to make sure attachments are allowed,
you've uninstalled Norton and the same problem persists?

I bought a HP laptop that came with Vista and Norton were pre-installed last
July. Everything was working great and while I'm not a huge fan of Norton,
because things were working well, I decided I wasn't going to "rock the boat"
and switch AV software. So, on October 30, I renewed the subscription for
Norton AV.

Then, on November 11, I could no longer open any email attachments, even
though on the 10th, I could just fine running Norton AV and Vista. Nor could
I save the attached documents to any folder on the hard drive, getting a
"Command failed to execute" error message.

I came here, saw the problem solution that seemed to be recommended and
uninstalled my $50 subscription to Norton. The problem still existed until I
went to a restore point from August. At that point, I could once again open
attachments without difficulty.

Now, not running any security programs (other than what comes with Vista), I
once again have the same problem. I cannot open any email attachment,
regardless of the file type. I cannot open Word documents, Windows Media
files, PowerPoint, Works, .jpg or .pdf files!

I have not changed any settings, installed any new software and yes, Mail is
set to allow attachments.

What now? I really need to be able to open attachments for business reasons.

Steve
Executive Producer/Editor in Chief
OutdoorFrontiers Multi-Media
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

You have done everything that can reasonably be done as far as
trying to fix your Windows Mail problem. I don't have any other
suggestions, except to say sometimes it is better to switch than
to continue fighting. It is unlikely that Windows Mail will get any new
patches now that Windows Live Mail (WLM) has been released.
Switching to WLM is a win-win proposition. It will automatically
import all your WM accounts, settings, emails and folders.
Contacts may require a manual import, but that is easily done.
And if it turns out you don't like WLM, uninstall it, and WM is back.
http://get.live.com/wlmail/overview

 

[Steve@OutdoorFrontiers]

You have done everything that can reasonably be done as far as
trying to fix your Windows Mail problem. I don't have any other
suggestions, except to say sometimes it is better to switch than
to continue fighting. It is unlikely that Windows Mail will get any new
patches now that Windows Live Mail (WLM) has been released.
Switching to WLM is a win-win proposition. It will automatically
import all your WM accounts, settings, emails and folders.
Contacts may require a manual import, but that is easily done.
And if it turns out you don't like WLM, uninstall it, and WM is back.
http://get.live.com/wlmail/overview

Thanks Gary, I appreciate the prompt response. I will try Windows Live Mail
and see if that corrects the problem. Do you know if Norton AV works with
Live Mail?

I know you don't like Norton, but I paid for a year's subscription and I'd
like to somewhat get my money's worth.

Steve Huber
Executive Producer/Editor in Chief
OutdoorFrontiers Multi-Media LLC
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Thanks Gary, I appreciate the prompt response. I will try Windows Live Mail
and see if that corrects the problem. Do you know if Norton AV works with
Live Mail?

I know you don't like Norton, but I paid for a year's subscription and I'd
like to somewhat get my money's worth.

Windows Live Mail doesn't seem to be quite as sensitive to interference
from antivirus programs as Windows Mail is. Nevertheless, you should
turn off Norton's email scanning option. That feature is redundant
and unnecessary, and can cause corruption of the email database.
Any viruses present in emails will be caught be the real-time file scanner
which is the heart of all antivirus programs.

 

[Steve@OutdoorFrontiers]

Gary,

I went to the link you posted and installed Windows Live Mail. I still
haven't installed Norton AV and the problem STILL persists, I cannot open any
attachments, not even those that were openable two days ago.

Any other ideas?

Steve Huber
Executive Producer/Editor in Chief
OutdoorFrontiers Multi-Media LLC
http://www.outdoorfrontiers.com

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Gary,

I went to the link you posted and installed Windows Live Mail. I still
haven't installed Norton AV and the problem STILL persists, I cannot open any
attachments, not even those that were openable two days ago.

Any other ideas?

There are times when Norton does not uninstall cleanly, and for that reason
they offer a special removal tool:
http://service1.symantec.com/SUPPORT/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039

If that doesn't fix it, perhaps a repair-install of Vista is in order. They say
it leaves your data files intact. I haven't used it, so I can't vouch for it:
http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/88236-repair-install-vista.html