Cannot open attachments Windows Mail, Vista

[Dave]

I cannot open or save Windows Mail attachments. I have observed the process
with procmon the sequence of events is as follows.
Attachment is E013982279S15.pdf
Winmail creates a file in the temporary location.
Winmail the calls C:\Program Files\Defender\MpOAV.dll
Winmail then apparently deletes the file

Can anyone tell me how to prevent the call to Defender?
My other Vista computer doesn't do this.

I installed IE8 and reverted back to IE7 in an attempt to fix this issue.

 

[Rainald Taesler]

I cannot open or save Windows Mail attachments.

Welcome to the Club! <eg>
It seems that you too get bitten by the IE8-WinMail bug which affects man
systems (though not the majority) after installing IE8.
What makes me wonder is your last sentence on reverting back to IE7.
Is the problem still existing after uninstalling IE8??

Are you running any AntiVirus protection?

I have observed the process with procmon the sequence of events
is as follows.
Attachment is E013982279S15.pdf

What happens when you try to open a PDF?
Does the associated application (which one?) open then error with "file not
found"?

In addition (as the problem has several variations):
Does the problem appear with PDF attachments only?
Did you test with other file types?
Which error messages?

How about JPG and TXT files (the system reacts different with those)?

Winmail creates a file in the temporary location.

Where the temporary file is created depends on the settings for the path in
the "Start in:"-filed of the shortcut used for launching WinMail.
The entry in the said field by default can be different: My Business 32
system had the default of c:\program files\winmail (which is wrong), a
fresh install of Enterprise 32 SP1 English came wit %UserProfile (which is
OK).
With the settings fro the program's directory the problem affects all types
of attachments.
Office apps come up with error messages saying that the file could not be
found in "C:\windows\system32 (for sure not a location for a temporary file
<!>), Acrobat and Adobe Reader open and say the file could not be found. TXT
and JPG attachment produce the same short error message that the file could
not be found.

If the path in the shortcut is set to a directory with writing permissions
(f.e. %Temp% or %UserProfile%) the temporary files for almost all files are
created there.
TXT and JPG files are always opened in a subdirectory of "Content.IE5".
When the path is empty all temporary files are created in a subdirectory of
"Content.IE5).

Winmail the calls C:\Program Files\Defender\MpOAV.dll

This is really strange .
But it seems to be an important part of information.

Winmail then apparently deletes the file

Can anyone tell me how to prevent the call to Defender?
My other Vista computer doesn't do this.

No idea so far. I could not even find it under "Services" :-(

I installed IE8 and reverted back to IE7 in an attempt to fix the
issue.

As asked above: Does the problem persist?

Finally: I have been after the bug for many weeks.
But as I am almost illiterate with viewing events and never worked with
ProcMon I could not get into the internals deep enough.
Could you pls give me instructions on how to reproduce your steps?

Thanks for the details in your report. I'd hope we might get closer
together.
Sam Hobbs is also experimenting with ProcMon. Pls see his thread
"Diagnosing: Windows cannot find ....", starting on June 06,
news://msnews.microsoft.com/[email protected]

 

[Dave]

Not running virus protection
Defender is disabled (System configuration -Startup tab - uncheck Windows
defender
Opening any kind of file .txt .doc .zip .jpg results in no action
Saving any kind of file results in an error message "The command failed to
execute"
I cannot attach the procmon log as it is too large to post, I can email it
to anyone who is interested

 

[Rainald Taesler]

Thanks fro the reply, Dae.
Comments below.

Not running virus protection
OK.

Defender is disabled (System configuration -Startup tab - uncheck
Windows defender

Thanks. I had just overlooked it.
You turned it off and it still jumps in with attachments??

Opening any kind of file .txt .doc .zip .jpg results in no action

Did you check the path in the shortcut?
The destination set there is a decisive factor.

Saving any kind of file results in an error message "The command
failed to execute"

You seem to have a rather strange variation.
I have read each any posting on the bug but I can not remember that there
might have been just 2 or 3 postings reporting troubles with saving
attachments.

I cannot attach the procmon log as it is too large to post, I can
email it to anyone who is interested

Thanks for the offer.
Although I will most probably be unable to get anything out of it you might
send me a copy
taesler [at] web [dot] de.

Thanks again
Rainald

 

[Dave]

Update - I replaced mpoav.dll dated 5/1/2007 with a copy from my other
computer dated 9/29/2007 and everything now works properly.

Thanks fro the reply, Dae.
Comments below.

Not running virus protection
OK.

Defender is disabled (System configuration -Startup tab - uncheck
Windows defender

Thanks. I had just overlooked it.
You turned it off and it still jumps in with attachments??

Opening any kind of file .txt .doc .zip .jpg results in no action

Did you check the path in the shortcut?
The destination set there is a decisive factor.

Saving any kind of file results in an error message "The command
failed to execute"

You seem to have a rather strange variation.
I have read each any posting on the bug but I can not remember that there
might have been just 2 or 3 postings reporting troubles with saving
attachments.

I cannot attach the procmon log as it is too large to post, I can
email it to anyone who is interested

Thanks for the offer.
Although I will most probably be unable to get anything out of it you
might send me a copy
taesler [at] web [dot] de.

Thanks again
Rainald

 

[Debbie]

I also cannot open attachments in Windows Mail, Vista since IE8 was
installed. I am running Norton Antivirus. Get same "cannot find file...."
popup message. Problems with rtf, doc, jpg and pdf files. I can, though,
copy the file to my documents file and then open it. Does that help anyone
trying to solve this? Please tell me how to reinstall the IE7 and I will see
if that helps the problem.

 

[Dave]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957700

I also cannot open attachments in Windows Mail, Vista since IE8 was
installed. I am running Norton Antivirus. Get same "cannot find
file...."
popup message. Problems with rtf, doc, jpg and pdf files. I can, though,
copy the file to my documents file and then open it. Does that help
anyone
trying to solve this? Please tell me how to reinstall the IE7 and I will
see
if that helps the problem.

 

[Rainald Taesler]

I also cannot open attachments in Windows Mail, Vista since IE8 was
installed. I am running Norton Antivirus. Get same "cannot find
file...." popup message. Problems with rtf, doc, jpg and pdf files.
I can, though, copy the file to my documents file and then open it.
Does that help anyone trying to solve this? Please tell me how to
reinstall the IE7 and I will see if that helps the problem.

Dave has already told you how to remove IE8.

But perhaps this is not really necessary.
The problems can be reduced to JPG and TXT files (all other files types
opening fine) with a workaround:
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.

JPG and TXT can be opened after saving them.
I for one can love with that (until the mysteries if this bug have been
unrevealed).

Rainald

 

[Rainald Taesler]

Update - I replaced mpoav.dll dated 5/1/2007 with a copy from my other
computer dated 9/29/2007 and everything now works properly.

Thanks for the update.
A really very strange situation.

Pls monitor the attachment issue - especially with JPG and TXT files.
The normal situation is that the bug comes crawling in again after the
situation seemed to have been cured.

Thanks again
Rainald
P.S. I would still appreciate to receive your ProcMon log-file

*---

Thanks for the reply, Dae.
Comments below.

Not running virus protection
OK.

Defender is disabled (System configuration -Startup tab - uncheck
Windows defender

Thanks. I had just overlooked it.
You turned it off and it still jumps in with attachments??

Opening any kind of file .txt .doc .zip .jpg results in no action

Did you check the path in the shortcut?
The destination set there is a decisive factor.

Saving any kind of file results in an error message "The command
failed to execute"

You seem to have a rather strange variation.
I have read each any posting on the bug but I can not remember that
there might have been just 2 or 3 postings reporting troubles with
saving attachments.

I cannot attach the procmon log as it is too large to post, I can
email it to anyone who is interested

Thanks for the offer.
Although I will most probably be unable to get anything out of it you
might send me a copy
taesler [at] web [dot] de.

Thanks again
Rainald

Dave wrote:
I cannot open or save Windows Mail attachments.

Welcome to the Club! <eg>
It seems that you too get bitten by the IE8-WinMail bug which
affects man systems (though not the majority) after installing IE8.
What makes me wonder is your last sentence on reverting back to
IE7. Is the problem still existing after uninstalling IE8??

Are you running any AntiVirus protection?

I have observed the process with procmon the sequence of events
is as follows.
Attachment is E013982279S15.pdf

What happens when you try to open a PDF?
Does the associated application (which one?) open then error with
"file not
found"?

In addition (as the problem has several variations):
Does the problem appear with PDF attachments only?
Did you test with other file types?
Which error messages?

How about JPG and TXT files (the system reacts different with
those)?

Winmail creates a file in the temporary location.

Where the temporary file is created depends on the settings for the
path in
the "Start in:"-filed of the shortcut used for launching WinMail.
The entry in the said field by default can be different: My
Business 32 system had the default of c:\program files\winmail
(which is wrong), a fresh install of Enterprise 32 SP1 English
came wit %UserProfile (which is OK).
With the settings fro the program's directory the problem affects
all types
of attachments.
Office apps come up with error messages saying that the file could
not be found in "C:\windows\system32 (for sure not a location for a
temporary file
<!>), Acrobat and Adobe Reader open and say the file could not be
found. TXT
and JPG attachment produce the same short error message that the
file could
not be found.

If the path in the shortcut is set to a directory with writing
permissions (f.e. %Temp% or %UserProfile%) the temporary files for
almost all files are
created there.
TXT and JPG files are always opened in a subdirectory of
"Content.IE5". When the path is empty all temporary files are
created in a subdirectory of
"Content.IE5).

Winmail the calls C:\Program Files\Defender\MpOAV.dll

This is really strange .
But it seems to be an important part of information.

Winmail then apparently deletes the file

Can anyone tell me how to prevent the call to Defender?
My other Vista computer doesn't do this.

No idea so far. I could not even find it under "Services" :-(

I installed IE8 and reverted back to IE7 in an attempt to fix the
issue.

As asked above: Does the problem persist?

Finally: I have been after the bug for many weeks.
But as I am almost illiterate with viewing events and never worked
with ProcMon I could not get into the internals deep enough.
Could you pls give me instructions on how to reproduce your steps?

Thanks for the details in your report. I'd hope we might get closer
together.
Sam Hobbs is also experimenting with ProcMon. Pls see his thread
"Diagnosing: Windows cannot find ....", starting on June 06,

news://msnews.microsoft.com/[email protected]

 

[Debbie]

My computer will not allow me to type in the "Start in" box.

 

[Debbie]

I "misspoke" earlier - I can open pdf files, just not rtf,doc and jpg files.
What is the advantage of keeping the IE8 and working around the attachements
instead of reinstalling the IE7?? I hope someone finds a solution soon.

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

There's no particular advantage to keeping IE8 unless you've decided
that it is much better than IE7. It's a personal decision.

 

[Rainald Taesler]

My computer will not allow me to type in the "Start in" box.

Why not?
Any error messaged wir what else?

Which shortcut is this about?
The one in the top section if the Startmenu can not be manipulated as
with that there's no access to the properties.
Different with the shortcut in "Start | All Programs". For this one can
select "Properties" in the right-click context menu and the path can be
edited in the "Properties" dialog.

You may also create your own shortcut for putting it on the desktop
and/ore the QuickLaunch list.
Just right click in the Winmail.exe (in c:\program files\windows mail)
and select creating of a Shortcut/Link.

Rainald

 

[Rainald Taesler]

I "misspoke" earlier - I can open pdf files, just not rtf,doc and jpg
files.

This is rather strange.
Normally PDFs cannot be opened when the problem exists and DOCs and RTFs
dint work.
Which application are you using for viewing PDFs?

What is the advantage of keeping the IE8 and working around
the attachements instead of reinstalling the IE7??

IMHO the new IE8 gas gained a lot. It's not only faster but offers a lot
of fine features.
So far I prefer to have IE8 and work around the problem with JPG and TXT
attachments.

I hope someone finds a solution soon. --

I seriously hope so.
But hope may be in vain.
We don't even know if any responsible person at MS knows about the
problem :-( :-(
Gary's attempt in an insider forum have not yet even been answered ...

Rainald

 

[Paul Fillatre]

Hello there. I've been reading thru the threads - had the same prob i.e.
couldn't open any attachments (but could save), since switching to IE 8. I
tried your suggestion to Debbie, Rainald; it worked, tho I'm not sure why (I
didn't have the change the entered value, b/c it already read as u suggested
- yet, since I clicked 'ok', I've been able to open all attachments,
including PDF's)... thanx a lot!!!

 

[Rainald Taesler]

Hello there. I've been reading thru the threads - had the same prob
i.e. couldn't open any attachments (but could save), since switching
to IE 8. I tried your suggestion to Debbie, Rainald; it worked, tho
I'm not sure why (I didn't have the change the entered value, b/c it
already read as u suggested - yet, since I clicked 'ok', I've been
able to open all attachments, including PDF's)... than a lot!!!

You're welcome!
I'm glad to hear that I could be of help.

Thanks for your success report. It's most valuable to receive feedback
on the results of the suggestions.
Your experience is really interesting.

Rainald

 

[Debbie]

I assume I use Adobe Acrobat reader to open pdf files BUT hooray!! I figured
out how to go to ALL Programs Windows Mail icon and click on properties. The
%UserProfile% was already in the "Start in" box so I copied it to the desktop
and now I can open the attachements. yeah! My current shortcut icons
properties screen had blank "start in" boxes and would not allow me to type
in them. Thank you to Paul - your comments sent me looking for other
property screens. Thank you Dave and Rainald.

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Remember, you will still have difficulty opening JPG and TXT attachments,
but it's a good trade-off (being able to keep IE8).

 

[Paul Fillatre]

Have to add that lost the ability to open attachments once again. Rainald's
suggestion worked (once again) - but it's going to be a pain in the butt if
have to repeat this process every time the computer's rebooted...

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

You had to make a new shortcut, or you had to change the "Start in"
value in the existing Windows Mail shortcut?
If the problem returns, I suggest uninstalling IE8.