Cannot open attachments Windows Mail, Vista

[Debbie]

Well, go figure, two days later I can not open rtf, doc or jpg files again.
The %userprofile%" is in the properties box but is doesn't work. Hope
someone fiqures this out soon. I may have to go back to IE7 when I have time
to mess with it - really too busy to play around with annoying computer
glitches - would like a solution so I can get on with my business!!

 

[t-4-2]

What is in IE8 that is so attractive that you cannot bring yourself to
un-install it ?
Why keep on messing with the settings which turn out to be ineffective,
while in same breath you said " too busy to play around " ?
t-4-2

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

You might as well bite the bullet and uninstall IE8 now. It takes only
about 10 minutes.

 

[Gary]

I have the same problem as everyone else, I cannot open pdf txt & pps.
running windows vista ultimate 64. I have tried all the suggestions posted. I
am able to save all of them to the desktop so I am good to go till MS comes
up with a fix. It is not that diffucult to open them from the desktop. Just
wanted vent.

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

If you have "tried all the suggestions", was one of those uninstalling IE8?
See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957700

 

[Rainald Taesler]

I have the same problem as everyone else, I cannot open pdf txt & pps.
running windows vista ultimate 64. I have tried all the suggestions
posted. I am able to save all of them to the desktop so I am good to
go till MS comes up with a fix. It is not that diffucult to open them
from the desktop. Just wanted vent.

The mostly posted suggestion is uninstalling IE8.
Did you do this and the problem remains under IE7 as in Dave's side??

And did you try the workaround with editing the destination path in the
"Start in:" field if the shortcut used fir launching WinMail?

Rainald

 

[Rainald Taesler]

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...

It's not clear to me what you have to repeat.
Could you explain that?

TIA
Rainald

 

[C. Sylesh]

I came across another work around. It works on my laptop, didn't get a chance
to try on more machines. Only advantage is that this way all the attachments
can be opened, no limitations with jpeg, txt etc. Still, believe me, it is
slightly painful to use winmail this way.

All you need to do is to set winmail to compact the database on every exit.
To set this, go to Tools -> Options -> Advanced -> Maintenance -> 'Compact
....'. Set it to 1 run. Then, whenever you fail to open an attachment, just
close all the open mail windows and close the winmail application. It will
prompt you to compact the database, say YES. Now open winmail again. You will
be able to launch the attachments.

But after some time (yet to figure out, I am not bothered) it stops opening
the attachment. But for quite some time it works.

- Sylesh.

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Thanks for that report. Some who have the attachments problem
get temporary relief by just closing WM and then opening it again.
If I had the problem, I would simply uninstall IE8 and be done with
that shenanigans.

 

[Ramesh Srinivasan, MS-MVP]

Hi Dave,

Yes. I'm interested to have a look at the log.

 

[Sam Hobbs]

Me too. That is, attachments open the way they should when I start my system
but at some point the attachments do not open. When I restart the system,
they work again for a while but then fail after a while.

Except I don't compact in the way you describe; I have not changed the
options for compacting. For me, just the restart is enough to fix the
problem temporarily.