Cannot Open Word attachment

[Hudineker]

When I receive a Word document as an attachment in an email Windows Mail will
not let me open it.

The file is in the email and has the proper icon and file extension. When I
try to open it it asks if I want to Save or Open the document; I choose Open.
The I get an error message:
"This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this
action. Create an association in the Set Associations control panel."

I can save the attachment to my desktop and then open it no problem but I
don't think that I should have to do that. I should be able to double click
on any attachment and it should open with the proper program, right?

Any Ideas?

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Try this fix:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articl...ectly-from-Windows-Mail-in-Windows-Vista.html

 

[Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM]

When I receive a Word document as an attachment in an email Windows Mail
will
not let me open it.

The file is in the email and has the proper icon and file extension. When
I
try to open it it asks if I want to Save or Open the document; I choose
Open.
The I get an error message:
"This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this
action. Create an association in the Set Associations control panel."

I can save the attachment to my desktop and then open it no problem but I
don't think that I should have to do that. I should be able to double
click
on any attachment and it should open with the proper program, right?

Any Ideas?

What is the document extension?
What version of Word do you have?

 

[Hudineker]

I tried the link that Gary sent me.. it did not help at all. It didn't seem
to do anything.

Frank, The extension on the word document is .doc. I'm running Word 2007.

Thanks

 

[Hudineker]

SOLUTION:

After reading about numerous people with the same problem and trying many
suggestions there was only one that worked for me. This is what I did:

1. Open up the Set Associations tool in Windows Vista.
2. Scroll to and choose the .doc file type, Select "Change Program" button
at top.
3. Select a different program(not Word); I used Adobe Reader; click OK.
4. In the long list of file types the .doc type should reflect that it
associated with the program that you chose. Of course, this means that the
file will definitely not open by default with word anymore. So, don't forget
the next step!!
5. Choose the .doc file type, press the "Change Program" button again; This
time select Word as the default program and click OK.
6. Check that the .doc type in the list says that it is Associated with
Word. If it is, your problem is solved... at least mine was.

I don't know why this trick worked but it did.

Thanks to BARRY HAIGH for posting it in another thread.

Thanks to Gary for his quick response to my previous post.

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

It is indeed strange that Vista requires this toggling back and forth
before a setting will stick properly. But we have seen the same
thing with the spelling language selection.

 

[Frank Saunders MS-MVP IE,OE/WM]

SOLUTION:

After reading about numerous people with the same problem and trying many
suggestions there was only one that worked for me. This is what I did:

1. Open up the Set Associations tool in Windows Vista.
2. Scroll to and choose the .doc file type, Select "Change Program" button
at top.
3. Select a different program(not Word); I used Adobe Reader; click OK.
4. In the long list of file types the .doc type should reflect that it
associated with the program that you chose. Of course, this means that the
file will definitely not open by default with word anymore. So, don't
forget
the next step!!
5. Choose the .doc file type, press the "Change Program" button again;
This
time select Word as the default program and click OK.
6. Check that the .doc type in the list says that it is Associated with
Word. If it is, your problem is solved... at least mine was.

I don't know why this trick worked but it did.

Thanks to BARRY HAIGH for posting it in another thread.

Thanks to Gary for his quick response to my previous post.

It is a bit disappointing that Vista still needs that kick in the pants
sometimes.