Can't open msg files

[Jacques]

Hello
I have been sent a number of files with the extension msg, which were
created in Outlook. (I'm not sure which version, but probably 2000.)
When I try to open them in Outlook 2000, I get an error message "Unable
to read item".

I am running Outlook inside Virtual PC on a Mac, but I don't think this
is the problem because I can open the items with Word (from inside VPC).
Unfortunately a lot of the items have pdf attachments, which Word can't
read.

Can anyone help me open these items, or at least save the attachments so
that I can open them with Acrobat?

TIA

Jacques

 

[Roady [MVP]]

If they were created in Outlook 2003 or later you won't be able to open them
in Outlook 2002/XP or previous. If you don't know with which version you
saved the item you might want to try it in Outlook 2003 or 2007.

 

[Jacques]

Robert, thank you. Unfortunately I can't try Outlook 2003 because I
don't have it. I have tried MSGViewer, but that suggests that the files
are in a peculiar format. It looks as if the outer msg file contains an
inner msg file which contains the pdf attachment - like Russian dolls -
and even MSGViewer won't reveal the pdf. Does that make any sense? I
suspect it is the result of the documents being saved in an electronic
filing system called Meridio.

If they were created in Outlook 2003 or later you won't be able to open them
in Outlook 2002/XP or previous. If you don't know with which version you
saved the item you might want to try it in Outlook 2003 or 2007.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----

Hello
I have been sent a number of files with the extension msg, which were
created in Outlook. (I'm not sure which version, but probably 2000.)
When I try to open them in Outlook 2000, I get an error message "Unable
to read item".

I am running Outlook inside Virtual PC on a Mac, but I don't think this
is the problem because I can open the items with Word (from inside VPC).
Unfortunately a lot of the items have pdf attachments, which Word can't
read.

Can anyone help me open these items, or at least save the attachments so
that I can open them with Acrobat?

TIA

Jacques

 

[Roady [MVP]]

Yes, that is possible; msg-files can hold attachments including other
msg-files which can hold attachments itself as well and so on. That still
shouldn't affect the initial opening of the message. If opening additional
attachments gives you any issues you can opt for saving the attachent first
and then open is from the saved location instead of from the message
directly.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----

Robert, thank you. Unfortunately I can't try Outlook 2003 because I
don't have it. I have tried MSGViewer, but that suggests that the files
are in a peculiar format. It looks as if the outer msg file contains an
inner msg file which contains the pdf attachment - like Russian dolls -
and even MSGViewer won't reveal the pdf. Does that make any sense? I
suspect it is the result of the documents being saved in an electronic
filing system called Meridio.

If they were created in Outlook 2003 or later you won't be able to open
them
in Outlook 2002/XP or previous. If you don't know with which version you
saved the item you might want to try it in Outlook 2003 or 2007.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----
message

Hello
I have been sent a number of files with the extension msg, which were
created in Outlook. (I'm not sure which version, but probably 2000.)
When I try to open them in Outlook 2000, I get an error message "Unable
to read item".

I am running Outlook inside Virtual PC on a Mac, but I don't think this
is the problem because I can open the items with Word (from inside
VPC).
Unfortunately a lot of the items have pdf attachments, which Word can't
read.

Can anyone help me open these items, or at least save the attachments
so
that I can open them with Acrobat?

TIA

Jacques

 

[Guest]

Hi together,

I have the same issue. I had the problem with Outlook 2003. What helped was
killing all registry entries for office and running a repair installation.
Just running a repair installation did not solve the issue! After upgrading
to Outlook 2007 I have the issue again. There must be some bug or setting in
Outlook that causes this behaviour. Interestingly enough it occurs only when
an msg file contains an attachment. I get the error message "Could not open
one or more attachments." The msg itself is then displayed, but the
attachment is always missing. In some cases Outlook simply crashes.

Any further ideas?

Regards
RS

Yes, that is possible; msg-files can hold attachments including other
msg-files which can hold attachments itself as well and so on. That still
shouldn't affect the initial opening of the message. If opening additional
attachments gives you any issues you can opt for saving the attachent first
and then open is from the saved location instead of from the message
directly.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003


-----

Robert, thank you. Unfortunately I can't try Outlook 2003 because I
don't have it. I have tried MSGViewer, but that suggests that the files
are in a peculiar format. It looks as if the outer msg file contains an
inner msg file which contains the pdf attachment - like Russian dolls -
and even MSGViewer won't reveal the pdf. Does that make any sense? I
suspect it is the result of the documents being saved in an electronic
filing system called Meridio.

If they were created in Outlook 2003 or later you won't be able to open
them
in Outlook 2002/XP or previous. If you don't know with which version you
saved the item you might want to try it in Outlook 2003 or 2007.

--
Robert Sparnaaij [MVP-Outlook]
Coauthor, Configuring Microsoft Outlook 2003
http://www.howto-outlook.com/
Outlook FAQ, HowTo, Downloads, Add-Ins and more

-----
message
Hello
I have been sent a number of files with the extension msg, which were
created in Outlook. (I'm not sure which version, but probably 2000.)
When I try to open them in Outlook 2000, I get an error message "Unable
to read item".

I am running Outlook inside Virtual PC on a Mac, but I don't think this
is the problem because I can open the items with Word (from inside
VPC).
Unfortunately a lot of the items have pdf attachments, which Word can't
read.

Can anyone help me open these items, or at least save the attachments
so
that I can open them with Acrobat?

TIA

Jacques