Unable to open DOC attachments

[sulo]

If I receive an e-mail with an attachment "DOC" my system can't open it. I'm
running with Vista and even if someone else is using Vista I still can't open
it. The system suggests Adobe or Internet Explorer neither of which works.
I've tried to get my Microsoft Works Word to open it but I'm not having any
luck. I don't have Microsoft Word, could that be my problem or does anyone
have any ideas on what I could do? Would really appreciate your help. Thanks.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

Is the problem only seen with DOC attachments or all attachments?

What happens when you try to open such an attachment? Post any error
messages in their entirety.

Have you installed IE8?

What anti-virus application or security suite is installed, is your
subscription current, and is it supported in IE8? What anti-spyware
applications (other than Defender)? What third-party firewall (if any)?
Were any of these applications running in the background when you installed
IE8?

Has a Norton or McAfee application ever been installed on this machine
(e.g., a free-trial version that came preinstalled when you bought it)?

Just asking for now!! Do NOT use such a Restore Point yet!! => Do you have
an available Restore Point which predates the install of IE8?

NB: Uninstalling IE8 should resolve the behavior but you should not have
encountered it in the first place if IE8 was installed properly.

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Install the free Word Viewer:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...88-7cfa-457a-9aec-f4f827f20cac&displaylang=en

 

[sulo]

Hi, I currently have IE7. The document was originally created in Microsoft
Word. I only have this problem with DOC attachments. All other attachments
are fine.

When I click to open the file, it's looks to be downloading and then I get
"Choose the program you wish to use to open this file". It gives me a choice
of Adobe, IE, Microsoft Works, Notepad and Wordpad. But none of them work.
One of them just showed garbled letters and with others I get a message back
" Works (or whatever program) was unable to open the project you selected".

My machine came with McAffee but only for one year. It comes up a couple of
times a day asking if I want to subscribe again. I believe there is some sort
of a Microsoft Security package that runs.

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

See my post for the solution.

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

See Gary's reply (i.e., download/install Word Viewer).

My machine came with McAffee but only for one year. It comes up a couple
of
times a day asking if I want to subscribe again. I believe there is some
sort of a Microsoft Security package that runs.

So you're running without a valid, fully-updated anti-virus application?
Not good! (Windows Defender is NOT an anti-virus application.)

Protect Your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/security/computer/default.mspx

Steps To Help Prevent Spyware
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/spyware/prevent.mspx

Steps to Help Prevent Computer Worms
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/viruses/worms/prevent.mspx

Avoid Rogue Security Software!
http://www.microsoft.com/protect/computer/viruses/rogue.mspx

 

[sulo]

Gary, I installed the Word Viewer and rebooted but I'm still getting the same
problems. The system still asks me what program I want to open the attachment
up in. If I select Wordpad or Notepad I can see some text, but it's mostly
just mixed up letters.

 

[t-4-2]

Right click on the attachment ( paper clip ) > save attachment to folder of
your choice > go the folder , locate the attachment >right click > click
Open With > click Microsoft Word Viewer
t-4-2

 

[sulo]

Sorry t-4-2 it's not working. When I right click on the paper clip, my
choices are save picture as; email picture; print picture; go to my pictures;
set as background; copy; add to favourites and properties.
I don't know why my choices are so different from what everyone is suggesting.

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Try this fix:

 

[t-4-2]

1. ) What is your e-mail program ? Outlook Express ? Outlook ?
This is a Windows Vista Mail newsgroup. Sounds like you are not using
Windows Mail.
2. ) What happened if you click " save picture as " ? Is it telling you it
is saving the pictures to a destination ( folder ) ?
t-4-2

 

[sulo]

The original message was sent to my hotmail address which I can then forward
to my Windows Vista mail. I still can't open the attachment in my Windows
mail.

If I click 'save picture as' it works perfectly, and I get a great little
picture of the paper clip.!

Would it make a difference then if I asked the sender to mail directly to my
Windows Vista mail box?

 

[t-4-2]

If I click 'save picture as' it works perfectly, and I get a great little
picture of the paper clip.!

Are you talking in opposites ? You really got a great little picture or just
picture of the paper clip itself ?
Is it your routine that you have senders sending e-mails to your hot mail
account, and then you yourself forward them back to your Windows Mail ? Why
?
Yes, ask your sender to send directly to your Windows Mail address. See what
happens.
May be one of your e-mail accounts is set in Plain Text.
t-4-2

 

[TKFiveStar]

When attachments do not open in window mail. Highlight the attachment, right
click on your mouse, click save as, sent to your desktop and click ok. It
will copy to your desktop and you can open the attachment. I hope this helps
you.

 

[Charlie Tame]

Did you just install IE8 or let Windows Update do it?

Open IE if not sure and go tools>about

If it is version 8 you may be better to remove IE8 to see if that helps.

Can you save the doc to your desktop and then click on it there to open it?