Windows Mail, used to open attachments with a click, now download

[kauaidawn]

I used to be able to open all of my attachments with a click, now when I
click it says "error file not found" mostly with adobe. I reloade adobe -
same problem. I have to download the pdf to open it. Why did this change
all of a sudden and how do I fix it. It isn't secuirty, it says file not
found when it is there. Help me.

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

That's a known issue that is affecting some who installed IE8.
One workaround is to uninstall IE8, which reverts you back to IE7.
Even without uninstalling IE8 you can make it work for all but TXT and
JPG attachments by doing the following:

Right-click on the shortcut that you use to open Windows Mail.
Select Properties. In the field labeled 'Start in' change the existing
value to %UserProfile%. Click OK. Restart Windows Mail and try
opening attachments.

If you decide to uninstall IE8, see:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957700

If you don't want to do that, another option is to upgrade your email program
to Windows Live Mail: http://download.live.com/wlmail

 

[Deb]

Thanks Gary, I have spent days with tech support from hp, microsoft, and my
internet providers and none were able to help me resolve this
issue........the upgrade to "windows live" really worked!!

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

You're very welcome, Deb. Thanks for reporting back.

 

[John Golas]

I tried your suggestion, but my "Start in" box already contained "%User
Profile%". I might try the upgrade to Windows Live Mail, if I can undo it if
it fails. Any other ideas?

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Yes, you can uninstall Windows Live Mail if it turns out you don't like it.

I don't see a detailed problem statement from you in this thread, so I hope
you are not self-diagnosing your problem. There can be other reasons for
attachments not opening. Describe what happens, what types of attachments,
can they be opened outside of WM, and what is the exact error message?

 

[Olle]

Gary, you seem to know a lot of things about this, so I will describe my
problem:
I have Vista. Quite a while ago I installed IE8. No problem for a long time.
Now suddenly today, I can not open any type of attachment in Windows Mail. If
I translate the response from Swedish it is "The command did not execute".
The %UserProfile% is in place, the attachments can be saved and opened, the
Antivirus scanning of mail is disabled.

Is it really an IE8 related problem, since it has worked for a long time? Is
it realistic to think that MS will make a fix in some update in a reasonable
time?
olle

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Sounds like you've run into a fairly typical issue that is affecting some
who installed IE8. One workaround is to uninstall IE8, which reverts you
back to IE7. Sorry, I have no estimate from Microsoft as to whether it
will be fixed soon, if ever.

If you decide to uninstall IE8 see:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957700

One other option is to upgrade your email program to Windows Live Mail:
http://download.live.com/wlmail

 

[Olle]

Thanks for your answer. I have seen two persons on this forum, who
uninstalled IE8 whithout solving their problem. Maaybe I have to try Windows
live mail or maybe Windows Outlook. I already have Outlook on the computer
for sync of calendar etc to my Win Mobile phone, but I) do not use it for
mail.

Come to think of it, recently I got a problem with synching my phone.
Outlook suddenly could not be started, but a computer restart fixed that.

A disturbing phenomenon: I tried to go back to an older system
configuration, but an "unknown error" prevented this.

I doubt this is depending on IE8 which worked perfectly togetherr with
windows mail for so long, but something must be done.... I wonder if there is
a way to verify if the system is stable (it is not) or pinpoint what is
defective.
olle

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Well, I don't want to dissuade you from trying Windows Live Mail,
but uninstalling IE8 will present you with much less of a new learning curve.
If Windows Mail has worked well for you until the attachments issue came along,
then give the IE8 uninstall a shot first. It's a fairly simple procedure:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/957700

 

[Olle]

Hello Gary,
my weird problems with Norton Internet Security sometimes not starting, made
me uninstall it. This took some trouble since their uninstall utility
crashed. Now without Norton, suddenly I can open attachments again! I will
try to reinstall the thing whithout scanning of email.
My feeling is that here are some instabilities in the system. Some of the
involved components are Vista, Windows Mail and Antivirus programs, updates,
IE8 and so on. Probably so complex, that MS has not been able to solve it. I
have no illusions that they will solve it either. They work on the new
Windows
olle

 

[Gary VanderMolen]

Any uninstall of a Norton security program must be followed up by using their
debris removal tool:
http://service1.symantec.com/Support/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039

(I don't trust a company that still hasn't learned how to have their programs
uninstall cleanly.)

 

[Sam Hobbs]

Yes, an inability to clean up themself is a symptom of sloppy programming.
Not only are they often unable to clean up themself, they often provide
lengthy instructions to their customers to do things that could be automated
using a script. That also indicates inadequate development abilities. I am
sure skeptical of a developer's abilities to successfully develop something
as advanced and technical as an antivirus program when their developers are
not capable of creating simple scripts. It could be just a lack of
motivation to make things easier for their customers, which is a very strong
justification for believing that a separate cleanup utility is important.


Any uninstall of a Norton security program must be followed up by using
their
debris removal tool:
http://service1.symantec.com/Support/tsgeninfo.nsf/docid/2005033108162039

(I don't trust a company that still hasn't learned how to have their
programs
uninstall cleanly.)