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Summary: Email attachments are often the way that viruses spread throughout the internet. Email programs may by default block you from opening attachments.
Why can't I open attachments in Outlook?
Recent versions of both Outlook and Outlook Express have been changed to prevent access to attachments by default. You need to take some additional steps to allow you to access those attachments again.
Microsoft has the perception of designing many of its products with lax security with the most common example being that default settings impose little or no safety restrictions. As security issues have become more of a focus Microsoft has slowly been making changes to make applications more secure by default. The Outlooks are two examples.
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Remember that Outlook and Outlook Express are two different programs. Because of this, what's needed to get access to your attachments is dramatically different depending on which you are using.
Outlook Express users have it easy. In the Tools menu, select Options, and then in the Options dialog, select the Security tab. In that dialog will be a checkbox labeled "Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus". It is checked by default. Uncheck it to regain access to your attachments.
Outlook 2002 users have a bit more of a challenge. Warning: getting Outlook 2002 to open potentially unsafe attachments requires editing the registry. As always, backup the registry before you do so.
Microsoft's knowledgebase article that deals with this issue in detail can be found here. Among other information it details the specific registry keys that need to be added or modified to allow access to specific types of attachments.
Personally, I find it somewhat interesting that they suggest having the sender of the attachment resend it under a different name before they present modifying the registry as an option. I'll also admit that if you're at all squeamish about playing in the Windows registry that's my recommendation also.
Related:
Ask Leo! - Why can't I open my attachments in Hotmail?
Article C1849 - October 13, 2003
my client's collegue cannot view attatchments recieved straight from within pastel. my client has to send it to herself first before sending it to her collegue. please help.
Posted by: wayne at August 15, 2008 12:47 AMWhen I try to open any attachment in outlook 2003:
I get the message “The system cannot find the file specified.”
-> My answer not found anywhere else:
Attachments were stored in c:\Olk30d and on clicking the attachment in outlook it indeed appeared in this directory, before the message “The system cannot find the file specified.” came.
Using utility procmon.exe I could see first this directory was used by outlook but at the last moment it tried to look at e:\Olk30d which folder did not exist.
%Temp and %tmp vars all pointed to e:\Temp and e:\temp\myname, so possibly this was the reason it started using the e: partition.
Outlook Registry key was: \Olk30d
Fixed via setting outlook registry key to e:\Olk30d.
Posted by: Eyes2eyes at October 7, 2008 1:39 AMMaybe it is of help for others.
Leo
Posted by: GM Lindsay at October 15, 2008 6:18 AMI am unable to open pdf files which are attachments to Outlook Express (6) emails. All other attachemnts (jpg.doc etc) open without problem.
I regularly get an error message telling me that the file is not assiciated with a programme - but in the Control Panel, File Options pdf files ARE associated with Adobe Reader (9).
Any suggestions?
For Outlook 2003 sp3 when you try to save the outlook item with attachments as an Outlook Message format (.msg) say in your local drive, right click the .msg set the properties to read only and click on Apply and then try to open it gives error message could not open one or more attachments and it always opens message minus one attachment, for instance if there are 2 attachments it will only open one attachment.
Posted by: KM Jessi at October 31, 2008 8:47 PMFor some time I had a lot of trouble with attachments not staying attached / not arriving at destination. I am using Microsoft Outlook.
Posted by: Clay Hancock at December 1, 2008 2:42 AMSolved the problem yesterday. I simply TURNED OFF RICH TEXT in favour of PLAIN TEXT. No more problem. Clay
Page does not answer the question vis a vis Outlook 2002. Referenced MS knowledge base page is all about backing up the registry, not file attachment permissions in Outlook 2002.
Posted by: Snert Lee at January 6, 2009 6:33 AMI could not open an email attachment that said PuppyLove.doc. I was told the file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an association in the Folder options in Control Panel. I do not understand what I should do. Help.
Posted by: Madelyn Picard at February 10, 2009 2:09 PMwhen I am in my outlook email and I receive an ad from say....Coldwater Creek and I want to open one of the options they give me within the ad, I do not get anything. It will just put a box around the area and not open it. Please advise. Up until 2 days ago, I had no problem. Thanks!
Posted by: Leslee Woodyard at May 28, 2009 7:48 PMI have Outlook Express and have adjusted the settings in tools, options, security and uncked box for attachments and still can not open attach unless they are a paperclip, can not open or enter anthing else. Help!!
Posted by: debbie at June 9, 2009 7:38 AMI'm using Outlook 2003 at work. One of my bosses uses Lotus Notes. When he forwards me an email with Word attachements, Outlook doesn't know what to use to open them. We both use Word 2003. When I try to open it in Word it's all greek.
Posted by: S Shively at June 11, 2009 9:36 AM