Outlook Express removes access to attachments 1

[micronesiagal]

"OE removed access to the following unsafe attachments in your email..." Emails arrive with this message in place of attachments. Problem occurs since updating MS OE to ver. 6 from 5 and only when receiving email attachments, even when known to be safe. Have checked security settings and MS Help unsuccessfully. Reliable AV program is installed with all virus updates. Operating system is Win98. Thanks for any help you can give me.

 

[mjinks61]

In the later versions of outlook, microsoft has instilled securities on attachments. Tell people to use a zipping program and send the attachments in zipped form. Some mail servers are set to "drop" attachments on the floor, not allowing them into the building. This is a step that was taken to stop many of the emial viruses from propegating throughout the web.

I guess they figure by having the files zipped, it creates an extra layer of protection as zipped files require user action in order to open them, keeping the unlearned and reckless user from inadvertantly opening an infected attachment.

Good luck, and happy computing True knowlege is not the knowing in and of itself, but in the knowing of how and where to find the answers.

 

[micronesiagal]

Zipping the email attachments is logical. Regrettably, this is not the answer (this time). The error message "OE removed access to following unsafe attachments..." appears even with zipped attachments. Any other suggestions?

 

[mjinks61]

I found this for you on Microsofts knowedge base page. Hope this helps.
Cannot Open E-Mail Attachments in Outlook Express After You Install SP1
The information in this article applies to:
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 2000
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows NT 4.0
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows Millennium Edition
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 98 Second Edition
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows 98
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows XP
Microsoft Internet Explorer version 6 for Windows XP 64-Bit Edition
Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0 for Windows XP
Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0 for Windows 2000
Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0 for Windows XP 64-Bit Edition
Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0 for Windows NT 4.0
Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0 for Windows Millennium Edition
Microsoft Outlook Express 6.0 for Windows 98
Microsoft Windows XP 64-Bit Edition SP1
Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP1
Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP1

This article was previously published under Q329570
SYMPTOMS
After you install Internet Explorer 6 Service Pack 1 (SP1) or Windows XP SP1 (both of which include Outlook Express 6 SP1), access to some of your e-mail attachments in Outlook Express may be removed. For example, you may experience any of the following symptoms:
When you click the paper clip in the Preview pane, the Save Attachments and file_name commands are unavailable.
When you open an e-mail message, the Save Attachments command is unavailable on the File menu, the Attach field is missing from the e-mail message, and the following message is displayed in the message alert bar at the top of the e-mail message:

Outlook Express removed access to the following unsafe attachments in your email: file_name1, file_name2
CAUSE
This behavior occurs if the Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus option is enabled, and the e-mail attachment is determined by Outlook Express to be "unsafe". By default, the Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus option is enabled in Outlook Express 6 SP1. When this virus-protection feature is enabled, Outlook Express uses the Internet Explorer unsafe file list and the Confirm open after download setting in Folder Options to determine if a file is safe. Any e-mail attachment with a file type that is reported as "unsafe" is not downloaded, and access to the attachment is removed.
WORKAROUND
If you are sure that the attachment is safe to download or open, use the following method: NOTE: Because there are several versions of Microsoft Windows, the following steps may be different on your computer. If they are, see your product documentation to complete these steps.

Turn off the Option to Use the Unsafe File List
To turn off the Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus option:
Start Outlook Express.
On the Tools menu, click Options.
Click the Security tab, click to clear the Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus check box under Virus Protection, and then click OK.
STATUS
This behavior is by design.
MORE INFORMATION
IMPORTANT: The methods that are described in this article make it possible for you to obtain access to file attachments in Outlook Express. Download file attachments and scan them for viruses before you open them. To save file attachments so that you can scan them for viruses before you open them:
Open the e-mail message in Outlook Express.
On the File menu, click Save Attachments.
Specify the folder in which you want to save the attachments in the Save To box, and then click Save.
For additional information about virus protection features in Outlook Express 6, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
291387 OLEXP: Using Virus Protection Features in Outlook Express 6

For additional information about the Internet Explorer unsafe file list, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
291369 Information About The Unsafe File List in Internet Explorer 6

For additional information about how to obtain the latest service pack for Internet Explorer 6, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
328548 How to Obtain the Latest Service Pack for Internet Explorer 6

For additional information about how to obtain the latest service pack for Windows XP, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
322389 How to Obtain the Latest Windows XP Service Pack

True knowlege is not the knowing in and of itself, but in the knowing of how and where to find the answers.

 

[micronesiagal]

Thanks, MJinks61. I've turned off the "do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus" in security tab under tools options. This makes total sense and I'm embarrassed that I missed this earlier when I checked my security settings. Fingers are crossed.
Also, thanks for other helpful information/links.

 

[keepingbusy]

Hi mjinks61

I know this is a relatively old thread but hey, I was trying to find out the same problem after installing SP1 for IE6 by not being able to view attachments and yes, I should have spotted it earlier!! A quick search on this forum found the answer

Thanks for your effort

KB


When everything else is said and done, there will be nothing else to say or do