outlook will not open attachments

I am asking this question for a friend. He cannot open attachments (from relatives) using his Outlook.
He wonders if this has something to do with a setting in the options menu "do not open attachments ". Is this setting to
not open any attachments or not to open any attachments for
automatic viewing ( as my 13 year old son suggests) ??
If the automatic viewing answer is the correct one are there
any other suggesttions on how to help him (virus scan,reinstall etc) ?

 

You can control what file types OE will allow you to open by going into Folder Properties>File Types. You then click on the desired file type (JPG for example) and click Edit. Now you uncheck Confirm open after download. This will allow the file type to be downloaded and opened in OE. Certain shouldn't be allowed such as executables. EXE files cannot even be edited from within folder properties, so he'd have to ask them to find another way to send him EXE programs.

 

schamish, It a matter of how much Security you think is appropriate for the user.

Originally, OE generally comes with the setting configured to allow downloading and/or opening attachments. However, when the Patches are applied, this setting often gets changed so as to disallow such. microSoft apparently decided to err on the side of caution, and reduce their liability.

If you like, you can set it back to a more user friendly/normal setting. Just open OE and click on TOOLS > OPTIONS > SECURITY > and uncheck the box "Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus ". Most people prefer to allow attachments. With due caution, it's reasonably safe. Just use good judgement and if in doubt, contact the sender to make sure the attachment was sent by someone you would trust.

As far as I'm concerned, checking that box is only a drastic measure to protect the very uninitiated (children even) from harming the system.

HTH

 

Outlook or Outlook Express?