Can't open attachments in Windows Mail

Starting about 2 weeks ago, I can't open attachments in Windows Mail. Message
says "command failed to execute" I have been reading the posts and still
don't know what to do. How do I know if IE8 has been installed as an update?
I'm inexperienced with technical stuff. I don't think I installed it, could
it have installed on it's own as an update? Tried saving them to desktop but
don't know how to separate them from the e-mail, so they still don't open.
Help.

How do I know if IE8 has been installed as an update?
Open Internet Explorer > HELP > About Internet Explorer > what does it say ?

" Tried saving them to desktop but don't know how to separate them from the
e-mail, so they still don't open. "
I'd advise you to save them in a folder of your choice instead of the
desktop.
How to save them ( " separate them from e-mail ..." ) ---
Right click on the Paper Clip > click Save attachments > click Browse to
select where ( destination ) it is to be saved to > click Save

I put a request in with microsoft for help on this problem and also with
Norton ,,,will post back when they send me an solution.

Microsoft is providing free support for Internet Explorer 8 installation, set-up
and usage via the phone through 31 December 2009. Customers must be
running Windows XP or Windows Vista in a non-domain environment.
US & Canada residents call 866-234-6020.
From what I hear, the advice you will get says to uninstall IE8.

I also have been having the same problem since downloading IE8 as a critical
update onto my Vista Home Premium system. Through investigation, I have
found that if I open Windows Mail by first left clicking on the Start menu,
then on All Programs, next right click on Windows Mail, and last left click
on Run As Administrator, then allow it to run you will be able to open your
attachments. I have found that you only have to do this once as long as you
keep your computer on, but if you turn your computer off you will have to
open your Windows mail once again through the Start Menu.

If there is some way to always start my Windows Mail to Run As Administrator
with out going through all these extra steps, I would very much appreciate
any help in accomplishing this. I would love to be able when starting up my
computer to just click on my Windows Mail shortcut again.

We have three other computers with the same Vista system as mine, and they
have the IE8 installed on them also, but unlike mine their Windows mail works
just fine, no problems opening their Windows Mail using their shortcuts, and
opening their attachments is a breeze.

I have Vista & IE8, BTW.

click on Start (or the circle thingy for Vista), All Programs and right
click Windows Mail (under All Programs, not on the start menu). Select
Properties.

The value "Start in:" is set to %UserProfile%. This does not work because
opening an attachment cannot save the attachment to a temporary file on that
folder.

I changed it to "%UserProfile%\Local Settings\Temp" and that fixes the
problem.

You can also just clear the field "Start in:" (remove the value) and that
fixes

I also have a Vista 64bit system, and changing the value in the "start in"
did not work for me either. For some reason when I first turn on my computer
and open up my Windows mail using my shortcut it does not run as an
administrator, thus the reason for not being able to open up attachments.

But as I said in my earlier post, If I go through the start menu, and right
click on Windows Mail and click run as administrator, I am than able to
access my attachments. Also, if I decide to close my Windows Mail, but leave
my computer on, I can than click on the shortcut to open my mail again, and
am still able to open my attachments. It is only when I turn off or restart
my computer that I have to go through the whole process again to open Windows
Mail if I wish to access my attachments.

It's an added pain, but at least by opening Windows Mail this way, I am now
able to get to my attachments. If anyone has a solution on how to make the
Windows Mail shortcut work right after start up please let me know.

An easier way would be to just use %temp%.
This system variable points to exactly the same place as your
construction <bg>.

Both ways are nothing but *workarounds*.
They will solve the problem for most types of files.
The problem will certainly remain for JPG and TXT files.

It does not matter if 64- wir 32-bits.

Normally this does solve the problem for most types of files.
JPG and TXT files, however, will remain as troublemakers.

Working with Administrator rights/privileges normally is without any
influence (at least on the long run).

This may work for a couple of times and/or a day or two (at the max).
The problem will return (sooner or later).

*Sometimes* this is sufficient.
But this also is no fix.

Normally it's the other way around.
After a re-boot the attachment problem is more likely not to appear for
a limited period of time.
It will return for certain, however.

No one has any solution so far {siiiiigh}.

Working with Administrator rights/privileges normally is without any
influence (at least on the long run).

Don't hope for that.
As said the status of the user does not matter.
Whether "normal" user wir Admin does not make any difference.

Oh, Yes!
The problem with the attachments is totally erratical.
It appears in *many* systems, though not the majority.
And nobody knows when and why {siiiigh}.

You may be right for some, but as for me and my Vista system it worked. I
could open all my attachments as long as I opened Windows Mail as an
administrator. It is apparent what works for some does not necessarily work
for others, just like changing the percentage, or even leaving blank in the
"start in" on my Windows mail properties did nada for me.

Since my posts from yesterday, I downloaded two new critical updates earlier
today, and after I restarted my computer I used my Windows Mail shortcut, and
was able to access all my attachments with out going through the extra steps.
All my attachments open easily now, like they did before I downloaded IE8.
I am keeping my fingers crossed that these two updates have fixed my problem.

The two updates are Cumulative Security Update for IE8 for Windows Vista for
X64-based systems (KB972260) and Security Update for Microsoft Visual C++
2005 Service Pack 1 Redistributable Package (KB973923)

If tomorrow, when I start up my computer, if I go back to having attachment
problems, I will post again. Hopefully, I won't have to.

The problem with attachments comes and goes. Hopefully it is gone
permanently for you, but the fact that the problem does not exist at a
moment does not prove it is gone permanently.

O had tried that in all of my four system.
It worked for a shorter while, but the problem came back.

It is apparent what works for some does
The "percentage"?

Do have the *system-variables* (%UserProfile% or %Temp%) in mind?

Really strange.
This works for me on all four systems for all types of attachments
except TXT and JPG files.

Sound really good. Let's wait and see..

The first update mentioned was installed in my system too.
I'm missing the second one and it is not found when searching for
updates. Perhaps the "Visual C++ Redistributable is not installed in my
system.

And - lo and behold! -: Everything seems to be OK with the attachments
at present (including JPG and TXT attachments <!!!>).
I carefully checked what is going on (which temporary files are created
when touching a mail with an attachment and when opening an attachment).
And it seems that the system's behaviour is different now: The temporary
files for mails and their attachments are created correctly and they
disappear when not needed anymore.

Right now I installed the KB972260 on my test machine (the other update
dies not show up on searching) and the situation is the same.

But for sure it's too early for a "Hallelujah".

I'm seriously hoping with you!!
Let's keep OneNote touch.

P.S. In testing I detected another interesting thing which might be an
explanation for the different behaviour of TXT and JPG files OneNote
affected systems:
With all other file types when clocking to open the attachment a
dialog-box appears asking for a confirmation to open the attachment. TXT
and JPG attachments are opened without this dialog.

KB972260 has also been issued for 32-bit (X86) Vista.
More information here:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

Let's keep our fingers crossed, hoping it fixes the IE8-caused attachments issue.

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

That's what I used (as I only have 32-bits systems).

That's what I have been doing for three days now; the second finger is
complaining already<g>.

And according to "knock on wood" there have been uncountable knocks on
my old head <gbg>.

As it seems the problem really was cured by the said update.