Attachments becoming unattached

[Firestorm]

I keep getting a message as a header on e-mails that:"OE removed access to the following unsafe attachments in your mail:..."

What it means in effect is that I am unable to download and read or view any attachments. But I don't understand why.

Attachmnets that are being affected are pdfs, docs and jpegs (or that I have noticed at least), most recently a pdf from BALPA.

I have recently updated my virus software to Norton 2002 and have Outlook Express 5 and IE 6 with windows 98 OS. I assume there is something in the cofiguration of OE or Norton that I could adjust to allow these attachments in, but I don't know what. I have consulted my ISP (BT Openworld) but they think it is viruses from the senders. I have consulted the senders who insist that no one else has any difficulties with the same e-mail. particularly BALPA who send out the same message to several hundred subscribers.

So, any suggestions? I would be most grateful.

[BOAC]

Firestorm - a word of warning - until recently, someone on the BA BALPA email list was kindly chucking out virus infected attachments, so do not ASSUME it is a genuine BALPA email unless you can be certain.

[Engineer]

Outlook Express has its own

Support Center

at the microsoft website might be worth a look at!

[Romeo Romeo]

According to Outlook's help:-

There are two levels of attachment security. Access to level 1 files is blocked and can't be changed. When you receive an attachment with a level 2 file type, you will be prompted to save the file to your hard disk. If you use Microsoft Exchange Server, your administrator can add and remove file types for both levels of e-mail security. If a file type is added to both levels, it will be treated as a level 1 file type.

Type 1 includes:-

.ade Microsoft Access project extension
.adp Microsoft Access project
.bas Microsoft Visual Basic class module
.bat Batch file
.chm Compiled HTML Help file
.cmd Microsoft Windows NT Command Script
.com Microsoft MS-DOS program
.cpl Control Panel extension
.crt Security certificate
.exe Program
.hlp Help file
.hta HTML program
.inf Setup Information
.ins Internet Naming Service
.isp Internet Communication settings
.js JScript file
.jse Jscript Encoded Script file
.lnk Shortcut
.mda Microsoft Access add-in program
.mdb Microsoft Access program
.mde Microsoft Access MDE database
.mdz Microsoft Access wizard program
.msc Microsoft Common Console Document
.msi Microsoft Windows Installer package
.msp Windows Installer patch
.mst Visual Test source files
.pcd Photo CD image or Microsoft Visual Test compiled script
.pif Shortcut to MS-DOS program
.reg Registration entries
.scr Screen saver
.sct Windows Script Component
.shs Shell Scrap Object
.url Internet shortcut
.vb VBScript file
.vbe VBScript Encoded Script file
.vbs VBScript file
.wsc Windows Script Component
.wsf Windows Script file
.wsh Windows Script Host Settings file

------------------------------------------------------------

I bet your attachment is one of the above.

I think this is a very wise thing to block. Most e-mail viruses use one of these file types. I NEVER open executable files which have been sent to me.

It looks like you can't change it, but if you really, really want this file (and you're sure it's not infected with a virus), then the best way to get it is to ask the sender to zip the file up and send you the .zip file.

I hope this helps.

RR

[Firestorm]

Thanks for all your help and suggestions chaps. Unfortunately I have been unable to find either thecause of the problem, nor to fix it, despite visits to the knowledge base and support centres for MS and Norton. Not quite sure what to do next, but I will persevere.

[Firestorm]

There had to be a simple answer!!

Click 'options' in OE, the 'security', and untick the box that says:'Do not allow files or attachments to be saved that could be a virus', then 'apply' and hey presto, the world is great again!!

Hopefully NAV will fill the gap.

[sky9]

Firestorm
Thanks; you have solved the same problem for me. I think that a security update from Microsoft actually went through and ticked that box for us. I got round it by "forwarding" the message which then revealed the attachment. Your solution is far better.

[Firestorm]

Thanks Sky9! It's the first time I've fixed someone elses computer instead of mucking it up!!

[Icarus]

Safer

There is a safer way to do this and it will allow you to specify file extensions that you wish to allow rather than 'will-nilly' letting them all pass through as is the case above.

This will work for Outlook or Outlook Express whichever you wish to apply it to, just make the correct software program ID inthe registry. The example below is for Outlook2002 (Office10).

Remember to back up your data and work carefully when changing any registry settings

Launch REGEDIT and navigate to:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\10.0\Outlook\Sec urity.

Create a new string type value by right-clicking in the right hand pane (or open the Edit menu and choosing New>String Value).

Name the value Level1Remove.

Double-click on it and enter the extensions (file extensions) you want removed from the unsafe list. Seperate each file extension with a semi-colon and do not use any periods(.).

e.g. exe;ini;mp3

There will be a change also to the security level shown in the 'Help/About' about box displayed; it will now indicate 'User Controlled Security'.