Can't open PDF attachements from Outlook Express

[Annice]

I just set up a new computer running XP Pro. Adobe Reader 8.1 is installed.
If I get an e-mail with a PDF attachment and ask to open it, it says "unknown
file type." However, if I save the file and double-click on it, it opens in
Adobe Reader.

I went to Folder Options, and the PDF extension was not listed, so I added
it and asked it to open with Adobe Reader 8.1. However, it just calls it a
PDF file, rather than an Adobe Acrobat file, so something must be messed up
somewhere.

Any help you can offer will be appreciated.

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

On Dec 24, 1:12 am, Annice <Ann...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> Any help you can offer will be appreciated.

What's your email client?

Take your question to a group that supports it. Your question doesn't
belong here.

 

[Annice]

Thanks for nothing, Your display name is certainly appropriate.

There have been a number of similar queries posted to this group in the past
and I didn't think I was doing anything heinous by posting mine here.

"Uncle Grumpy" wrote:

> On Dec 24, 1:12 am, Annice <Ann...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:
>
> > Any help you can offer will be appreciated.
>
> What's your email client?
>
> Take your question to a group that supports it. Your question doesn't
> belong here.
>
>

 

[PA Bear]

Was the message with the PDF attachment sent by a user of MS Outlook using
RichText or HTML format?
--
OE-specific newsgroup:
news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.outlookexpress.general

~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)

Annice wrote:
> I just set up a new computer running XP Pro. Adobe Reader 8.1 is
> installed.
> If I get an e-mail with a PDF attachment and ask to open it, it says
> "unknown file type." However, if I save the file and double-click on it,
> it opens in Adobe Reader.
>
> I went to Folder Options, and the PDF extension was not listed, so I added
> it and asked it to open with Adobe Reader 8.1. However, it just calls it
> a
> PDF file, rather than an Adobe Acrobat file, so something must be messed
> up
> somewhere.
>
> Any help you can offer will be appreciated.

 

[Ramesh, MS-MVP]

Hi Annice,

Which mail client do you use?

--
Regards,

Ramesh Srinivasan, Microsoft MVP [Windows Shell/User]
Windows® Troubleshooting http://www.winhelponline.com


"Annice" <Annice@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message news:CC50EB0C-38F4-4267-872D-5850F8C421F3@microsoft.com...
I just set up a new computer running XP Pro. Adobe Reader 8.1 is installed.
If I get an e-mail with a PDF attachment and ask to open it, it says "unknown
file type." However, if I save the file and double-click on it, it opens in
Adobe Reader.

I went to Folder Options, and the PDF extension was not listed, so I added
it and asked it to open with Adobe Reader 8.1. However, it just calls it a
PDF file, rather than an Adobe Acrobat file, so something must be messed up
somewhere.

Any help you can offer will be appreciated.

 

[Anna]

"Annice" <Annice@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:CC50EB0C-38F4-4267-872D-5850F8C421F3@microsoft.com...
>I just set up a new computer running XP Pro. Adobe Reader 8.1 is
>installed.
> If I get an e-mail with a PDF attachment and ask to open it, it says
> "unknown
> file type." However, if I save the file and double-click on it, it opens
> in
> Adobe Reader.
>
> I went to Folder Options, and the PDF extension was not listed, so I added
> it and asked it to open with Adobe Reader 8.1. However, it just calls it
> a
> PDF file, rather than an Adobe Acrobat file, so something must be messed
> up
> somewhere.
>
> Any help you can offer will be appreciated.


Annice:
Assuming you're using Outlook Express...

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/ppsopen.htm

==================================
PPSFix (v2.0) for Windows XP
Copyright © 2007 Ramesh Srinivasan
Website: http://windowsxp.mvps.org
==================================

PPSFix - Description
====================

PPSFix utility fixes a problem where users receive file association
errors when opening a PPS or a PPT file attachment directly from
Outlook Express. This utility adds the "open" verb for PPS and/or
PPT file types to resolve the error.

More details are available at the following URL:
http://windowsxp.mvps.org/ppsopen.htm

Requirements
============
1. Needs administrative privileges to run.
2. System running Windows® XP (SP2) with PowerPoint Viewer 2003 or 2007
installed.

v2.0 - Feb 04, 2007

(We've run into the same problem you've described a number of times with
various systems and Ramesh's "fix" has corrected the problem.
Anna

 

[PA Bear]

Anna wrote:
> "Annice" <Annice@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:CC50EB0C-38F4-4267-872D-5850F8C421F3@microsoft.com...
>> I just set up a new computer running XP Pro. Adobe Reader 8.1 is
>> installed.
>> If I get an e-mail with a PDF attachment and ask to open it, it says
>> "unknown
>> file type." However, if I save the file and double-click on it, it opens
>> in
>> Adobe Reader.
>>
>> I went to Folder Options, and the PDF extension was not listed, so I
>> added
>> it and asked it to open with Adobe Reader 8.1. However, it just calls it
>> a
>> PDF file, rather than an Adobe Acrobat file, so something must be messed
>> up
>> somewhere.
>>
> Annice:
> Assuming you're using Outlook Express...
>
> http://windowsxp.mvps.org/ppsopen.htm

<psst> Annice is using OE according to the subject but her problem is with
PDF files, not PowerPoint (PPS; PPT) files.
--
~PA Bear

 

[Annice]

I really don't know what program they used. The e-mail was from an
organization.


"PA Bear" wrote:

> Was the message with the PDF attachment sent by a user of MS Outlook using
> RichText or HTML format?
> --
> OE-specific newsgroup:
> news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.outlookexpress.general
>
> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
>
> Annice wrote:
> > I just set up a new computer running XP Pro. Adobe Reader 8.1 is
> > installed.
> > If I get an e-mail with a PDF attachment and ask to open it, it says
> > "unknown file type." However, if I save the file and double-click on it,
> > it opens in Adobe Reader.
> >
> > I went to Folder Options, and the PDF extension was not listed, so I added
> > it and asked it to open with Adobe Reader 8.1. However, it just calls it
> > a
> > PDF file, rather than an Adobe Acrobat file, so something must be messed
> > up
> > somewhere.
> >
> > Any help you can offer will be appreciated.
>
>

 

[Anna]

"PA Bear" <PABearMVP@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:utYWFZlRIHA.4476@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
> Anna wrote:
>> "Annice" <Annice@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:CC50EB0C-38F4-4267-872D-5850F8C421F3@microsoft.com...
>>> I just set up a new computer running XP Pro. Adobe Reader 8.1 is
>>> installed.
>>> If I get an e-mail with a PDF attachment and ask to open it, it says
>>> "unknown
>>> file type." However, if I save the file and double-click on it, it
>>> opens
>>> in
>>> Adobe Reader.
>>>
>>> I went to Folder Options, and the PDF extension was not listed, so I
>>> added
>>> it and asked it to open with Adobe Reader 8.1. However, it just calls
>>> it
>>> a
>>> PDF file, rather than an Adobe Acrobat file, so something must be messed
>>> up
>>> somewhere.
>>>
>> Annice:
>> Assuming you're using Outlook Express...
>>
>> http://windowsxp.mvps.org/ppsopen.htm
>
> <psst> Annice is using OE according to the subject but her problem is with
> PDF files, not PowerPoint (PPS; PPT) files.
> --
> ~PA Bear


PA Bear (and Annice):
Yes, you're correct. I misread her query thinking she was referring to a
PowerPoint file, so the "fix" I recommended is not relevant to her problem.
My regrets.
Anna

 

[PA Bear]

Can you open the attachment if you forward the message (w/attachment) to
yourself? Otherwise, ask them to resend using Plain Text format.
--
~PA Bear

Annice wrote:
> I really don't know what program they used. The e-mail was from an
> organization.
>
> "PA Bear" wrote:
>
>> Was the message with the PDF attachment sent by a user of MS Outlook
>> using
>> RichText or HTML format?
>> --
>> OE-specific newsgroup:
>> news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.outlookexpress.general
>>
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
>>
>> Annice wrote:
>>> I just set up a new computer running XP Pro. Adobe Reader 8.1 is
>>> installed.
>>> If I get an e-mail with a PDF attachment and ask to open it, it says
>>> "unknown file type." However, if I save the file and double-click on
>>> it,
>>> it opens in Adobe Reader.
>>>
>>> I went to Folder Options, and the PDF extension was not listed, so I
>>> added
>>> it and asked it to open with Adobe Reader 8.1. However, it just calls
>>> it
>>> a
>>> PDF file, rather than an Adobe Acrobat file, so something must be messed
>>> up
>>> somewhere.
>>>
>>> Any help you can offer will be appreciated.

 

[Unknown]

Have you tried RIGHT clicking on the file and then selecting Adobe? (open
with)
"Annice" <Annice@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:00B8CE36-7330-4BF5-9F3B-B46EC9943033@microsoft.com...
>I really don't know what program they used. The e-mail was from an
> organization.
>
>
> "PA Bear" wrote:
>
>> Was the message with the PDF attachment sent by a user of MS Outlook
>> using
>> RichText or HTML format?
>> --
>> OE-specific newsgroup:
>> news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.outlookexpress.general
>>
>> ~Robear Dyer (PA Bear)
>> MS MVP-Windows (IE, OE, Security, Shell/User)
>>
>> Annice wrote:
>> > I just set up a new computer running XP Pro. Adobe Reader 8.1 is
>> > installed.
>> > If I get an e-mail with a PDF attachment and ask to open it, it says
>> > "unknown file type." However, if I save the file and double-click on
>> > it,
>> > it opens in Adobe Reader.
>> >
>> > I went to Folder Options, and the PDF extension was not listed, so I
>> > added
>> > it and asked it to open with Adobe Reader 8.1. However, it just calls
>> > it
>> > a
>> > PDF file, rather than an Adobe Acrobat file, so something must be
>> > messed
>> > up
>> > somewhere.
>> >
>> > Any help you can offer will be appreciated.
>>
>>

 

[Annice]

Thanks to everyone who tried to help. My husband, who's no computer expert,
suggested reinstalling Adobe Reader. I uninstalled it, then reinstalled it,
and the problem is now solved. Why didn't I think of that!

Annice

"Annice" wrote:

> I just set up a new computer running XP Pro. Adobe Reader 8.1 is installed.
> If I get an e-mail with a PDF attachment and ask to open it, it says "unknown
> file type." However, if I save the file and double-click on it, it opens in
> Adobe Reader.
>
> I went to Folder Options, and the PDF extension was not listed, so I added
> it and asked it to open with Adobe Reader 8.1. However, it just calls it a
> PDF file, rather than an Adobe Acrobat file, so something must be messed up
> somewhere.
>
> Any help you can offer will be appreciated.
>
>

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

On Dec 25, 2:08 pm, Annice <Ann...@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> Thanks to everyone who tried to help.  My husband, who's no computer expert,
> suggested reinstalling Adobe Reader.  I uninstalled it, then reinstalledit,
> and the problem is now solved.   Why didn't I think of that!

Because your husband - "who's no computer expert" - is obviously more
expert than you are?