Unable to Open Attachments in Microsoft Outlook XP (2002) and 2003
If you are unable to open an attachment, first make sure that you have the proper application for viewing the file installed on your computer. For example, if the file has an .xls extension, you must have Microsoft Excel installed to be able to open the file.
If Microsoft Outlook displays a message saying "Outlook has blocked access to the following potentially unsafe attachments" it is because Outlook will not allow certain file types to be saved or opened. This is by design, and there is no option available to change it. Some file types that are blocked are:
- .exe (executable programs)
- .mdb (Microsoft Access databases)
- .bat (batch files)
A complete list of blocked file types is available from Microsoft's web site. The web site also details how to remove the security feature, but it involves editing the system registry which is a procedure best left to someone with computer experience. If you decide to follow the instructions at Microsoft's web site, understand that Andiamo Telecom will not be able to offer technical assistance.