Can't Open Attachments in Outlook Express 6

If you receiving this error message when viewing an email in Outlook Express, here is how to fix it.

With the introduction of Outlook Express 6, Microsoft has added an additional feature to prevent customers from infecting their machines with viruses. Outlook Express uses the Internet Explorer unsafe file list and the Confirm open after download setting in Folder Options to determine if a file is safe. Any e-mail attachment with a file type that is reported as "unsafe" is not downloaded, and access to the attachment is removed.

However there are times, you may want to view an attachment that Outlook Express has deemed as unsafe. In these cases, follow these instructions to allow Outlook Express to show the attachment.

1. Start Outlook Express.
2. On the Tools menu, click Options.
3. Click the Security tab, click to clear the Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus check box under Virus Protection, and then click OK.

To better protect yourself from viruses, its a good idea to leave this option checked unless you definitely want to open the attachment.
Another way to help protect yourself from email viruses infecting your computer if you use Outlook Express is to disable the Preview Pane. There are certain viruses that will infect a computer even if you just preview the message. To disable the preview pane:

1. Start Outlook Express
2. Click on View, Layout
3. Uncheck the Show Preview Pane, and then click OK.