How to access potentially unsafe attachments in Outlook 2000 (265424)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Outlook 2000
This article was previously published under Q265424

SUMMARY

The Microsoft Outlook E-mail Security Update blocks access to potentially unsafe attachments in Outlook. This new attachment behavior helps prevent the spread of viruses that you receive in e-mail messages. If you are sure that an existing attachment is safe, you can import the message that contains the attachment into Microsoft Outlook Express, and then access the attachment.

WARNING: The features that enable Outlook Express to access attachments may be removed in future versions of the program to help prevent the spread of viruses that you receive in e-mail messages; this workaround should not be considered a long-term solution.

MORE INFORMATION

To access Level 1 attachments, the sender and receiver must work together to perform either of the following procedures:
  • Post the attachment to a network or Internet site, and then send a message that points to the attachment.
  • Package the attachment with an extension that is not on the Level 1 list. For example, you can compress or package the file with compression software that uses .zip or .cab file name extensions so that it is not treated as a Level 1 attachment. For more information about attachment security and to see the Level 1 list, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    262631 Information about the Outlook E-mail security update

If these options are unavailable to you, and you have already received a message with a Level 1 attachment that you are sure is safe, you can use Outlook Express to import the message and gain access to the attachment:
  1. In Outlook, click New Folder on the File menu.
  2. Type a name for the folder, such as attach, and then click OK to create the folder.
  3. Move the message that has the Level 1 attachment to the folder that you just created.
  4. Start Outlook Express. If you have to, close the setup dialog boxes because you do not have to create a mail account in Outlook Express to use the import feature.
  5. In Outlook Express, point to Import on the File menu, and then click Messages.
  6. Click Microsoft Outlook in the Select an e-mail program to import from box, and then click Next.
  7. In the Select Folders dialog box, click Selected folders, and then click the folder that you created in step 1.
  8. Click Finish to import the message.

You now have a folder in Outlook Express with the name that you chose for the folder in step 2. The message that has the attachment that you want to open is inside that folder. You can open the message and use the Outlook Express attachment commands to access the attachment:

  1. Open the message in Outlook Express.
  2. On the File menu, click Save Attachments.
  3. Click the attachments that you want to save in the Attachments To Be Saved box, and then click Browse.
  4. In the Browse for Folder dialog box, click the folder in which you want to save the attachments, and then click OK.
IMPORTANT: Because Microsoft Windows does not provide anti virus functionality, we recommend that you run an anti virus software program on the attachment to make sure that it is safe.

Microsoft Outlook includes a feature that blocks attachments that are considered unsafe. This security feature has been implemented in each version of Outlook since the release of Microsoft Outlook 2000 Service Release 1 (SR1). When you open an e-mail message that has an unsafe attachment in Outlook Express, you may receive the following error message:
OE removed access to the following unsafe attachments in your mail: <Attachment Names>
If you want to download the attachment when you receive this error message, follow these steps in Outlook Express:
  1. On the Tools menu, and then click Options.
  2. Click the Security tab, and then click to clear the Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus check box.
  3. Click Apply, and then click OK.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:5/5/2006
Keywords:kbemail kbattachments kbhowto KB265424
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