When the recipient opens the message, the attached file or the attached picture is missing (884881)

CAUSE

This problem occurs if you are using the Microsoft Word editor in Outlook. When you attach an object such as a file or a picture to a message that uses RTF, the object is embedded in the message. However, Word does not create the embedded object. Instead, Word creates an inline metafile. Exchange Server 2003 does not support the inline metafile. Therefore, the body of the e-mail message is flagged as empty. When you send the message to a recipient in the other storage group, the body of the message is dropped. Therefore, the attached file or the attached picture is lost.

If the body of the message contains a signature or any other text together with the embedded object, the recipient sees the embedded object. The problem occurs only when the message contains the embedded object and nothing else.

RESOLUTION

Service pack information

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Exchange Server 2003. For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

836993 How to obtain the latest service packs for Exchange Server 2003

Hotfix information

After you apply this hotfix, this issue is fixed when you open the message by using Outlook. However, if you open the message by using Outlook Web Access (OWA), Post Office Protocol 3 (POP3), or Internet Message Access Protocol version 4rev1 (IMAP4), this issue may still exist.

A supported hotfix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Only apply it to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services telephone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

Note In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

Prerequisites

Because of file dependencies, this hotfix requires Microsoft Exchange Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1). For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

836993 How to obtain the latest service packs for Exchange Server 2003

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

   Date         Time   Version            Size    File name
   --------------------------------------------------------------
   16-Nov-2004  21:19  6.5.7232.52     3,261,952  Mdbmsg.dll       
   08-Oct-2004  02:12                      3,304  Redir.asp
   16-Nov-2004  21:53  6.5.7232.52     5,144,064  Store.exe