winzip and opening attachments

[crook]

What did I do? I don't have a clue. When I try to open an attachment in the email message winzip comes up and tells me it is not a zip file. Where did I click wrong??????? Thanks

[AnnMarie]

Hi crook - what is the file extension of the attachment you are trying to open?


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Moderator at Suggest A Fix

[kenlinzee]

if you know this file is clean (no virus') then save to your desktop and maybe once you get it out of your email client WinZip will handle it better, if not it could be in a file format that WinZip cannot handle file types like .tar .gz .bz .tgz some of these filetypes work & some don't just have to read WinZip's documentation and see what it supports...

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MSI K7T266-RU Pro2
AMD Athlon 1600+
(the mother of all motherboards)

[fink]

another possibility is that someone has renamed another type of file as a zip file.. eg.. it could be a txt or a mpg file or anything else. Sometimes this is done to be able to store a file online on a service that doesn't allow certain types of files in case they violate terms of service such as no porn.

You could try randomly renaming it with different file names but

a) it could take a while to figure it out

b) it could be a virus

c) it could be something offensive

d) it's probably not worth the effort (my choice)

[kenlinzee]

do you know anyone with Linux installed in their computer???

ask them to take a look at it, Linux can determine file types by their content and not by file extentions (most of the time)


you cannot fool a Linux B0xen lol...

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MSI K7T266-RU Pro2
AMD Athlon 1600+
(the mother of all motherboards)

[crook]

The email file is .eml. Could I have clicked on something that would have said "open with" and designated winzip? I have had a few other email attachments that have done the same thing but my brother is getting the same email (jokes and such) and he can't open his. I have copied the file to floppy but I get the same message when I open the floppy drive. I appreciate all the input.

[kenlinzee]

.eml is for Outlook Express, it should default to open with OE...

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MSI K7T266-RU Pro2
AMD Athlon 1600+
(the mother of all motherboards)

[Welshjim]

crook--"Could I have clicked on something that would have said "open with" and designated winzip?" Yes, that is one possibility.
Click Start|Folder Options|File Types|scroll to Outlook Express Email Message|Click Edit| the box labelled Action should say Open.
Click Edit again| the line "Application used to perform this action" should read
"C:\PROGRAM FILES\OUTLOOK EXPRESS\MSIMN.EXE" /eml:%1
If not, make a note what is in that line, and change what is there to

"C:\PROGRAM FILES\OUTLOOK EXPRESS\MSIMN.EXE" /eml:%1

Now try opening the .eml file.
If you already have that entry, you have some other problem. Post back.
In any event, before you open this file you should, as has been suggested, scan for a virus.

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Jim
WIN98, IE6, cable,
Norton AV, ZoneAlarm



[This message has been edited by Welshjim (edited 05-09-2002).]

[crook]

When I get into edit it does show C:\PROGRA~\WINZIP\WINZIP32 ETC. I try to edit it and put in the line suggested by Welshjim and I get the error stating File types Specified program types could not be found. (action did say open) I triple checked my keying. Any suggestions? I do clearly see that the wrong program is designated to open. Thanks

[Cliffh]

Click on Start - Find - Files or Folders. Search the entire hard drive for files that end with .eml (search for *.EML). Left click on one of the files once to highlight it. Hold down the shift key and right click on the same file, choose Open With.

Browse through the Open With program listing until you find MSIMN. Make sure the "Always Use This" box is checked, select MSIMN and click OK.

[crook]

I did as suggested and got rid of the winzip problem on that file and 2 others. However, I try to open them and there is nothing there. It states the file is so many kb's but no matter what I do I get nothing but a blank screen. Maybe a problem on the 2 different sender's end? Your time and help has been greatly appreciated.

[fink]

Try opening the attachments with Internet Explorer using the same procedure as above... just don't check the "always open with" option.

[crook]

Fink, I tried your last suggestion and it didn't work. I just deleted the email messages. One sender states she did not send an attachment. The paper clip was there, my mind did not make it up. Once again, I really appreciate all the input. Computer will be 3 years old soon and I learn something new about it every day. Sure glad someone invented this site!!!!!! Thanks