# Why can't I open attachments in Outlook express?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-open-attachments-in-outlook-express/81403>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 13, 2001, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-open-attachments-in-outlook-express/81403 "2001-09-13T18:20:54Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Anachronism](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e56c9b/32.png) [@Anachronism](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anachronism)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 6:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-open-attachments-in-outlook-express/81403/1 "2001-09-13T18:20:54Z")

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Any attached files I try to open in Outlook Express open as a blank E-mail. If my wife sends duplicites to her work e-mail she can open them no problem. Help.

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**Author:** ![urban1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/d07c76/32.png) [@urban1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/urban1)\
**Post date:** [September 13, 2001, 7:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-i-open-attachments-in-outlook-express/81403/2 "2001-09-13T19:50:02Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Anachronism \*  
> \*\*Any attached files I try to open in Outlook Express open as a blank E-mail. If my wife sends duplicites to her work e-mail she can open them no problem. Help. \*\*

You don’t way where the e-mails are coming from, but …

I am unable to open 99% of attachments from AOL, especially if they are forwarded from someone.

It is likely a problem with AOL since they don’t (refuse to) use standard e-mail protocols.

Hope this helps.