TECH: Another confuser problem

Subject: Another confuser problem
From: kendall
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 01:33 PM

Anyone wan a demented confuser? Suddenly, I'm getting e mails from friends and when I click on the little flag to open the attachment, I get this: CLANG! This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action...blah blah. Now what?

Subject: RE: Another confuser problem
From: nutty
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 01:50 PM

Do the emails themselves have messages or make reference to the content of the attachment??

Subject: RE: Another confuser problem
From: nutty
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 01:51 PM

Another question .........
Is it happening with every e-mail or just with certain ones?????

Subject: Attachments to E-mail - filename extension
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 02:25 PM

Hi, Kendall - be very careful when you open e-mail attachments - and do your best not to send them yourself, except when you really need to. When I get an e-mail with an attachment, I often save it into a folder I labelled "hold for scan," and then I scan it with an up-to-date virus checker before I do anything else with it.

Once you've scanned for viruses, looke at the three-letter extension at the end of the file name, and it will tell you what kind of file it is. Click here for a guide hyberbolically called "Every File Format in the World." I can't imaging that it could cover every file format, but it should help you identify most of them and tell you how to open files of various formats.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: TECH: Another confuser problem
From: Tiger
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 03:49 PM

Joe.......

Right on with the 'hold for scan' idea.

But, caution on the file extension part. It'll only tell you what it's PURPORTED to be. Example: I send you VIRUS.EXE, except before I attach it, I rename it to NOTVIRUS.TXT.

It's still the same program, and is still executable (although Notepad won't do much with it).

Subject: RE: TECH: Another confuser problem
From: kendall
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 04:04 PM

It only happens on some e mails. The last two were from a good friend, the other from my daughter.

Subject: RE: TECH: Another confuser problem
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 04:10 PM

Kendall, what are the extensions?

One thing to remember BTW is that even your best friend can unwittingly send you a virus. If you get an attachment can't understand why - it's best to play safe.

Jon

Subject: RE: TECH: Another confuser problem
From: Rick Fielding
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 04:11 PM

Good advice Kendall.

Being verrry technologically challenged, I decided three years ago to NEVER open an attachment, or even read mass mailings. No matter WHO they're from. I've probably missed hundreds of cute cartoons and inspirational sayings and poems, but I hate that stuff anyway. Once in a while a 'business' thing comes my way with an attachment, but I always phone the person to find out it's contents. I use my 'delete' button a lot.

Rick

Subject: RE: TECH: Another confuser problem
From: MMario
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 04:12 PM

it's possible that you DON'T have the programs to view the attachments. I was sent a file today from MS Publisher - I don't have it, it it will not open. I get about one call a day regarding someting similar

Subject: RE: TECH: Another confuser problem
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 04:48 PM

That looks a very useful site Joe - here is another one which sets out to provide the same service. Maybe it might have a few that the other one doesn't have, and vice versa.

Anytime I'm sending someone an attachment made up of words, I try not to send it as an attachment, but copy it i nto the email itself. That's because people are justifiably starting to get frightened to open up attachments.

Of couyrs the troubkle now is that viruses or whatever are tunring up whewre you don't even have to open up the attachment - just opening the email screw you up. It'll end up with us just sending Personal Messages to each other - till someone finds a way of screwing that up as well.

Subject: RE: TECH: Another confuser problem
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 04:50 PM

Kendall

Have you looked at START - SETTINGS - CONTROL PANEL - SOUNDS to see if the "CLANG" is associated with "File Error" or something else.

You can run through the "events" list and "play" the sounds associated with each of them - and if you find one that sounds like your mystery sound, at least you'll know what the #$@! machine is trying to tell you - and whether it's coming from your setup or is something "in" the email.

John

Subject: RE: TECH: Another confuser problem
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 04:55 PM

Isn't there a utility that will allow you to view various file types in their intended format, even if you can't work in the files? Seems to me I had something like that from Norton a few upgrades ago (when I upgrade products, I often lose as many features as I gain...)
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: TECH: Another confuser problem
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 05:18 PM

Quick View that comes with some versions of Windows will open several file types including word documents for viewing. I have seen similar non-Microsoft programs that to the same - I think Quick View Plus was one.

Jon

Subject: RE: TECH: Another confuser problem
From: kendall
Date: 10 Dec 01 - 09:44 PM

Thanks folks, I guess it's time for the 3 year check up