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General discussion

Blocked File Attachments

Sep 16, 2005 2:49AM PDT

I am running win-xp-he SP-2. My browser is IE 6.0.2900.2180 SP2. My e=mail client is OE 6.0.2900.2180 SP2. I have received a file as an e-mail attachment that I know for certain does not contain a virus. The file is blocked from both saving and opening by Windows Security. I have gone to the Security Tab and removed the checks for the blocking options, but I still cannot save or open the attachment. What do I need to do to override windows security?

Thanks,
Ray Savage

Discussion is locked

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Re: blocked attachments
Sep 16, 2005 3:26AM PDT

For all I know, unchecking the ''block access to attachtments that may contain a virus'' checkbox on the security tab of Outlook Express (this is not the exact wording, which I can't check here, but I hope you get the picture) should do the trick.
As far as I know, this is not Windows security, but purely OE security. So I wonder why you mention Windows Security twice?

Tell more:
- Full filename of the attachment (including extension = part behind the dot).
- Did you close and restart OE after changing the setting?
- Did you reboot (shouldn't be necessary)?
- What's the exact text of the message, and what's in the title bar of the message window?
- What anti-virus do you have and have you enabled email-checking?

It might help to aks the sender to disguise the file: rename it to .dat or zip it. Don't forget to undo the disguise! But that's only if you can't solve the problem yourself.


Kees

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Agree with Kees...
Sep 16, 2005 5:32AM PDT

In Outlook Express go to Tools>Options>Security. Uncheck "Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus".

Glenn

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Re: Agree with Kees
Sep 16, 2005 1:11PM PDT

Glenn:

Thanks for your reply. I have had this block unchecked for a long time and it has worked for other files, but it doesn't with this one - that's what I find so strange!

Regards,
Ray

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Re: Blocked File Attachments
Sep 16, 2005 1:08PM PDT

Kees:
Thanks for your prompt reply. I referred to ''Windows Security because that was the title of the Error Message.

Here's the feed-back requested:

1.Full filename of the attachment (including extension). CASPER-XP 30 SETUP.exe.

2.Did you close and restart OE after changing the setting? Yes.

3.Did you reboot (shouldn't be necessary)?
Yes.

4.What's the exact text of the message, and what's in the title bar of the message window?
-------------------------------------------------------
WINDOWS SECURITY WARNING
----------------------------------------------------
Windows found that this file is potentially harmful.
To help protect your computer, Windows has blocked access to this file.
NAME: Casper-XP 30 SETUP.EXE
-------------------------------------------------------

5. What anti-virus do you have and have you enabled email-checking?
AVG Anti-Virus System
7.1, Build 321 AVGFREE_ReleaseFreeNet_2005_0507_014138

Ray

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Some ISPs do that also.
Sep 16, 2005 9:50PM PDT
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Ray...
Sep 16, 2005 11:36PM PDT

Seems Cursorcowboy has isolated your problem. Since the issue is not general but only applies to specific type of file (.exe) I suspect its your ISP that prevents this. My ISP prevents such downloads also. In addition to security reasons this is to prevent illegial downloads of pirated material.

Hope this helps.

Glenn

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Ref: Some ISP's
Sep 17, 2005 3:02PM PDT

Cowboy:

Thanks for your reply. Think your suggestion is probably the reason. I forwarded the e-mail with the file to a different ISP e-mail address and there was no problem opening it.

Ray

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Re: message
Sep 17, 2005 6:19AM PDT

Ray,

Thanks to your very clear answers. Googling the error message leads to the conclusion it is well known. I used http://www.google.coom/search?&q=%22Windows+found+that+this+file+is+potentially+harmful.%22

The first hit was http://www.mcse.ms/archive71-2005-3-1497804.html and it attributes it to the Windows firewall and says to right-click>unblock
It sounds good but it's only a discussion forum (like this one), so I won't give any guarantee to its applicability. Temporarily disabling the firewall (from the security center) seems a pretty good way to see if it is the firewall. If you know that there's no virus, and you have AVG installed, I'd say the risks are very small.

Please let us know what you find.

Kees


Have a look for yourself. Please

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Ref: Message
Sep 17, 2005 3:06PM PDT

Kees:

Thanks for your suggestion. I tried closing the firewall, but the results were the same. I think it's related to the ISP. See Cursor Cowboy's comments and my response.

Thanks again for all your suggestions and help.

Best regards,
Ray

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Gmail blocked
Sep 17, 2005 7:15PM PDT

Gmail blocked me from sending an .exe file. I tried to send Kevin an .exe file and it wouldn't go. I then sent it to him from CompuServe and it went. I don't know it he got it. I don't know if his ISP blocked it from coming in. Most will remove an .exe file because most viruses are executable.

I know at work an .exe file will NOT be allowed using Outlook.

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I don't believe it's related to the ISP ...
Sep 18, 2005 1:59AM PDT

given your description of the problem, but feel free to do so.

Kees

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upload to site
Sep 17, 2005 9:30PM PDT

you could always upload the file to somewhere like http://www.megaupload.com/ for free. then you could send the link to the person you wish to have the file.

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Be sure to review ''Terms of Service'' that requires...
Sep 18, 2005 12:52AM PDT

acknowledgment. Note Section 8 (Acceptable Use) and 8c in particular.

http://www.megaupload.com/terms/

If complying with Terms of Service this looks like a good service for transferring files up to 250MB.

Glenn