Bits'n'Bytes

As heard on CJCD

Episode 13

I tend to get a fair number of questions about email. By far, the most asked questions are about Outlook Express. In particular, Outlook Express 6 and the fact that when you first install it, you can't receive any attachments. Most people automatically think there was something wrong with the download of Internet Explorer 6, or that the download has somehow corrupted their email program. But, I'm afraid, the problem was caused on purpose by Microsoft. In their infinite wisdom, they put a default setting on Outlook Express that won't allow you to open any file that may potentially be a virus. Well, that could, potentially, be just about any file anyone could ever send you! So, they block just about everything you would normally receive.

To correct this "problem", all you have to do is go to the Tools menu at the top of Outlook Express. In the window that scrolls down, pick Options. Then, pick the security tab and de-select the second option, which is "Do not allow attachments to be saved or opened that could potentially be a virus". Voila, now you can get all your attachments - even the ones you couldn't open before you unchecked the option. Outlook Express really does download them, it just won't let you open them.

When I tell people about this little fix, I usually get asked what type of files are safe to open and which ones are not. In general, I tend to tell people to avoid five different file types. These are dot bat, dot exe, dot scr, dot vbs and any file with two extensions in it - like .jpg.vbs. It's important to pay attention to the files you open, so as not to get a virus. If you're ever not sure about a file, don't open it unless you contact the person who sent it to you to make sure they sent it on purpose, or at all.

The other emails I tell people to avoid are the ones that tell you to forward it to all your friends and "something amazing" will happen. I can pretty much guarantee you that you won't win the lottery tomorrow, and Ronald McDonald will not attack the Taco Bell dog if you forward it to 15 friends. I can also almost guarantee that you'll have about 15 less friends if you do, though.

Stay tuned next week for a bunch of handy keyboard shortcuts you can use to save time.

I’m Computer Dave, thanks for your time.