Outlook 2002 SP3: Can't open file: *.msg. The file may not exist, youmay...

  • Thread starter Thread starter diesel_mike_250
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diesel_mike_250

Hi, recently I am unable to open attachments within Outlook that have
an extension of .msg. When previewing a message in the preview pane,
the attachment MSG icon appears white. When the message is opened, it
changes to a beige color. Double-clicking (and choosing Open from the
menu) on the icon in either state yields no results.

When I save the message to my desktop, I took the DDE command used to
open files with the .msg extension ("C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office
\Office10\OUTLOOK.EXE" /f "%1"). I changed to the directory where the
message is and ran: "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office
\Office10\OUTLOOK.EXE" /f "email.msg". I get the error:

"Can't open file: email.msg. The file may not exist, you may not have
permission to open it, or it may be open in another program. Right-
click the folder that contains the file, and then click Properties to
check your permissions for the folder."

The file is not open in any other program and permissions are set so
everyone has full control.

Usually I'm good at figuring this stuff out, but I've hit a road
block. I'd greatly appreciate any help.

I am using Windows XP Pro (Version 2002) SP2.

Thanks.
 
Hi, recently I am unable to open attachments withinOutlookthat have
an extension of .msg. When previewing a message in the preview pane,
the attachmentMSGicon appears white. When the message is opened, it
changes to a beige color. Double-clicking (and choosing Open from the
menu) on the icon in either state yields no results.

When I save the message to my desktop, I took the DDE command used to
open files with the .msgextension ("C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office
\Office10\OUTLOOK.EXE" /f "%1"). I changed to the directory where the
message is and ran: "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office
\Office10\OUTLOOK.EXE" /f "email.msg". I get the error:

"Can't open file: email.msg. The file may not exist, you may not have
permission to open it, or it may be open in another program. Right-
click the folder that contains the file, and then click Properties to
check your permissions for the folder."

The file is not open in any other program and permissions are set so
everyone has full control.

Usually I'm good at figuring this stuff out, but I've hit a road
block. I'd greatly appreciate any help.

I am using Windows XP Pro (Version 2002) SP2.

Thanks.
Click to expand...

It looks like you are confusing two things.
1) unable to open msg attachments is a problem in Outlook. In fact an
email as attachment has no extension (msg), it just looks like. If you
can't open them, there may be something wrong in your profile. Can you
try it using another account on the same computer?
2) if you want to test to open a msg file, you should double click on
the msg. Did you do that?
You don't need to replace %1. But if you do so, type the full path not
only email.msg. Most simple test is "c:\email.msg" not having spaces..
 
It looks like you are confusing two things.
1) unable to open msg attachments is a problem in Outlook. In fact an
email as attachment has no extension (msg), it just looks like. If you
can't open them, there may be something wrong in your profile. Can you
try it using another account on the same computer?
2) if you want to test to open a msg file, you should double click on
the msg. Did you do that?
You don't need to replace %1. But if you do so, type the full path not
only email.msg. Most simple test is "c:\email.msg" not having spaces..- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -
Click to expand...

Jules, yes I can try #1. I actually had another problem with my
profile, so it was recreated. but I will try from another account.

Double clicking the message has no effect, which I already tried in
Outlook. It's no different when the attachment is saved on the file
system. Instead of double-clicking on the message, running the
"action" command from a command-prompt is what gave the error, which
is more helpful than Outlook starting and then exiting without an
error.

Thanks.
 
Google Desktop Search has this side-effect.
Click to expand...

Brian, thanks for your help... that was the problem. I found through
another post that disabling the GDS Outlook addin resolves the issue.
I'll do some more digging.
 
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