Computer How To's

Restore the "Open Attachment" Warning

Dialog Box

For Use With Outlook Express and Outlook

Press F11 key for full screen view (Internet Explorer)

See "Printing Tip" below

This page explains how to restore this warning window if you have unchecked the "Always ask..." box.

This is the Open Attachment Warning window you will see when you attempt to open and email attachment.

If you "uncheck" the "Always ask before opening this type of file" option, you won't see this warning when opening .doc file attachments in the future.

The 'Open Attachment Warning' associated with e-mails and news group messages in Outlook Express is displayed when the attached file name is clicked on. The user can then choose to 'Open it' or 'Save it to disk'. There is also a check box on the 'Warning' that says; 'Always ask before
opening this type of file.'

The 'Warning' is directly associated to the file suffix - for instance: .jpeg, .gif, .eml, ..doc, etc. -- and this 'Warning' is coded for each type of file by the check in the check box. In the image on the left, note that the file extension is ".doc" or a Microsoft Word document. The .doc file extension can also be a "Wordpad" file, as shown in the Windows XP example image below.

So that, if a user were to inadvertently uncheck the box for '.doc' files, the 'Warning' will still appear for the other file types, but not for .doc files.

How to restore the 'Warning' for a file type, once it has been 'unchecked'.

Windows XP

1. Open My Computer
2. Click the Tools menu
3. Select Folder options
4. In the Folder Options window, click the File Types tab
5. Scroll through the list of file types and select the file extension
6. Then, click the Advanced button
7. In the Edit File Type window, check the "Confirm Open after Download" option.

This image shows the Edit File Type dialog box open in WinXP.

This image shows the Edit File Type dialog box open in WinXP

Windows ME

1. Open My Computer
2. Click the Tools menu
3. Select Folder options
4. In the Folder Options window, click the File Types tab
5. Scroll through the list of file types and select the file extension
6. Then, click the Advanced button
7. In the Edit File Type window, check the "Confirm Open after Download" option.

Windows 95 / 98

1. Open My Computer
2. Click the View menu
3. Select Folder options
4. In the Folder Options window, click the File Types tab
5. Scroll through the list of file types and select the file extension

Note: Some file types are shown by their extension, some by the programs that the extension is associated with. For instance, the .doc extension in our example image on the right is associated with Microsoft Word, so the .doc extension is found under Microsoft Word, shown below.

This is a partial view of the Win98 Folder Options window, open in the File Types tab.

This is a partial view of the Win98 Folder Options window, open in the File Types tab.

6. Then, click the Edit button

7. In the Edit File Type window, check the "Confirm Open after Download" option.

Windows 98 Edit File Type dialog box window.

Edit File Type window

You will need to do this with each file type extension that has been unchecked. One way you could check this is to send an email to yourself with a variety of common file types. Reset the "Confirm Open after Download" option for any file types that don't show the 'Open Attachment Warning' window. Also, you will need to set the 'Open Attachment Warning' for both .jpg and jpeg file formats.

For sure these file extensions should have the 'Open Attachment Warning' associated with them:

.ade

.crt

.lnk

.pcd

.vbs

.adp

.exe

.mda

.pif

.wsc

.bas

.hlp

.mdb

.reg

.wsf

.bat

.hta

.mde

.scr

.wsh

.chm

.inf

.mdz

.sct

.cmd

.ins

.msc

.shs

.com

.isp

.msi

.url

.cpl

.js

.msp

.vb

.cpp

.jse

.mst

.vbe

If you want to know what any of these file extensions are, you can look them up by clicking here or by

clicking here.

**For sure these file extensions should have the 'Open Attachment Warning' associated with them:**
.ade	.crt	.lnk	.pcd	.vbs
.adp	.exe	.mda	.pif	.wsc
.bas	.hlp	.mdb	.reg	.wsf
.bat	.hta	.mde	.scr	.wsh
.chm	.inf	.mdz	.sct
.cmd	.ins	.msc	.shs
.com	.isp	.msi	.url
.cpl	.js	.msp	.vb
.cpp	.jse	.mst	.vbe
If you want to know what any of these file extensions are, you can look them up by clicking here or by clicking here.

Printing Tip: This usually requires 5 pages to print out in total. You can chose to print only pages 1 - 3 to get the whole lesson without the list of file types above here.

Click File/Print Preview to see how it will look. (This is in Internet Explorer 5.5 and higher and Netscape Navigator).

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Do you find this information helpful? Can you give me any suggestions or comments that will make this kind page better or easier for you to use? Let me know. Email Dwight Blackburn

Links to other How To... articles

How to download and use WinZip to extract compressed files

How to download and install Programs

How to change file associations

How to save and find files

How to organize your Start Menu - Win 98

Install a new font

How to disable background applications in both Win95 and Win 98

How to block porno and other unwanted email messages in Outlook Express

How to update your Norton Rescue Floppy Disks

I'm having a problem with my computer, and I need some help, please!

This page last updated:

July 24, 2008

This page explains how to restore this warning window if you have unchecked the "Always ask..." box. If you "uncheck" the "Always ask before opening this type of file" option, you won't see this warning when opening .doc file attachments in the future.	The 'Open Attachment Warning' associated with e-mails and news group messages in Outlook Express is displayed when the attached file name is clicked on. The user can then choose to 'Open it' or 'Save it to disk'. There is also a check box on the 'Warning' that says; 'Always ask before opening this type of file.' The 'Warning' is directly associated to the file suffix - for instance: .jpeg, .gif, .eml, ..doc, etc. -- and this 'Warning' is coded for each type of file by the check in the check box. In the image on the left, note that the file extension is ".doc" or a Microsoft Word document. The .doc file extension can also be a "Wordpad" file, as shown in the Windows XP example image below. So that, if a user were to inadvertently uncheck the box for '.doc' files, the 'Warning' will still appear for the other file types, but not for .doc files.
How to restore the 'Warning' for a file type, once it has been 'unchecked'.
Windows XP
1. Open My Computer 2. Click the Tools menu 3. Select Folder options 4. In the Folder Options window, click the File Types tab 5. Scroll through the list of file types and select the file extension 6. Then, click the Advanced button 7. In the Edit File Type window, check the "Confirm Open after Download" option.	This image shows the Edit File Type dialog box open in WinXP
Windows ME
1. Open My Computer 2. Click the Tools menu 3. Select Folder options 4. In the Folder Options window, click the File Types tab 5. Scroll through the list of file types and select the file extension 6. Then, click the Advanced button 7. In the Edit File Type window, check the "Confirm Open after Download" option.
Windows 95 / 98
1. Open My Computer 2. Click the View menu 3. Select Folder options 4. In the Folder Options window, click the File Types tab 5. Scroll through the list of file types and select the file extension Note: Some file types are shown by their extension, some by the programs that the extension is associated with. For instance, the .doc extension in our example image on the right is associated with Microsoft Word, so the .doc extension is found under Microsoft Word, shown below. This is a partial view of the Win98 Folder Options window, open in the File Types tab.	6. Then, click the Edit button 7. In the Edit File Type window, check the "Confirm Open after Download" option. Edit File Type window
You will need to do this with each file type extension that has been unchecked. One way you could check this is to send an email to yourself with a variety of common file types. Reset the "Confirm Open after Download" option for any file types that don't show the 'Open Attachment Warning' window. Also, you will need to set the 'Open Attachment Warning' for both .jpg and jpeg file formats.

How to download and use WinZip to extract compressed files	How to download and install Programs	How to change file associations
How to save and find files	How to organize your Start Menu - Win 98	Install a new font
How to disable background applications in both Win95 and Win 98	How to block porno and other unwanted email messages in Outlook Express	How to update your Norton Rescue Floppy Disks
I'm having a problem with my computer, and I need some help, please!

Computer How To's

Restore the "Open Attachment" Warning Dialog Box

Restore the "Open Attachment" Warning

Dialog Box