Outlook Express won't open eml files...

[Sleepy]

Using Outlook Express 6: Cannot open eml files in the program. If I save it and open with notepad or something I can read the files that are text. If I use graphic program can open the files with graphics. But all this work isn't worth it. This has just started recently. Have updated progam and even reloaded Explorer to get new copy of OE and then did all the updates again. NO change. Any suggestions??? THANKS

[Onslo]

Hi Sleepy

Try this procedure....

left click once on the .eml file to highlight it, then hold down the shift key and right click the .eml file. Select 'Open With...' and then 'Choose Program'. Put a tick in "Always Use This Program" and select Outlook Express from the listed applications.

Should work ?

'Slo

P.S, Welcome to The Scream !

[Sleepy]

Dear Slo,
MANY thanks..... I had to save it and go to there before I could start to do the steps you said and had to do a bit of searching as OE wasn't listed in my choices..BUT at least I knew "what" I had to do and it WORKED!!! So many many thanks!!

Sleepy

[Onslo]

Ahhh good, glad you sorted it

'Slo

[michele47]

Help...I tried this too, but it didn't work! Still can't open the darned things. Do I have to reinstall Outlook Express? If I do will I loose all my emails & addresses?

[Am I too old?]

Why has this problem happened in the last week? For 10 years or so I have been able to open almost every email attachment. I can still open MS Word and graphics attachments. But .eml, NO! I have still to try Slo's suggestion - but can anyone explain who/why/when the goal posts were moved?
Am I too old?

[Am I too old?]

Hi Michele47,

You can find your email folder via "My computer" at CDocuments and settings\your name\local settings\application data\identities\then about 35 numbers and letters\Microsoft\Outlook Express.
Copy the whole directory to somewhere safe, as with your address book and if everything goes bottoms up, you can re-introduce them as with your address book.
This works in Win 95, Win ME and Win XP. hope it works for you.

Alternatively, from your present setup, you can via Outlook Express\file export both your address book and all your emails to somewhere safe.

Am I too old?

[Memfis]

Hi Michele47,
....

Am I too old?

Originally Posted by Am I too old?

No, but this thread is!

[Mender]

Only just over four years out of date

For anyone who has a problem like this in the future, there is a simple cure, and this is from the M$ website:

To resolve this behavior, either run the Msimn executable file with the /reg option to force Outlook Express to re-register its file types, or re-register the .eml file type in My Computer.
 
To run the Msimn executable file with the /reg option:
 
   1. Quit Outlook Express.
   2. Click Start, and then click Run.
   3. In the Open box, type msimn /reg, and then click OK.
 
To re-register the .eml file type in My Computer:
 
   1. On the desktop, double-click My Computer.
   2. On the Tools menu, click Folder Options.
   3. Click the File Types tab.
   4. Under Registered file types, click EML Outlook Express Mail Message, and then click Advanced.
   5. Click Open, and then click Edit.
   6. Type the following single line in the Application used to perform action box:
      "C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\MSIMN.EXE" /eml:%1
   7. Click OK, click OK again, and then click Close.

[Am I too old?]

Mender,
Many thanks, it worked perfectly.
Regards
Am I too old?