Problems accessing email links and attachments.

[undredseesee]

Help please.  Cannot open email attachments in Word and nothing happens when I click on links.  Attempting to open Word documents just results in encrypted gobbledegook.  I think I've probably clicked on something in my ignorance which is now preventing me from opening this stuff.  Any ideas?

[soybean]

Has this happened with Word files received from multiple senders, or just one?  As a test, try sending a message to yourself, with a Word file you created attached to it, and see whether the attachment opens correctly when you receive it back.

[Allan]

It would be helpful if we knew what you think you clicked on. For now you can try this:
Right-click on a Word document and then click on Open With. Make sure there is a tic in "Always use the selected program to open this type of file" and then find and click on Word.

[undredseesee]

Thank you soybean and Allan for your very prompt replies.  The problem affects emails from various sources.  When I right click I only get 'Open', then 'Save as', 'Copy', 'Remove' and 'View'.  There doesn't appear to be an 'Open with'.   

[Allan]

Right-click on a Word Document in Windows Explorer, not the email attachment.

[soybean]

I was going to say the same thing but Allan beat me to it.

undredseesee, you need to save the attachment to a folder on your hard drive first, then follow Allan's procedure.

[undredseesee]

Allan and Soy.  The document is in a folder but comes up showing that Word is its recommended programme, but still opens as gobbledook!

[Allan]

Let's try it this way. Open Word. Then click on OPEN and then navigate to the document and try to open it. What happens?

[undredseesee]

Still comes up encrypted.  Baffling!

[soybean]

What version of Word are you using?  Are these Word attachments usually .doc files or are they .docx? 

What anti-virus program are you using?  Did you make any software changes (installations, removals, updates, etc.) about the time this problem started?

[patio]

Unicode perhaps ? ?

[Allan]

Using MS Word, can you open other .doc documents? If so, the problem appears to be with the specific document in question.

[undredseesee]

Thanks Soybean.  I'm using XP Home Edition, SP3 and Outlook 2000.  Anti-virus is Malwarebytes' Anti-Malware - that was put on about 4 months ago to replace No-Adware because a friend told us there was a virus about and it was better.  I had problems before this but it was only on occasional links/attachments, now it's just about all.  Seems to be .doc, .docx and anything else at random.

The only other installation I've made recently was a new Epson printer.  Soon (about 2 weeks?) afterwards, I noticed a new programme in the Word Toolbar - ABBYY FineReader 6.0 Sprint.  I didn't download it.  I don't know if it came with the Windows Auto Update, printer installation or where.

[undredseesee]

Thanks Patio.  'Fraid I'm a novice - I don't know what Unicode is!

Thanks Allan.  I can open other .doc documents.  These links/attachments are from more than one source, some are close friends, others more like work (and I don't open them from strangers).

[Allan]

1) Sounds like a problem with the document
2) MalwareBytes IS NOT AN ANTIVIRUS utility. You MUST install an antivirus utility. NOW.

MalwareBytes is a fine adjunct to an antivirus program, but it is not a replacement for one. If you want a free program get Avast, Avira or AVG. If you are willing to pay you have a LOT of choice. My personal favorite is Kaspersky Anti Virus. Regardless, get one NOW, install it, update it, and run a FULL SCAN of your system. NOW.