I can't send attachments

Can't attach files to e-mail messages

MSFT Roopa S — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 11:15:00 GMT

This solution article provides troubleshooting information to users who are experiencing problems attaching file/files to their outgoing message in Windows Live Hotmail.

Symptoms:

You are unable to attach a file and you receive an error message, or nothing happens every time that you try to attach a file to an e-mail message.

What does this mean?

You may have to configure your browser to ensure that it works optimally with Windows Live Hotmail.

What should you do?

Try the following solutions in the order that they're presented:

# Optimize and reset the default settings for Windows Internet Explorer.

1. In Internet Explorer, click the Tools menu, and then click Internet Options.

2. Follow the steps for your browser:

a. If you have Internet Explorer 6, do the following:

I. On the General tab, click Delete Cookies, and then click OK.

II. Click Delete Files, select the Delete all offline content check box, and then click OK. It may take several minutes for the files to be deleted.

III. Click the Advanced tab, and then click Restore Defaults.

b. If you have Internet Explorer 7, do the following:

I. Under Browsing history, click Delete.

II. In the Delete Browsing History window, click Delete all, and then click Yes. It may take several minutes for the files to be deleted.

III. Click the Advanced tab, and then click Restore advanced settings.

3. Click the Security tab, click the Internet icon, click Default Level, and then click Apply. Repeat this step for the Restricted and the Trusted zones.

4. Click Trusted Sites, click Sites, and then clear the Require server verification (https:) for all sites in this zone check box.

5. Under Add this Web site to the zone, type *.hotmail.com, and then click Add. Do the same for *.passport.com, *.live.com, and *.msn.com, and then click OK in Internet Explorer 6, or click Close in Internet Explorer 7.

6. Click the Privacy tab, and then click Sites.

7. Under Address of Web site, type *.hotmail.com, and then click Allow. Do the same for *.passport.com, *.live.com, and *.msn.com, and then click OK.

8. Click OK.

Notes

* To determine the version of Internet Explorer that you're using, in Internet Explorer, click the Help menu, and then click About Internet Explorer.

* If you're using a browser other than Internet Explorer 6 or Internet Explorer 7, see the documentation for that browser for more information about how to optimize your settings.

# Add *.live.com, *.passport.com, *.hotmail.com, and *.msn.com to the list of safe domains in your firewall, pop-up blocker, and antivirus software.

To learn how to do this, see the documentation for your firewall, pop-up blocker, or antivirus software. To learn how to configure Microsoft Windows Firewall in Windows XP with Service Pack 2, see the Microsoft TechNet website.

# Install the latest version of your Internet browser.

To install the latest version of Windows Internet Explorer, visit the Internet Explorer download website.

To install the latest version of another browser, contact the manufacturer of that browser.

Can't send attachments - Virus error

MSFT Roopa S — Fri, 22 Aug 2008 15:18:00 GMT

This solution article provides information to users who are unable to send attachments in Windows Live Hotmail and are receiving a virus error.

Symptoms:

Users might get an error stating that the file cannot be attached as it appears to be unsafe.

What does the error mean?

Hotmail helps protect your computer from virus attacks by scanning the attachments for virus in your incoming and outgoing e-mail messages.

When you try to attach a file to a Hotmail e-mail message, Hotmail automatically scans the file for viruses. If a virus is found, you cannot attach the infected file until the virus is removed.

What should you do?

If you are attaching a virus-free file and receiving a false virus notification, please check for the following:

1. Type of file (example: exe, pdf, doc etc). Please make sure that you are not trying to attach a file that is blocked by Hotmail. To see a list of file types blocked by Hotmail, please click here.

2. Size of the attachment. Please note that if you have a Free account – you are only allowed to attach a file of size 10 MB per email message and if you have a paid account, then the limit is 20 MB.

Error: "The file is too large to be attached"

MSFT Roopa S — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:17:00 GMT

This solution article provides information to users who are unable to attach a large file to their outgoing email message in Windows Live Hotmail.

Symptoms:

Users will receive an error,"The file is too large to be attached" when attaching a large file in Windows Live Hotmail.

What does the error mean?

This error is displayed if you are trying to attach a file larger than the allowed size limit.

If you have a Free account – you are only allowed to attach a file of size 10 MB per email message. If you have a paid account, then the limit is 20 MB.

What should you do?

You can try one of the following two options in order to reduce the file size if it is only 3-4 MB over the allowed limit:

a. Try using a file compression utility, such as WinZip.
b. Divide the file into two or more smaller files, and then send each file with an individual message.

If you are trying to send a media file such as a movie clip, there are slight chances that you will be able to compress this sort of a file due to its typical large size.

Please leave us your feedback here if you feel that the current allowed size limit is too low and if you occasionally run into issues with uploading files because of the current limit.

We would also like to encourage you to try Skydrive. Skydrive is a password-protected online file storage that is always available where you need it. Then you can just send a link to your files and eliminate any concerns about attachment file size or file types!

To learn more about Skydrive please go to http://skydrive.live.com/welcomemoreinfo.aspx or http://skydriveteam.spaces.live.com/
To get started with Sky Drive, please go to http://skydrive.live.com/

Error: "To protect your security and the security of others, you can't attach a file with this extension"

MSFT Roopa S — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:23:00 GMT

This solution article will provide information to users who are unable to attach a filetype that is blocked by Windows Live Hotmail

Symptoms:

Users will encounter the following error message when trying to a attach a file in Windows Live Hotmail:

"To protect your security and the security of others, you can't attach a file with this extension"

What does the error mean?

Users will encounter this error when they try to attach a filetype that is not allowed by Windows Live Hotmail.

Windows Live Hotmail doesn't support the following file types. Your operating system, firewall, or other software may also cause additional file types to be blocked.

.ade	.adp	.app
.asp	.bas	.bat
.cer	.chm	.cmd
.com	.cpl	.crt
.csh	.exe	.fxp
.hlp	.hta	.inf
.ins	.isp	.its
.js	.jse	.ksh
.lnk	.mad	.maf
.mag	.mam	.maq
.mar	.mas	.mat
.mau	.mav	.maw
.mda	.mdb	.mde
.mdt	.mdw	.mdz
.msc	.msi	.msp
.mst	.ops	.pcd
.pif	.prf	.prg
.pst	.reg	.scf
.scr	.sct	.shb
.shs	.tmp	.url
.vb	.vbe	.vbs
.vsmacros	.vss	.vst
.vsw	.ws	.wsc
.wsf	.wsh

What should you do?

To send or receive an unsupported file type as an attachment, use one of the following methods, or ask the person sending you the attachment do so:

Compress the file.
Use a zipped folder or a third-party compression program to compress the file, and then attach it to your e-mail message as a .zip file. See your software documentation for information about how to compress a file.

Change the file extension to .txt.
Locate the file that you want to attach, right-click the file, and then click Rename.
Type txt in place of the original file extension, and then press ENTER.
Attach the renamed file to your e-mail message. Remember to tell the recipient how to change the file extension back after they download the attachment to their computer.

Upload the file to Windows Live SkyDrive.
SkyDrive is a free service that you can use to store and share your files online with friends or with anyone in the world. Use any computer connected to the Internet to access your files, and share your public files or folders with anyone by e-mailing them a link to the file or folder. You can upload files up to 50 MB in size, and you receive a total of 1 gigabyte (GB) of online storage space.To get started with SkyDrive, go to the Windows Live SkyDrive website (http://skydrive.live.com/).