My wife and I have Windows Live Mail on our separate computers, and we like 
it very much, but there's one problem.

When I receive a PDF file as an attachment on my computer, I click it, and 
it opens properly.

When she receives the same PDF file on her computer, she gets the following 
message:

"This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this 
action. Create an association in the Set Associations control panel."

I've looked everywhere for the Set Associations control panel and can't find 
it.

Also, when my wife saves the attached PDF file to her computer, it opens as 
it should. But not when we try to open it directly as an attachment.

We both are using 9.1 Adobe reader. 

Save the attachment to your HDD. Right click on it and Open With | Choose 
Program. Find and choose a program that works, (Adobe Reader?), and then 
check the box: Always use this program to open this kind of file. This 
should enable you to open these attachments in the future.
-- 
           Bruce Hagen
         MS-MVP [Mail]
      Imperial Beach, CA


"Ray" <rayj.balt@DELTHISverizon.net> wrote in message 
news:k1PUm.46633$cd7.29432@newsfe04.iad...
> My wife and I have Windows Live Mail on our separate computers, and we 
> like it very much, but there's one problem.
>
> When I receive a PDF file as an attachment on my computer, I click it, and 
> it opens properly.
>
> When she receives the same PDF file on her computer, she gets the 
> following message:
>
> "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this 
> action. Create an association in the Set Associations control panel."
>
> I've looked everywhere for the Set Associations control panel and can't 
> find it.
>
> Also, when my wife saves the attached PDF file to her computer, it opens 
> as it should. But not when we try to open it directly as an attachment.
>
> We both are using 9.1 Adobe reader. 

Thanks Bruce -- I had already tried that route, and it didn't solve the 
problem.

"Bruce Hagen" <Nospam@mymail.invalid> wrote in message 
news:#jHjxY0eKHA.6096@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>
> Save the attachment to your HDD. Right click on it and Open With | Choose 
> Program. Find and choose a program that works, (Adobe Reader?), and then 
> check the box: Always use this program to open this kind of file. This 
> should enable you to open these attachments in the future.
> -- 
>           Bruce Hagen
>         MS-MVP [Mail]
>      Imperial Beach, CA
>
>
> "Ray" <rayj.balt@DELTHISverizon.net> wrote in message 
> news:k1PUm.46633$cd7.29432@newsfe04.iad...
>> My wife and I have Windows Live Mail on our separate computers, and we 
>> like it very much, but there's one problem.
>>
>> When I receive a PDF file as an attachment on my computer, I click it, 
>> and it opens properly.
>>
>> When she receives the same PDF file on her computer, she gets the 
>> following message:
>>
>> "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this 
>> action. Create an association in the Set Associations control panel."
>>
>> I've looked everywhere for the Set Associations control panel and can't 
>> find it.
>>
>> Also, when my wife saves the attached PDF file to her computer, it opens 
>> as it should. But not when we try to open it directly as an attachment.
>>
>> We both are using 9.1 Adobe reader.
> 

What it the OS?
-- 
           Bruce Hagen
         MS-MVP [Mail]
      Imperial Beach, CA


"Ray" <rayj.balt@DELTHISverizon.net> wrote in message 
news:1zPUm.48096$Sw5.9830@newsfe16.iad...
> Thanks Bruce -- I had already tried that route, and it didn't solve the 
> problem.
>
> "Bruce Hagen" <Nospam@mymail.invalid> wrote in message 
> news:#jHjxY0eKHA.6096@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>
>> Save the attachment to your HDD. Right click on it and Open With | Choose 
>> Program. Find and choose a program that works, (Adobe Reader?), and then 
>> check the box: Always use this program to open this kind of file. This 
>> should enable you to open these attachments in the future.
>> -- 
>>           Bruce Hagen
>>         MS-MVP [Mail]
>>      Imperial Beach, CA
>>
>>
>> "Ray" <rayj.balt@DELTHISverizon.net> wrote in message 
>> news:k1PUm.46633$cd7.29432@newsfe04.iad...
>>> My wife and I have Windows Live Mail on our separate computers, and we 
>>> like it very much, but there's one problem.
>>>
>>> When I receive a PDF file as an attachment on my computer, I click it, 
>>> and it opens properly.
>>>
>>> When she receives the same PDF file on her computer, she gets the 
>>> following message:
>>>
>>> "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing 
>>> this action. Create an association in the Set Associations control 
>>> panel."
>>>
>>> I've looked everywhere for the Set Associations control panel and can't 
>>> find it.
>>>
>>> Also, when my wife saves the attached PDF file to her computer, it opens 
>>> as it should. But not when we try to open it directly as an attachment.
>>>
>>> We both are using 9.1 Adobe reader.
>> 

Ray wrote:
> My wife and I have Windows Live Mail on our separate computers, and
> we like it very much, but there's one problem.
>
> When I receive a PDF file as an attachment on my computer, I click
> it, and it opens properly.
>
> When she receives the same PDF file on her computer, she gets the
> following message:
>
> "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing
> this action. Create an association in the Set Associations control
> panel."
> I've looked everywhere for the Set Associations control panel and
> can't find it.
>
> Also, when my wife saves the attached PDF file to her computer, it
> opens as it should. But not when we try to open it directly as an
> attachment.
> We both are using 9.1 Adobe reader.
========================================
Maybe the following article would be worth a look:

Windows Vista -
Unable to open .PDF
attachments from Windows Mail
http://tinyurl.com/6q38na
   or...
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/236/1/Unable-to-open-PDF-attachments-from-Windows-Mail.html

-- 

      J. Inzer MS-MVP
Digital Media Experience

            Notice
This is not tech support
      I am a volunteer

 Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk 

Windows Vista on my wife's (the one that won't work) and Windows 7 on mine 
(which does work)

"Bruce Hagen" <Nospam@mymail.invalid> wrote in message 
news:702C1B70-F8AC-40C6-9A33-68365A3F25F2@microsoft.com...
> What it the OS?
> -- 
>           Bruce Hagen
>         MS-MVP [Mail]
>      Imperial Beach, CA
>
>
> "Ray" <rayj.balt@DELTHISverizon.net> wrote in message 
> news:1zPUm.48096$Sw5.9830@newsfe16.iad...
>> Thanks Bruce -- I had already tried that route, and it didn't solve the 
>> problem.
>>
>> "Bruce Hagen" <Nospam@mymail.invalid> wrote in message 
>> news:#jHjxY0eKHA.6096@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>
>>> Save the attachment to your HDD. Right click on it and Open With | 
>>> Choose Program. Find and choose a program that works, (Adobe Reader?), 
>>> and then check the box: Always use this program to open this kind of 
>>> file. This should enable you to open these attachments in the future.
>>> -- 
>>>           Bruce Hagen
>>>         MS-MVP [Mail]
>>>      Imperial Beach, CA
>>>
>>>
>>> "Ray" <rayj.balt@DELTHISverizon.net> wrote in message 
>>> news:k1PUm.46633$cd7.29432@newsfe04.iad...
>>>> My wife and I have Windows Live Mail on our separate computers, and we 
>>>> like it very much, but there's one problem.
>>>>
>>>> When I receive a PDF file as an attachment on my computer, I click it, 
>>>> and it opens properly.
>>>>
>>>> When she receives the same PDF file on her computer, she gets the 
>>>> following message:
>>>>
>>>> "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing 
>>>> this action. Create an association in the Set Associations control 
>>>> panel."
>>>>
>>>> I've looked everywhere for the Set Associations control panel and can't 
>>>> find it.
>>>>
>>>> Also, when my wife saves the attached PDF file to her computer, it 
>>>> opens as it should. But not when we try to open it directly as an 
>>>> attachment.
>>>>
>>>> We both are using 9.1 Adobe reader.
>>>
> 

These are the paths for XP and Win7 to set the file associations. I don't 
have the path for Vista, but perhaps you can figure it out with this.

XP: Control Panel | Tools | Folder Options | File Types

Win7: Control Panel | Programs | Default Programs | Make A File Type Always 
Open In A Specific Program.

That's as far as I can help. I don't use Vista. Sorry.
-- 
           Bruce Hagen
         MS-MVP [Mail]
      Imperial Beach, CA


"Ray" <rayj.balt@DELTHISverizon.net> wrote in message 
news:WVQUm.48160$Sw5.24925@newsfe16.iad...
> Windows Vista on my wife's (the one that won't work) and Windows 7 on mine 
> (which does work)
>
> "Bruce Hagen" <Nospam@mymail.invalid> wrote in message 
> news:702C1B70-F8AC-40C6-9A33-68365A3F25F2@microsoft.com...
>> What it the OS?
>> -- 
>>           Bruce Hagen
>>         MS-MVP [Mail]
>>      Imperial Beach, CA
>>
>>
>> "Ray" <rayj.balt@DELTHISverizon.net> wrote in message 
>> news:1zPUm.48096$Sw5.9830@newsfe16.iad...
>>> Thanks Bruce -- I had already tried that route, and it didn't solve the 
>>> problem.
>>>
>>> "Bruce Hagen" <Nospam@mymail.invalid> wrote in message 
>>> news:#jHjxY0eKHA.6096@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>>>
>>>> Save the attachment to your HDD. Right click on it and Open With | 
>>>> Choose Program. Find and choose a program that works, (Adobe Reader?), 
>>>> and then check the box: Always use this program to open this kind of 
>>>> file. This should enable you to open these attachments in the future.
>>>> -- 
>>>>           Bruce Hagen
>>>>         MS-MVP [Mail]
>>>>      Imperial Beach, CA
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> "Ray" <rayj.balt@DELTHISverizon.net> wrote in message 
>>>> news:k1PUm.46633$cd7.29432@newsfe04.iad...
>>>>> My wife and I have Windows Live Mail on our separate computers, and we 
>>>>> like it very much, but there's one problem.
>>>>>
>>>>> When I receive a PDF file as an attachment on my computer, I click it, 
>>>>> and it opens properly.
>>>>>
>>>>> When she receives the same PDF file on her computer, she gets the 
>>>>> following message:
>>>>>
>>>>> "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing 
>>>>> this action. Create an association in the Set Associations control 
>>>>> panel."
>>>>>
>>>>> I've looked everywhere for the Set Associations control panel and 
>>>>> can't find it.
>>>>>
>>>>> Also, when my wife saves the attached PDF file to her computer, it 
>>>>> opens as it should. But not when we try to open it directly as an 
>>>>> attachment.
>>>>>
>>>>> We both are using 9.1 Adobe reader.
>>>>
>> 

"Ray" <rayj.balt@DELTHISverizon.net> wrote in message 
news:k1PUm.46633$cd7.29432@newsfe04.iad...
> My wife and I have Windows Live Mail on our separate computers, and we 
> like it very much, but there's one problem.
>
Just  a thought Ray, Is Adobe Reader (or similar) installed on your wife's 
computer?

HTH

Bill


> When I receive a PDF file as an attachment on my computer, I click it, and 
> it opens properly.
>
> When she receives the same PDF file on her computer, she gets the 
> following message:
>
> "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this 
> action. Create an association in the Set Associations control panel."
>
> I've looked everywhere for the Set Associations control panel and can't 
> find it.
>
> Also, when my wife saves the attached PDF file to her computer, it opens 
> as it should. But not when we try to open it directly as an attachment.
>
> We both are using 9.1 Adobe reader.

 

Try this:
http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/236/1/Unable-to-open-PDF-attachments-from-Windows-Mail.html
-- 
Noel

"Ray" <rayj.balt@DELTHISverizon.net> wrote in message 
news:k1PUm.46633$cd7.29432@newsfe04.iad...
> My wife and I have Windows Live Mail on our separate computers, and we 
> like it very much, but there's one problem.
>
> When I receive a PDF file as an attachment on my computer, I click it, 
> and it opens properly.
>
> When she receives the same PDF file on her computer, she gets the 
> following message:
>
> "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this 
> action. Create an association in the Set Associations control panel."
>
> I've looked everywhere for the Set Associations control panel and can't 
> find it.
>
> Also, when my wife saves the attached PDF file to her computer, it opens 
> as it should. But not when we try to open it directly as an attachment.
>
> We both are using 9.1 Adobe reader.

 

Try going to Start - Default Programs - Set your default programs - see list 
on left, select Windows Live mail - on right, ensure it says "This program 
has all of its defaults (under the "pane").  If not, you need to select the 
2nd green arrow (at bottom) and tic all of the checkboxes.  Then it should 
tell you it has all of its defaults - you may need to do that for other 
applications in the list on the left as well, particularly IE.


"Ray" <rayj.balt@DELTHISverizon.net> wrote in message 
news:1zPUm.48096$Sw5.9830@newsfe16.iad...
> Thanks Bruce -- I had already tried that route, and it didn't solve the 
> problem.
>
> "Bruce Hagen" <Nospam@mymail.invalid> wrote in message 
> news:#jHjxY0eKHA.6096@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>>
>> Save the attachment to your HDD. Right click on it and Open With | Choose 
>> Program. Find and choose a program that works, (Adobe Reader?), and then 
>> check the box: Always use this program to open this kind of file. This 
>> should enable you to open these attachments in the future.
>> -- 
>>           Bruce Hagen
>>         MS-MVP [Mail]
>>      Imperial Beach, CA
>>
>>
>> "Ray" <rayj.balt@DELTHISverizon.net> wrote in message 
>> news:k1PUm.46633$cd7.29432@newsfe04.iad...
>>> My wife and I have Windows Live Mail on our separate computers, and we 
>>> like it very much, but there's one problem.
>>>
>>> When I receive a PDF file as an attachment on my computer, I click it, 
>>> and it opens properly.
>>>
>>> When she receives the same PDF file on her computer, she gets the 
>>> following message:
>>>
>>> "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing 
>>> this action. Create an association in the Set Associations control 
>>> panel."
>>>
>>> I've looked everywhere for the Set Associations control panel and can't 
>>> find it.
>>>
>>> Also, when my wife saves the attached PDF file to her computer, it opens 
>>> as it should. But not when we try to open it directly as an attachment.
>>>
>>> We both are using 9.1 Adobe reader.
>> 

"We both are using 9.1 Adobe reader."
-- 
Ron Sommer
MS MVP-Mail

"Bill" <willy@home.com> wrote in message 
news:u$IKBn1eKHA.5568@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>
> "Ray" <rayj.balt@DELTHISverizon.net> wrote in message 
> news:k1PUm.46633$cd7.29432@newsfe04.iad...
>> My wife and I have Windows Live Mail on our separate computers, and we 
>> like it very much, but there's one problem.
>>
> Just  a thought Ray, Is Adobe Reader (or similar) installed on your wife's 
> computer?
>
> HTH
>
> Bill
>
>
>> When I receive a PDF file as an attachment on my computer, I click it, 
>> and it opens properly.
>>
>> When she receives the same PDF file on her computer, she gets the 
>> following message:
>>
>> "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this 
>> action. Create an association in the Set Associations control panel."
>>
>> I've looked everywhere for the Set Associations control panel and can't 
>> find it.
>>
>> Also, when my wife saves the attached PDF file to her computer, it opens 
>> as it should. But not when we try to open it directly as an attachment.
>>
>> We both are using 9.1 Adobe reader.
>
>
> 

"Ray" <rayj.balt@DELTHISverizon.net> wrote in message news:k1PUm.46633$cd7.29432@newsfe04.iad...
> My wife and I have Windows Live Mail on our separate computers, and we like
> it very much, but there's one problem.
>
> When I receive a PDF file as an attachment on my computer, I click it, and
> it opens properly.
>
> When she receives the same PDF file on her computer, she gets the following
> message:
>
> "This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this
> action. Create an association in the Set Associations control panel."
>
> I've looked everywhere for the Set Associations control panel and can't find
> it.


In fact, AR usually wants to do this itself.  So to ensure all its
filetype open actions are to its liking instead of using the CP applet
I would try a Repair of AR.

In any case you can use a cmd window (aka Command Prompt)
to check on the filetype association and open action.

FYI here's a completely parameterized method:

    for /F "TOKENS=2* DELIMS==" %a in ('assoc .pdf') do ftype %a

Otherwise just enter first:

    assoc  .pdf

and then using whatever <filetype> that shows (if any)
(e.g. everything after  .pdf= )  enter:

    ftype  <filetype>

e.g. in my case that second command would be

    ftype AcroExch.Document


>
> Also, when my wife saves the attached PDF file to her computer, it opens as
> it should. But not when we try to open it directly as an attachment.


That could be security/obscurity.   E.g. the "attachment" would
be opening from the TIF instead of somewhere else in the file system.
What happens if you open AR and then drag the attachment to it?
Also see if your symptom changes if you set Protect Mode off
(e.g. use IE to change that.)   Also, by opening AR separately
you could even elevate it if necessary, e.g. right-click Run As Admin...


>
> We both are using 9.1 Adobe reader.


My guess is that you are both using different security models.  ; }
Another way of checking for differences would be to run  ProcMon
and compare two traces, one from W7 which works and one from
Vista which doesn't.   Fortunately ProcMon allows us to open
two traces in two windows to help with such an analysis.


Good luck

Robert Aldwinckle
---