Question

Outlook problem: Can't open attachment; can't save attachment.

Asked by: Cro0707

Hi,

lately many of users in my company have this problem, they can't open attachment in MS Outlook 2K3. So quick geegle and I found this solution: Modify the Key "OutlookSecureTempFolder", by replacing "Temporary Internet Files" with "Temp". Great, this work...

But, majority of those users call me again, with same problem. So I open regedit and it is still "Temporary Internet Files", not "Temp". I have tried few times, but problem happen again and again.

So how to fix this issue permanently and what is causing it?

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Asked On
2008-07-19 at 23:42:45ID23579798
Tags

outlook pdf OutlookSecureTempFolder open

Topics

Outlook Groupware Software

,

Exchange Email Server

,

Windows XP Operating System

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Answers

 

by: apache09Posted on 2008-07-20 at 03:45:11ID: 22045196

Is office 2003 SP3 installed?
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=E25B7049-3E13-433B-B9D2-5E3C1132F206&displaylang=en

Do these users have the whole Office Suite Installed (Word, Excel....) or just Outlook?

 

by: war1Posted on 2008-07-20 at 06:36:27ID: 22045753

Hello Cro0707,

The only reason that I can see why the registry reverted back to previous setting is the old registry was somehow restored . A better solution would be delete the files in the Secure Temp folder, OLKxx

This folder is difficult to access. Here is a way to access the folder and files
http://www.outlook-tips.net/archives/2003/20030828.htm

In Vista, the Secure Temp folder is located at C:\Users\\AppData\Local\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\X30MWG3N

Hope this helps!
war1

 

by: Cro0707Posted on 2008-07-21 at 02:29:31ID: 22048998

>Apache09: SP3 is already installed.

>War1: I will try to delete it...

 

by: Cro0707Posted on 2008-07-22 at 09:14:52ID: 22060932

>War1: Outlook is one who reverting back reg settings. Try it, change it to Temp, run Outlook, open some message, open reg key again and it will be Temporary Internet Files again...

Why this is happening?!? Why Outlook cash all images and documents from mail to this location while he has them in my PST.

 

by: apache09Posted on 2008-07-22 at 13:22:34ID: 22063259

Is MS Word Installed and working?

 

by: Cro0707Posted on 2008-07-22 at 22:05:07ID: 22066135

>Apache09: Yes.

 

by: Lcom_ITPosted on 2009-01-30 at 12:33:32ID: 23512610

Here is a VBscript that can empty the folder in XP and up for Outlook 2003 and 2007. Works awesome for us. Can also be added as a startup script.

Set oWSH = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
Set oFSO = CreateObject("Scripting.FileSystemObject")
 
For Each sKey in Array("11.0","12.0")
sOutSecTmp = Empty
On Error Resume Next
sOutSecTmp = oWSH.RegRead("HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Office\" _
& sKey & "\Outlook\Security\OutlookSecureTempFolder")
If Len(sOutSecTmp) > 3 Then
oFSO.DeleteFile oFSO.BuildPath(sOutSecTmp,"*.*"), True
End If
Next

                                              
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by: mrdjeyPosted on 2009-04-24 at 07:22:48ID: 24225523

We have te same problem, when outlook start the reg key is restored.

 

by: jdinesPosted on 2009-06-30 at 07:49:38ID: 24745860

Actually, the reg key is not being "restored", per se... it is being recreated.

Each time you change the name of the folder (i.e. to TEMP), and then you reopen Outlook, it looks for the outlooksecuretempfolder and doesn't find it (because you changed its name). It then creates an outlooksecuretempfolder to store its temp files - hence the issue arrizes in another 99 *.pdf files (since it starts from scratch with each reset of the outlooksecuretempfolder.)

You can fix it each time it occurs by doing any of the following:
== Fix #1 ==
REGEDIT.EXE
       HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0*\Outlook\Security
(*use the highest number available and work backwards until you find the number path that houses the Outlook\Security path)
       Modify key "OutlookSecureTempFolder" - change it to anything, i.e. TEMP
Restart Outlook

== Fix #2 ==
1. Open REGEDIT.EXE and go to Edit -> Find... In the Find dialog box type "OutlookSecureTempFolder" without the quotes and locate that registry key.
2. That key will contain the actual folder location, and will look like:
C:\Documents and Settings\%USER_NAME%\Local Settings\Temporary Internet Files\OLK#\
(where # is a random letter or number)
3. Copy the location of that folder.
4. Click on Start -> Run... and paste the folder location from step #4 then click OK.
5. Windows Explorer will open that folder. delete all files present.
6. Restart Microsoft Outlook and you should be able to open your attachments.

And I've been told you can create a batch file to empty the folder for you.
del "c:\documents and settings\%username%\local settings\temporary internet files\(OLK folder name)\*.pdf"
It has been suggested that the batch be set to run on log-out or shut-down (rather than start up) so that sensative (temporary) files/materials are removed prior to leaving the PC (just an extra security precaution).

I am not familar with writing batch files or I would post instructions here.  (any help or instructions on writing a logout batch would be appreciated)

Since Outlook seems to name the OLK folder at random each time it creates it, there is no way to that I've seen to set up a batch file that applies to an entire floor staff's pdf issues - or even for two seperate people.  You need the exact OLK file name for each individual PC.  Each file would need to be taylor made for each user.

And finally...
  If you have the exact same problem with Outlook 2007 on a Windows VISTA workstation...
the files are stored slightly differently but the fix is the same.
C:\Users\<username>\AppData\Local\Temporary Internet Files\Content.Outlook\X30MWG3N

I would LOVE to know why some computers can count above 99 or how they delete the temp files and others - like the ones we're having issues with - can not.  If anyone can help us correct this - the illness - we wouldn't have to treat the symptoms anymore (regedits every couple of weeks or batch files)

May the fix be with you
Todd

 

by: Gary_MatsuPosted on 2011-05-24 at 10:40:00ID: 35825851

As jdines commented, this is not a solution, it is a time ($$) intensive workaround. MS needs to come up with a solution.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

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