Solutions: XP update locks out attachments

Q. I downloaded the Windows XP Service Pack 1 and have a problem. I cannot open any e-mail attachment. I even sent one to myself just to see what goes on and could not open it. The message I receive when trying to open them is "OE removed access to the following unsafe attachments in your e-mail."

Q. I updated Windows XP after a recommended update alert for security reasons. I can no longer open attachments already in my in-mail folder and have trouble opening some new attachments. The message is "OE removed access to the following potentially unsafe attachment;" then it gives the name of attachment. Why would I be unable to open attachments for old e-mail that had been opened?

A. This is a setting that now gets turned on by default in Outlook Express. Microsoft, being the benevolent dictator of our PC environment that it is, is just trying to prevent us from mindlessly opening e-mail attachments that may contain viruses that could harm your PC as well as everyone you communicate with. If you are sure you want to open an attachment, you can toggle this setting on or off as needed. You'll find it on the Outlook Express menu bar, Tools, Options, Security tab.

A CD problem with XP

Q. I sometimes have a problem with Windows XP. When I try to read a CD-ROM from drive D I get a message to place a disk in the drive. I took the system back to where I bought it, and techs could not find any problem. If I sometimes open and close the drive drawer enough times, it will eventually work.

A. Create a boot disk floppy and boot the system with the floppy. This will load the generic real-mode CD-ROM drivers. The easiest way to get a boot disk is to go to www.bootdisk.com. Download and run the Windows Me or Windows 98 boot disk program to create the floppy (it's good to have this anyway). Even though you have Windows XP, all we want is a boot disk with real-mode CD-ROM drivers (real-mode drivers do not require Windows to work). After the system boots from the floppy, place a CD in the drive and try to read it. (During the boot watch to see which drive letter gets assigned to the CD-ROM. It won't be D and most likely will be E.) From the command prompt, enter the following two commands and hit return after each:

E:

DIR

This assumes that your CD-ROM drive was assigned to E; otherwise substitute the drive letter it was assigned at boot-up. The DIR command should display a listing of the files on the CD-ROM. If you get error messages such as "Could not read from Drive E," your CD-ROM drive is most likely defective. Return it and make the company or store replace it. If it reads with no problems (make sure you test several times, opening and closing the drive's drawer with each test), it may be a Windows XP driver issue. If this is the case check the CD-ROM drive manufacturer's technical support Web site for updated XP drivers.

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