Outlook attachment are read only

[Ron Bromwell]

When I receive an attachment in my email, it is read only. I have checked all my settings and have found none associated with this problem. Any suggestions on why this might be happening?

[Mike McKinlay]

Ron -- is this all attachments or only a few? From someone specific?

Technet has this article:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q210/3/16.ASP

there is another similar one for OL2000.

Another possibility: are you receiving files from someone copying them off a CD-ROM? These files would have the read-only bit turned on. Try to "Save As" the file and use Windows Explorer to view the properties of the file. Is "read-only" checked?

[Jamie Hughes · Accepted solution]

Hi Ron,

Are you trying to edit these attachments and then save them with the same name? Are you by chance doing this in the Preview Pane and getting the following error:

is read-only. To save or copy, click OK, then give the file a new name in the Save As dialog box.

If so, the preview-pane function in Outlook is intended to be read-only.

To edit an attachment, open the message containing the attachment and then open
the attachment. When you attempt to save the changes you will receive the following message:

The file already exists. Do you want to replace the existing file?

If you click Yes, you replace the original file with the version that includes your changes.

Or you could save the file out to your disk and then bring it up in your application and save it.

Please let us know if that resolves your problem.

Best regards,
Jamie Hughes

[Ron Bromwell]

All the attachments are read only, no matter who they come from. Was trying to avoid saving the attachment to my harddrive, making the changes, then re-attaching it to the reply.

[Jamie Hughes]

Hi Ron,

The preview pane in Outlook is designed to be read-only. You will have to save these attachments to your hard drive, or open the message, if you are trying to edit them.

Best regards,
Jamie Hughes