Email attachments and documents not being recognised?

[172blue]

I bought a new laptop last month. All was fine but in the last week or so, if I open any attachments on email or one of my existing documents, it says " the document is in use" or something like that and "it cannot find a format to support it"

I do not have office installed, but have wordpad and this is usually fine. I still have my old laptop, and if I send the email back to myself and pick it up on my old laptop, the attachment is fine and is automatically located to wordpad etc, and can be read perfectly.

I am not very technical, but if someone has an idea it would be most appreciated, got to be something simple as it is only a few weeks old...wishful thinking?

Piers

 

[172blue]

Anyone....

 

[Chris1.4RT]

it will depend on what type of file it is. for example a .jpg file is a picture and windows will be able to open it.

if it's a .doc it's word and you will need Word.
.xls = excel
.ppt = powerpoint

all above need office.

.pdf = acrobat reader, you can get it free if you search google for it.

basically just google the .xyz part and you should be able to work out what you need.