Wednesday, 12th March 2008Outlook Cannot Save the Attachemnt

Problems Opening or Saving Attachments in Outlook, often causing the "Cannot save the attachment" message

If you are using Outlook 2000 or Outlook 2003 and suddenly find yourself unable to open or save attachments (or certain types of attachments), recieving an error like:

Cannot save the attachment.  Can't create file: filename.doc.  Right-click the folder you want to create the file in, and then click Properties on the shortcut menu to check your permissions for the folder.

This is caused by problems with the temporary storage folder Outlook uses to store attachments when opening or saving, you can resolve this issue using the following instructions issued by Microsoft:

Outlook 2000

If you are using Outlook 2000, follow these steps:

  1. Start Registry Editor.
  2. Locate and then click the following registry key:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\9.0\Outlook\Security\OutlookSecureTempFolder
  3. If Outlook is installed on a terminal server, use the following registry key: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\Terminal Server\Install\Software\MICROSOFT\Office\9.0\Outlook\SECURITY\OutlookSecureTempFolder *
  4. On the Edit menu, click Modify, and then add the following registry value:
    Value data: Path and name of the folder that you want to use
  5. Exit Registry Editor.

* Note You may have to manually create this registry key if it does not already exist on the system.

Outlook 2003

If you are using Outlook 2003, follow these steps:

  1. Click My Computer, and then double-click drive C.
  2. On the File menu, click New, and then click Folder.
  3. Name the folder temp0.
  4. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then click OK.
  5. Locate and then click the following registry key:  HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\11.0\Outlook\Security\
  6. In the right pane, double-click OutlookSecureTempFolder.
  7. In Value Data field, type C:\temp0\ and then click OK.
  8. Exit Registry Editor.
  9. Restart the computer.

The full Microsoft knowledge base article is available at http://support.microsoft.com/kb/305982

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