How do I get Outlook 2007 to read .eml files and attachments?

Anonymous

I am a web developer working from home. A lot of my clients talk to me via chat programs like Yahoo Messenger and Skype. Often times, they send mail messages from a end-users to me over yahoo or skype that are .eml files. These files describe bugs or other errors that end-users experienced.

I can't understand why I can't read "eml" files in Outlook 2007. Right now, windows 2007 wants to use windows live mail to open these files.

Is there a third-party add-on that will give Outlook 2007 this functionality?

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Anonymous

I solved the problem for Windows 7 64 bit users and Vista 64 bit users

Open up regedit.exe (The windows registry editor)
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\Microsoft Internet Mail Message WLMail\shell\open\command
Change "C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Mail\wlmail.exe" /eml:%1 to "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office12\OUTLOOK.EXE" /eml "%1" (do not forget the double quotes!)
Restart your computer

This way, windows thinks that "Windows Live Mail" is still the default program for opening .eml files. However, we changed the registry so that instead of opening Windows Live Mail, we are opening OUTLOOK.EXE. What I mean is that if you opened the control panel, clicked on Default Programs and associated .eml files with Windows Live Mail, we've tricked out the registry so that it will open outlook instead--even though Windows still says it is associated with Windows Live. Confusing, I know.

The best analogy are those old commercials where "We've secretly changed Lisa's favorite detergent with new all temperature Cheer!" In this case we secretly changed Windows Live Mail with Outlook when it comes to opening .eml attachments.

Anyhow, this trick worked for me. I can open .eml files just by double-clicking on them. You can always change things back if you decide to switch to Windows Live.

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47 additional answers

Anonymous

2010-05-05T18:10:16+00:00

I'm having similar issues, but with one difference. The *.eml files are associated with Outlook. When I double click one, a new message opens with the *.eml file attached to that new message. How do I get Outlook to just display the message normally? I'm using Windows 7 with Outlook 2007.
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Diane Poremsky MVP 17,541 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator

2010-05-05T18:47:03+00:00

I'm having similar issues, but with one difference. The *.eml files are associated with Outlook. When I double click one, a new message opens with the *.eml file attached to that new message. How do I get Outlook to just display the message normally? I'm using Windows 7 with Outlook 2007.

Are you sure you aren't sliding the mouse a little and making outlook think you are dragging it? That will create a new item with a the eml attached. Select it then hit Enter to open - that should rule out an oversensitive mouse.

Diane Poremsky [MVP - Outlook]

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Anonymous

2010-05-17T20:10:15+00:00

Same problem like Scott Wilkins . Windows 7. Registry trick doesn't work as there is no such reistry key. Probably due to the fact that I don't have Windows Live Mail installed.
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Anonymous

2010-05-18T01:51:51+00:00

Diane,

Thanks, but that's not the problem. All attempts to "open" the file in any method (located in a directory not inside Outlook, just to clarify that) cause Outlook open open a new message with the file attached.

P.S. I've edited the registry to change the "move" threshold to 10 pixels. I had mistaken moves ;)
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