How do I change what program a email attachment opens with? It was opening with Adobe but now for some reason

Question

it is opening with microsoft word and all I get is a bunch of jumble symbols. How do I change what program I open a email attachment with?

Answer 1

It sounds to me like you have inadvertently assigned PDF files to MS Word. Just put any PDF file on your Windows desktop. Right-click the icon. Choose Open With. Choose Adobe Acrobat Reader. Click the checkbox that says "Always use this program..." and hit OK.

That should do it. Here's my article on it:
http://www.officearticles.com/misc/files_dont_open_when_double-clicked_in_microsoft_office.htm

Answer 2

If you don't know what the proper file extension is for a file, then you need to get in touch with the person who sent you the attachment and ask them what program they use to open the file. Installing the associated program will resolve this issue (usually).

If the file extension ends in a familiar suffix and you still cannot execute the file, you may need to manage your file extensions in order to associate the appropriate program with the file.

To do so with Windows XP:

1. Open an Explorer Window (click start -> run -> type in "explorer", no quotes, and press Enter).

2. Next, go to Tools -> Folder Options, then click on the File Types tab. Scroll down the list of image file types and edit each one to open with a specific program.