I can no longer save gif files that have been emailed to me through microsoft outlook (i used to be able to). I am given the option of saving as BMP only. I have read many suggestions on how to fix this problem for Internet explorer eg: clear temp files, corrupted downloaded programs etc etc.. and nothing has worked. The thing is I can save all images file extension in IE no problems it is just in outlook that I cannot save them. Does anyone have any suggestions? thanks

jane, I use OE as opposed to Outlook so my thoughts may not apply. In mine, there is an option to automatically empty the temp files on exit. Once I selected that, my .bmp problem went away and .gif, .jpeg, etc. came back. Suppose Outlook is storing something you aren't aware of? See if Outlook offers an option which needs a tic/untic. I realize you have already looked, but... HTH. Ed in Texas.

I googled and got a couple of clues - there's THIS ONE and also the following which I stole for you.... 2. How can I save the images and sounds I see and hear in messages ? So you want the email button or the cute little animation or the midi too? Easy. If you're using OE4 : Click on reply or forward and then click on Format in the toolbar. Select plain text. You will be prompted with a 'Do you really want to do this?' type message. Click yes. Next exit out of the message without sending/posting it by clicking on the X button in the upper right hand corner. You will be prompted with another message : "Do you want to save these changes?" Answer YES. The message will then be sent directly to your Drafts folder, where it will be waiting for you, in plain text format with all the embedded objects showing up as different attachments at the bottom . To save them to your directory, right click on the image and choose 'save as'. Browse to the folder where you want to save it, give it a name and add the proper extension. (.jpg or .gif or .mid etc). Depending on how the item was embedded, it may show up as an attachment with a .dat extension. If there was only one thing embedded in the mail/post, then you know what it is. If it's a midi save it with the .mid extension. If it's an animated picture, save it with the .gif extension, if it's a stationary image, use the .jpg extension. If there's more than one attachment with the .dat extension, and you have no idae which is which, save each one three times, once with each type extension to a temporary folder. Then go to the folder and click on each one to open it. Only the one with the correct extension will open correctly for you. Delete the ones that don't. If you're using OE5 : Saving images couldn't be easier! Just right click on the image you want to save and choose the 'save as' option. With OE5, the correct graphic extension will automatically be applied. To save sounds, change your mail sending option to 'plain text' and then click on the forward button. You'll see all the embedded objects appearing as attachments at the top of the message. Simply save them from there. To change your mail send to plain text, click on Tools/Options/send tab. At the bottom of the dialogue window that opens, put your check dot next to plain text in the mail section.

Thanks for the suggestions. I tried them and they didnt work. In response to the first response I have ticked the box that says empty deleted messages on exit. I could not find anyway anything that said empty temp file on exit? am i looking in the wrong place? As to the 2nd reponse, when I followed the steps and switched to plain text the pictures just disapeared all together nowhere to be found. Even when I then switch the same message back to HTML they did not come back. These pictures are gifs inserted into the main body of the message, not as email attachments which I dont have any problem saving. I get gifs scattered throught the main body of the email which I used to be able to save and reuse but can no longer. I also have OE but do not use it anymore since I got Outlook and I went back in to check it out and I can still save gif's no problem in there. I am so frustrated that I feel like just getting rid of outlook all together and going back to OE. Jane