Windows XP - programs are not opening, some functions (such s downloading email attachments to certain programs) are causing the program to freeze. First, my imaging program didn't work, now IE of Firefox are not opening either. System keeps freezing when I try to remove programs and re-install.

I am assuming you used this in windows xp if so
.
How does Windows XP Mode work?

Windows XP Mode works in two ways-both as a virtual operating system and as a way to open programs within Windows 7. It runs in a separate window on the Windows 7 desktop, much like a program, except it's a fully-functional, fully-licensed version of Windows XP. In Windows XP Mode, you can access your physical computer's CD/DVD drive, install programs, save files, and perform other tasks as if you were using a computer running Windows XP.

When you install a program in Windows XP Mode, the program appears in both the Windows XP Mode list of programs and in the Windows 7 list of programs, so you can open the program directly from Windows 7.

Hi There.
If you can not open attached documents it might be because programs are missing on your computer.
As an example:
for a file xxx.PDF you need a PDF reader installed eg. Adobe Reader.
Can be found here: http://www.adobe.com/downloads/
Download Adobe Reader and install it and you can read PDF files.
If the document is a Microsoft Office document you nee the whole Microsoft Office Package - but this package is not free - must by it.

As an alternative to the Microsoft program you can use Open Office.
Can be found here: www.openoffice.org
This program is compatible to Microsoft Office and it is free to use.

Other type of files need other programs etc.

Regards

You must update windows xp professtional along with all ms office programs. You will see options to enable micorosft software update in control panel.

help files do not generally need MS Word, sounds to me someone has changed the file type open program options

http://forums.techguy.org/windows-vista-7/618293-set-association-control-panel.html
could be you're trying to open an attachment like a picture and there is no program to open it.
If thats the case just point it to ms fax and photo program

JPG, JPEG, are standard picture files. By default windows XP should be able to open them. But, sometimes Email programs block those files (attachments) because of infection potential. Check your mail security settings, specifically, look for a setting that says "block potentially harmful attachments" and uncheck it. then reopen your mail client program.

When you open your e-mail, the pictures are either embeded in the body of the e-mail or as an attachment. Either way, you should be able to right click the picture or the attachment and select save as. Then navigate to your desktop and click save. You can also open the attachment and save the file from within the program that it opens in.

1. Make sure your antivirus or any other security programs have all of their email scanning options turned off. The emailscaning option is a redundant feature.
NOTE: These scanning options can corrupt Windows Mail entire message folder, or the entire message store, when it attempts to remove a message it thinks contains a potential virus. You will still be protected against infection with the antivirus program's system protection. These email scans can also cause problems with opening attachments in Windows Mail to.

2. Download Windows Vista upate from location below,
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=09f002d9-a140-42a8-99f5-a86f2b7e39f1&DisplayLang=en

**Make sure your user account have the administrator right.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/sp2/default.mspx

You can download microsft service pack 2 doe windows xp there click the link. Any more questions please ask.

all you need to know is the file extension of the file you downloaded. there are some common file extensions when attaching to the email . pdf , doc, if pictures the JPG,PNG, BMP, and many more. however if u have an office application program (Microsoft office,open office) all office files will be opened but if the file extension is PDF you must download and install the PDF reader. you can download it here http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html.
Take note! Any other files which you don't whose the sender and the extension files is not on office application program not pdf or picture files maybe can harm your system so be sure to know the files.