tsteino

I use Windows XP Home Edition. I recently reformated my computer, and now I can't strictly "open" email attachments such as word documents, powerpoints, etc. When the download box comes up, the icon for the file is just a general one (it doesn't look like a word icon or a powerpoint icon). I click to "open" the file (as opposed to saving it), and another box appears with the question, "do you want to save the file or find a program online to open it?" Clicking "find" opens an explorer window on microsoft.com that is no help at all. If I want to open the file, I have to save it first. Then, when the download is complete, another box appears asking what I want to do next. I click "open" (as opposed to closing the dialogue box) and it asks me if I want to "find a program online to open the file" or "choose from a list of programs". I click to choose from a list and naturally choose microsoft word, powerpoint, or whatever format the file is in. This same thing happens when I try to download and open these types of documents straight from the interned as well...I can still view the file as HTML, but I need to edit and print. I wish I didn't have to save every attachment or web file that I want to open...how do I fix this problem? Help me!!!