I can't download attachments from my Hotmail/MSN account using Safari.

Hi. Thanks so much for reply, Arthur.

Right - went to Safari preferences and yes, downloads are filed to desktop.
If I go to Window and downloads, two of my attempts appear in a box called Downloads. When I double clicked, Mail came up. I am not registered for Mail and not a user. I double clicked on a .gif file and Quick time player box appeared in topleft of screen. Clicked on play button on quicktime, nothing happened.

Other times, something called Preview has come up as a little box with a drawer in it which contains the file (apparently, pdf documents, and Preview should open them all.) I can't do anything with it - it holds the document in the drawer, and that's it.

When I looked up Help in Preview, and clicked on can't open documents, it told me to go to finder, select a PDF document, choose file, get info, click open with, choose Preview from pop up and click change all. Sounded great. Except I went to Finder and can't find any pdf document. I wouldn't know what one was if it jumped out of the screen and did a jig on the desk.

My feeling is that I have done something incredibly stupid by changing/playing around in preferences and can't find it again. I'm reluctant to download firefox, but thanks for the offer, because I don't think it's an inherent problem, I think it is new user ignorance.

I really appreciate help with this.

Not a problem everyone is new at some point. Apple
software tries to open whatever you download with
predetermined programs, so if you download certain
email files then Mail.app decideds "I know what this
is" so it opens it and tries to display it. The same
thing happens with .pdf's and Preview. Try clicking
the icon on the right it should display the document
on your left just next to the drawer. You defintely
shouldnt make Preview unable to open documents, its a
very handy little tool, you can even open some kinds
of Word documents with it. If you want to change it
though, go to safari, window, downloads and there
should be a list of your attatchments you downloaded
if there isnt go to Safari preferences remove
download list items and switch it to manual. Then
download whatever opened in preview click the little
magnifying glass which will take you to it, then you
can right click open with etc.

Arthur - thanks so much for trying to help. Latest news is big crash on Friday, took it in to the Apple centre and it may be the logic board. I'm gutted. It'll take five to ten working days to decide if it should be ditched or not. I'm not planning the funeral yet, but I'm not happy....

Not a problem everyone is new at some point. Apple
software tries to open whatever you download with
predetermined programs, so if you download certain
email files then Mail.app decideds "I know what this
is" so it opens it and tries to display it. The same
thing happens with .pdf's and Preview. Try clicking
the icon on the right it should display the document
on your left just next to the drawer. You defintely
shouldnt make Preview unable to open documents, its a
very handy little tool, you can even open some kinds
of Word documents with it. If you want to change it
though, go to safari, window, downloads and there
should be a list of your attatchments you downloaded
if there isnt go to Safari preferences remove
download list items and switch it to manual. Then
download whatever opened in preview click the little
magnifying glass which will take you to it, then you
can right click open with etc.

Arthur - thanks so much for trying to help. Latest news is big crash on Friday, took it in to the Apple centre and it may be the logic board. I'm gutted. It'll take five to ten working days to decide if it should be ditched or not. I'm not planning the funeral yet, but I'm not happy....