Inability to read an attachment

[Broadback]

Having received an attachment from a friend I am unable to read it.  I use SeaMonkey. I have tried various programs, none of them can read it, when I try SeaMonkey it simply has the headers and what appears to be HTML. The headers are:
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/mixed;
   boundary="----=_NextPart_000_0011_01C81668.670B1AD0"
X-Priority: 3
X-MSMail-Priority: Normal
X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook Express 6.00.2900.3138
X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2900.3198

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

Any suggestions please on a postcard, and I would prefer you to write very slowly, so that I can keep up!

[Glenn]

Are you able to save the attachment then open it?

[Ann]

what's the file extension eg .doc .txt .xls

[Simon]

Be careful, just because it appears to come from a friend, doesn't guarantee it's safe.  As Ann said, if we can establish what the file type is, we might be able to point you in the right direction.  Unfortunately, the header details don't give too much away.

Just a thought, but if someone sends an email, and it's sent in both plain text and HTML, SeaMonkey will display the plain text part as an attachment, looking like a text file.  That said, if it was that, you shouldn't have any trouble opening it.  Another point is that with SM / Thunderbird, you have to save some attachments elsewhere (Desktop) before opening them.  It's a security measure to stop malicious content executing itself upon opening the email.

If the attachment doesn't give any clues as to what it is, the best course of action might be to contact the sender and ask them.

[Broadback]

Thanks for all your suggestions. I am unable to ascertain what the file name or extension of the attachment is.  I have had the person resend it, with the same result.  I have saved it (actually it comes as 2 separate emails with an attachment each) still cannot open it.  I have even disabled SeaMonkey and loaded  Outlook Express (which seems to be the program that generated it) then tried opening it with OE.  Whatever program I try to open it with the result is the same HTML rubbish!
Actually I have lost interest in the content of the attachmen after all this time, but still like to know how to read it! 

[Rik]

What does the sender say it is?

One thing strikes me, if they digitally sign their mail, that would be sent as an attachment, which would not be viewable.

[Ann]

If it's HTML open it in your web browser.

[Broadback]

They simply sent using Microsoft Outlook Express, which has split it into 2 attachments as it is large.  I have tried opening with 2 different browsers, also loaded OS and tried it with that, even that does not want to know!