mime format problems

[dtex]

I'm new here, & want to thank you for this site. been reading it a while-seems to be the best around. Problem-I frequently get email that comes with an .txt attachment that has a jpeg in it. As I scroll down the lines of formatting, I see an entry stating it is multipart mime format. Where the picture should be, there are just lines & lines of symbols. ascii, I think it is called. I can never see the pic. I have also noticed, that I get one of those 'download on demand' boxes, telling me I need to download pan-european something or other. This box opens every time I get mail. All my mail is domestic, nothing foreign. If someone sends me an email with the jpeg only as an attachment, it opens with no problem. I'm using:
earthlink provided IE-5
Earthlink mail reader
Someone suggested I use something called DEC to pull the jpeg out of the attachment. I have it, but not a clue as how to use it, and really don't want to have to run a program everytime I get one of these emails. Sorry this is so long. Thanks in advance.
Don

[dtex]

anybody?

[glc]

If its an attachment that's .jpg.txt, that's a virus. Update your virus scanner and do a full system scan and do NOT open attachments like that any more.

[dtex]

The attachment usually comes as ,tt006.txt or some variation. My AV is up to date, and I ocasionally run Housecall just to check for anything that might have gotten by Norton. Some times, there is a statment that says "This message is in multi-part mime format. Because your mail reader does not read mime format, some or all of this attachment may be unreadable" I'm using the mail reader that came with Earthlink. Any ideas, beside changing my email provider?

[glc]

You dont need a new provider - you need a new client. Much as I hate it, Outlook Express should handle MIME no problem, as will Eudora Light or Netscape Messenger.

[dtex]

I meant 'client' instead of 'provider'. Yeah I've been told from someone else to go to outlook. Been putting it off since so many virus attacks seem to look for it. Thanks to all, You're great!

[glc]

Try Eudora Light - it's free.

[dtex]

Already got it set up.Thanks again.