Vista OS Outlook email attachments lost

[Abraxasxyz]

Old laptop=Toshiba A55 S106: XP, Office 2003 with Outlook 2003 Adobe)

New Laptop=Dell Studio 1535: Vista Home Prem. (64) running same programs as above (Office 2003 with Outlook 2003 Adobe)

New Dell Studio runs fine for 3 months, after Vista auto update, suddenly my emails with attachments (word, pdf, excel) are not received by recepients or the attachments are changed to DAT files. Toshiba & Dell was bought in USA, all software English, both computers run the same programs besides OS.

I work now in Japan office. Dell Tech service blames Outlook, without checking anything. Dell advises they only support re-installing Vista, besides that since I am sitting in Japan, I have to wait upon return to USA.

Microsoft, they blame Outlook 2003 (please pay before MS checks).

Why does everything run ok on Toshiba XP.
Why does emails get screwed only on VISTA.

My computer is new, Dell will not support me, MS says Dell is contracted to support all OEM installed software from MS. Dell blames other software, even before asking one question. New Dell Computer with warranty, and no Dell support.

My Japanese associates advised me that Dell is known to have less than expected tech service.

They also advised that VISTA, is known to have this problem with emails, MS does not know how to fix, it was caused by plugging a security hole. The way around it is to send all emails with attachments in Plain Text (Thus far this method works, and support.microsoft.com advise confirms, but now where is the fix?)

What happened to MS and Dell. The public tolerated a monopoly because they brought better software at lower prices, always improving. Now they seemed to be heading down the US Auto industry Strategy....after they buy (we have their money) get it fixed somewhere else. Jist of Dell, Oh, it is under warranty, it is a third party problem, no...you are not sitting in USA (paying for international call rates) well, when you are in the USA, we will be happy to talk to you. Besides, us tech are not trained to deal with VISTA problems, we only offer re-install and after re-install any other problems are third party problems which we will fix for you on a fee bases (pay first and we decide whose problem)

Does anyone have a solution ?

Disappointed Dell Customer Abraxasxyz.

[Manym]

To Abraxasxyz:
I don't have a solution, but I have just recognized the same problem with my MS Office Outlook 2007 on my Dell PC with Windows XP. It has only recently started dropping attachments, or leaving a data file for the receipent. Worse, it is not consistent in loosing the file.

In short, I am just starting in my attempt to define the problem.

I have been running MS Office 2007 for a couple of years, and have not had this problem. My Dell is about 5 years old.

I will be interested in hearing a solution.

Manym