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Q168672: Cannot Read Japanese E-mail Messages on MSN

Article: Q168672
Product(s): The Microsoft Network
Version(s): WINDOWS:1.2,1.3,2.0,2.5
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kb3rdparty kbenv kbmsn
Last Modified: 12-OCT-1999

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The information in this article applies to:

- The Microsoft Network versions 1.2, 1.3, 2.0, 2.5 
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SYMPTOMS
========

You may be unable to read Japanese e-mail messages on MSN, The Microsoft
Network.

CAUSE
=====

This behavior occurs because the messages are incorrectly encoded by the local
mail server or by the mail client. Most Japanese characters use 8-bit data.
Therefore, even text messages have to be encoded through the Internet. The code
should be Shift-Jis in order to view a Japanese message with Windows; however,
messages could be incorrectly encoded into EUC or JIS (ISO-2022-JP).

RESOLUTION
==========

If the mail message uses a lot of "Hankaku Katakana" characters, it is probably
encoded in EUC. If the message uses a lot of "$" characters, it is probably
encoded in Jis. In these cases, messages can be retrieved correctly in Japanese
(Shift-Jis) by using an encoding tool such as PageBrowser.

MORE INFORMATION
================

The third-party product discussed in this article is manufactured by a vendor
independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding
this product's performance or reliability.

Additional query words: msn

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Keywords          : kb3rdparty kbenv kbmsn 
Technology        : kbMSNSearch kbMSN200 kbMSN130 kbMSN250 kbMSN120
Version           : WINDOWS:1.2,1.3,2.0,2.5
Issue type        : kbprb

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