DOCUMENT:Q168672 12-OCT-1999 [msnetwork] TITLE :Cannot Read Japanese E-mail Messages on MSN PRODUCT :The Microsoft Network PROD/VER:WINDOWS:1.2,1.3,2.0,2.5 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS:kb3rdparty kbenv kbmsn ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - The Microsoft Network versions 1.2, 1.3, 2.0, 2.5 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 ====================================================================== Keywords : kb3rdparty kbenv kbmsn Technology : kbMSNSearch kbMSN200 kbMSN130 kbMSN250 kbMSN120 Version : WINDOWS:1.2,1.3,2.0,2.5 Issue type : kbprb ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1999.