Send forbidden files back home using Gmail
So if you have some files you want to email home but they are .exe files, and as we all know, everybody’s favorite email client is in the habit of blocking any executable files to prevent people from sending malware to their friends, unintentionally or otherwise.
Gmail’s Flash-based attachments grabs your files as you select them, including any .exe program files or other items that will eventually trip Gmail’s security filters. When sending fails, the draft, and the server-stored attachment, are still there. So you can just attach your files via gmail, save your files via draft and when you go home you’d see your files in the draft folder, which could be right-clicked and downloaded with ease.
And great news as well, Gmail has increased its file storage size to 25mb! So you can send and receive messages up to 25 megabytes (MB) in size, but you may not be able to send larger attachments to contacts who use other email services with smaller attachment limits. If your attachment bounces, you should invite them to Gmail.
However, Gmail’s Flash uploader, at times, doesn’t allow people to upload files that are larger than 10 MB. The error message is “attachment failed” and Google’s suggestions aren’t very helpful. Switching to the basic uploader in the settings solves the problem, but it’s more tedious to upload multiple files.
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Great tip, been doing this ever since I got Gmail as an easy file storage technique.
Another method is to use Gspace, a Greasemonkey add-on to Gmail via Firefox. It is a much more GUI friendly way to use Gmail to save files, but company policies might not allow people to use it.
Best to create a file storage specific Gmail account (“currentusername.files@” is a good one) so you don’t use your storage on your primary email for files.
Drafts are great if you are doing 3-10 files at a time, but much more than that and I find it to be confusing. But that’s just me.
PS: Remember to use tags on your drafts, that helps making finding files easier.
Hi,
Another option is to change your file type from .exe to .txt and send it across.Then You can change the file type again from .txt to .exe and it will still work.Some times it may not work though .I have tested some files and it works perfectly.
Instead of having to search through your inbox or drafts, you can also store files for yourself using the google website feature. Under the google services, go to sites, and create a new site. Set it to private, and you can upload anything you want and you just need go to the url you picked and sign in in order to access your files on another computer. I’ve never tried using the site function to put up .exe files, though.
Actually for those of you with Windows Vista you can enter Windows Explorer > Organize > Folder and View Tab > Scroll down to and uncheck “Hide extensions for known file types”. Now you will always be able to see the extensions for all files that have them.
Now find the App (19mb or less in size). Let’s say you want to send firefox.exe
Rename firefox.exe to firefox.gif
Tell your friend how to unhide the file extensions.
Then tell he/she not to click on the file untill they rename the file back to firefox.exe