GIF files

Email attachments sent in GIF format.
Understand what it is.
Found several programs that can open those.
Which works best without my loading a lot of stuff I'll never use?

Sarge

 

Irfanview is a good choice for a picture viewer. I use it as the default for all pictures as it has several basic functions native Windows doesn't have. It's really lightweight. Very good support for the program, also, including optional plug-ins and the like if you ever care to look into such:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/irfanview.html

 

You can save the attachment then right click and select open with and select Internet Explorer.

If open with is not an option, hold shift when you right click the file.

 

I concur with AtlBo, been using Irfanview for near on a decade as my default image viewer/editor. It's loaded to the hilt with features, most you will never use, but it's very lightweight & easy to use.

The installer today does have the typical toolbar crap, make sure to uncheck the box during install.

Like all programs you should go through the settings which are found under the Options button & called "Properties/Settings" (only change what you understand, leave the default for the rest). I also never associate file extensions with Irfranview, always prefered to leave the Windows default associations.

Also important is that it's really two programs, a file viewer & thumbnail viewer that work together with their own separate windows.

There's also Paint.Net & XnView both are also free like Irfanview & just as feature rich & lightweight.