No Preview Available

I have searched the web and cannot find a solution. I am reasonably proficient getting around windows but no expert.

My wife has a Dell Inspiron laptop that has developed a strange problem. When you open windows explorer and display folders in the left pane you would expect to see the contents (files) of that folder displayed in the right pane (preview pane). But instead it just says "no preview available". Doesn't matter what kind of files they are it won't show the contents of the folder the way it used to. You have to double click on the folder which then shows its contents in the LEFT pane, but then if you select a picture there in the left pane it will then show the picture in the preview pane.

This is inconvenient because she was used to being able to simply click on a folder in the left pane and see the list of files in the right pane (or thumbnails depending on what she wants).

I have read similar problems on the net but mostly related to a particular kind of file type. She can't preview ANY file type in windows explorer without drilling down to the file itself.

I did a system restore from about a week ago (just before the last windows update) and it didn't help, so I undid the restore.

Any ideas would be appreciated.

Here's some additional help for you if, after following richc46's suggestion, you still can't get your wife's Preview Pane open:

To set Windows Explorer icons to display the Preview Pane:

First check settings in Folder Options:
Windows Explorer, Tools, Folder Options.
General Tab: Check: Show previews and filters
Click on View, Advanced settings, Files and Folders:
Check: “Show Preview handlers in Preview Pane”
Click OK

Then, open Windows Explorer, click on Organize, Layout, and check: Preview Pane.

If Preview Pane doesn’t open, check these settings:
Go to Control Panel, System, Advanced System Settings. (Automatically opens to Advanced screen)
On the Advanced screen, Performance, select: Settings, + then Visual Effects.
Check ALL boxes, including “Show previews and filters in folder” and “Show thumbnails instead of icons”

How to Change a Folder Preview Picture in Vista

Yes, preview pane is on. When its not on, the right "pane" area is blank. When it is on, right in the middle of the white pane it says "no preview available".

Imperfect1 said:

Here's some additional help for you if, after following richc46's suggestion, you still can't get your wife's Preview Pane open:

To set Windows Explorer icons to display the Preview Pane:

First check settings in Folder Options:
Windows Explorer, Tools, Folder Options.
General Tab: Check: Show previews and filters
Click on View, Advanced settings, Files and Folders:
Check: “Show Preview handlers in Preview Pane”
Click OK

Then, open Windows Explorer, click on Organize, Layout, and check: Preview Pane.

If Preview Pane doesn’t open, check these settings:
Go to Control Panel, System, Advanced System Settings. (Automatically opens to Advanced screen)
On the Advanced screen, Performance, select: Settings, + then Visual Effects.
Check ALL boxes, including “Show previews and filters in folder” and “Show thumbnails instead of icons”

How to Change a Folder Preview Picture in Vista

The OS is Windows 7 Home Premium. Under Folder Options - General there is no checkbox for "Show previews and filters". The option "Show Preview handlers in Preview Pane" under view/advanced is already checked.

Thanks!

I too have had this problem. \i have been using Office XP Professional.

I could preview PDF, JPG but not doc. or xls.

Solved the issue by downloading and running the 60 day evaluation of Office 2010 Home and Business. I now have previews for all files.

I also downloaded the evaluation version of Office 2010 Home and Student on another computer but this did not cure the "No preview" problem.

I've no idea why this worked nor do I know what will happen after the 60 evaluation runs out!

Tools: Folder Options: View: In advanced settings the top box is "Always show icons, never thumbnails" Make sure this box is unchecked.

I can't beleive I overlooked this I have been trying to fix this for quite some time.

Also follow the other instructions in this thread.