Windows 7: Pictures viewing

Hi:
This may a stupid and simple question:
When I install any windows os and go to windows explorer to my pictures, I am able to see the thumbnails and or the pictures itself, after installing any picture application I am not able to see the thumbnails anymore,I just see the icon representing the picture, i.e. PNG, GIF or JPG.
Thank you
Mario

That is because whichever application it is you have installed has changed to file associations from the defaults.

Try clicking on the Start Orb, then select "Default Programs" then "Set Default Programs". From there, select "Windows Photo Viewer" then click "Set this program as the default".

If that does not work, try this tutorial by Brink: Thumbnail Previews: Enable or Disable.

You might also want to try using Windows Live Photo Gallery, which provide some really useful features and does not interfere with Windows Explorer thumbnails.

Hi and welcome to SF. Its not a stupid question. There are two things that can change the OS'es initial setup. First the pic app you installed is now the default app for viewing the files. If you right click any pic file it will tell you what is being used to view it ( see pic 3). Initially you get this (pic 1) if you install something it may now "own the extension (like photoshop owning jpg files).

The other thing is that to see pic previews you need it set to small/med/large icons

Hope this helps

Ken

Thank you all for your reply.
Mario

Btw, if you want to try a really nice free photo viewing app, that imo, is far superior to the Windows default photo viewer, try "Faststone Image Viewer" FastStone Image Viewer, Screen Capture, Photo Resizer ...

hello gentlemen. please help me if You can, I have a really annoying problem about windows photo viewer.

I installed the new os today. everything works properly and seems fine except opening the image files. when I try it, or even if I just click on the file with the right button, the Windows Explorer seems to be frozen, then gives the message 'not answer'.
I even try to find the solution by changing the default viewer in the Default Programs, as You mentioned it but the problem still exist.
And one more thing I noticed with the icon in the window where you can set the default programs. is it possible that the windows photo viewer hasn't been installed correctly? Please look at the file I attached.

do You have any idea what to do? I hope so...
thank You to read my post.

I haven't installed Windows 7 yet, but can you still change the "View" in explorer from "details" or "List" to "Thumbnail"...? Would that solve the issue?

EDIT: e.g.: Clicking the "View" button in Explorer on the toolbar and selecting "Thumbnail" or clicking in the "View" menu and selecting "Thumbnail".