Windows 7 - Pictures now take a minute to open - used to be OK

I've never had trouble opening pictures in my Windows 7 system before. Pictures always opened instantly. Something recently changed, and now when I double-click a picture to open it, it takes ages to open in Windows Live. (Over a minute to open a picture). Because it worked OK before, I have to assume it's not a hardware issue.


Here are some observations:
The problem doesn't always happen. Sometimes the picture opens right away.
The problem is not specific to any picture - it happens with any picture
I ran a system restore to the earliest available point but the problem remains.
Once a picture is open, I can use the left and right arrow to scroll through pictures and they open instantly.
Pictures open right away in other programs such as Office Picture Manager.

Thanks for reading this!!

Have you used Color Management in the Control Panel?

Thanks man, but I'm not sure I understand the answer.

Do you mean have I done anything in "Color Management", suggesting somehow that Color Management caused the problem? (I have not)

Or are you suggesting that there is something in"Color Management" that I sould try to use to fix the problem? (What should I do in Color Management?)

Thanks again!!

Why are you using windows live to open pictures ????

I have no idea what he`s getting at either.

Try setting the default picture opening application to "Windows Photo Viewer". Restart the computer and try opening the files. If this works good for next one or two days, then revert back to the Windows live if you really needed it to open the pictures.

This would resolve the issue.

♥ Cheers ♥

Did anything change recently? Did you get a new SD card? New USB hub with card reader? New printer? Or is sometimes your printer on, sometimes off? Some MS apps like to check for a printer, see if it's online, before opening.

I wonder if this is another indexing issue similar to what made me stop using Windows Media Player. Whenever I clicked on a media file to play it, it took forever for it to start playing. I soon found out it was the constant library updating that was taking place. I'm not familiar with Windows Live, since I don't use it, but just thought I'd throw that out there as a possibility.

@Zombie88 - I'm using Windows Live Photo Gallery to open pictures - there are many good reasons why - it's great - when it works.

@ Venths - tried that - it dodn't work. Windows Photo Viewer opens pics right away, but when I switch back to using Windows live, the hangs occcur. I want Windows Live for the editing options.

Thanks everyone!!

@Desslock - thanks but no, I don't think I added anything. Also, I ran a system restore to a long time ago, but that didn't help. :P

I got the fix from Robert S. at MS:



HiDoctor Kittens,

Please force Windows Live Photo Gallery to regenerate the database. Try the steps on the website below. Also, check the "pencil" icon on the lower left of the Windows Live Photo Gallery client. This would indicate that it's still caching stuff.
http://windowslivehelp.com/solution.aspx?solutionid=26620d52-6510-4935-ab2d-ac186359410f

Thanks,
Robert S.


YAY!!