Windows explorer can't preview any files except images

I have searched the web and forum and cannot find a solution.

I have two laptops and they almost simultaneously have this problem, they can just preview images (jpg or png or other format) but cannot preview PDF, WORD, PPT OR TXT in windows explorer preview pane. I don't know what happened to them, I guess i've updated both of the system and I have no idea which patch would cause this problem. BTW, they actually work properly before.
When I chose one file, the right pane (preview pane) showed totally blank but not any words like "no preview available" or "error". And when I double click the preview pane (the blank), I can open the file I chose. It just like the file was shown there and I cannot see it at all. But i can preview the pictures in the preview pane!!

This is really inconvenient because I have so many PDF files with similar titles. I do need the preview function.

I've checked the Windows Registry, and I'm sure I have PDF, TXT, WORD, and PPT previewers...They just did not work...

Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks!

archer said:

Hi, Welcome to Sevenforums.

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

Also, try this

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”

Thanks very much for you reply. Actually I've done your suggestion but the preview pane still do not work. I don't know what happened. Anyway, thanks all the same~

I tried all of these fixes but all were already in place. I still have the problem. My files are all .PDF's. They open just fine if I double click on the file but the preview always says "This file can't be previewed". Note that this all worked fine up until about two weeks ago. Also other files do preview.

My PDF program is PDF-XChange Viewer and it works just fine.

I fixed this by installing Adobe reader. To get PDF-XChange to work again I just did a right click on a PDF file and used "open with" and then re-selected PDF-XChange. Now it started working again. I guess loading Adobe fixed something in the registry. I could probably have just removed PDF-XChange then reloaded it.