Solved broken explorer preview Office 2010

[nabilalk]

I can't see any previews in Explorer for Office files, docx, pptx, etc...I just see blank spaces. I'm sure a fix is out there, but since Msft decided to name these preview handlers, its tough to Google anything with the word preview and find anything relevant.

My PDF previews are broken too.

32 bit Win 7 Pro.

Solution: Reformat fix broken preview pane

 

[Irene]

Might help to run the Diagnostics to find and repair the installation:

Open Word - touch the Office Button -> Word Options -> Resources, then click on "Run Microsoft Office Diagnostics."

 

[nabilalk]

Might help to run the Diagnostics to find and repair the installation:

Open Word - touch the Office Button -> Word Options -> Resources, then click on "Run Microsoft Office Diagnostics."

I don't think the problem is with Office as I just installed 2010. I believe its with Explorer. Also, I don't see the Diagnostics option in Options. 2010 does not have the Office button.

 

[Irene]

I don't think the problem is with Office as I just installed 2010. I believe its with Explorer. Also, I don't see the Diagnostics option in Options. 2010 does not have the Office button.

Sorry about that - I have been away from home (and my copy of Office 2010) all day - I'll take another look at your problem again now that I am back.

Just to be sure that I am clear - you mean explorer which is accessed from a right-click on the Start button? This would open Your Libraries.

 

[nabilalk]

I don't think the problem is with Office as I just installed 2010. I believe its with Explorer. Also, I don't see the Diagnostics option in Options. 2010 does not have the Office button.

Sorry about that - I have been away from home (and my copy of Office 2010) all day - I'll take another look at your problem again now that I am back.

Just to be sure that I am clear - you mean explorer which is accessed from a right-click on the Start button? This would open Your Libraries.

Thanks man.

 

[Irene]

I don't think the problem is with Office as I just installed 2010. I believe its with Explorer. Also, I don't see the Diagnostics option in Options. 2010 does not have the Office button.

Just to be sure that I am clear - you mean explorer which is accessed from a right-click on the Start button? This would open Your Libraries.

Thanks man.

How are you accessing your 'Explorer'?

 

[nabilalk]

Just to be sure that I am clear - you mean explorer which is accessed from a right-click on the Start button? This would open Your Libraries.

Thanks man.

How are you accessing your 'Explorer'?

I access Windows Explorer by double clicking on the user folder on the desktop, or via the start menu.

 

[Irene]

Good information here:
Include folders in a library

Extract from the link:
.

A library gathers content from various folders. You can include folders from different locations in the same library, and then view and arrange the files in those folders as one collection. For example, if you keep some of your pictures on an external hard drive, you can include a folder from that hard drive in your Pictures library, and then access that folder's files in your Pictures library whenever the hard drive is connected to your computer.

The navigation pane, showing the Pictures library with three included folders

To learn more about what types of folders you can include in a library, see Libraries: frequently asked questions.

 

[nabilalk]

I know about the Libraries. But how does that relate to the broken Explorer previews in the preview pane?

 

[Irene]

Can you post a view - screen print - of the window?

 

[nabilalk]

Can you post a view - screen print - of the window?

preview pane is blank. This occurs with all Office document types and PDFs as well. I'm using 32 bit Win 7 Pro

 

[Irene]

Are the files which you don't see, from Office 2010 or earlier versions?

 

[Golden]

Hi,

Can I just check something? If you click on the Tools Folder Options in Explorer, and then select View, is the option shown in the image below ticked?

Regards,
Golden

 

[nabilalk]

Hi,

Can I just check something? If you click on the Tools Folder Options in Explorer, and then select View, is the option shown in the image below ticked?

Regards,
Golden

I can't see any version of office files and yes the box is ticked.

 

[Golden]

Mmmm....OK let me investigate a bit more.

Do you use Outlook? Can you preview files sent to you using Outlook?

 

[Irene]

Can you post a view - screen print - of the window?

preview pane is blank. This occurs with all Office document types and PDFs as well. I'm using 32 bit Win 7 Pro

The view you show, appears to me, to be through "My Computer".

Can you you view all of the files if you open Word 2010?

 

[nabilalk]

Can you post a view - screen print - of the window?

preview pane is blank. This occurs with all Office document types and PDFs as well. I'm using 32 bit Win 7 Pro

The view you show, appears to me, to be through "My Computer".

Can you you view all of the files if you open Word 2010?

I can view any Word document or text file in Word 2010. My issue is with the explorer preview pane. I hope I understood your question.

 

[Irene]

OK, I have it at last!

You must have at some tome touched the show/hid preview pane - see below - just touch the icon in the red circle and your preview pane will re-appear!
.

 

[Golden]

Hi Irene,

I think he has already tried that - if you look in his attached image in Post #11, you will see the preview has been activated (compare his image to mine below). My gut feeling is that the functionality has somehow been disabled (possibly somewhere in Policies). I'm having a bit of a dig for it.......

Regards,
Golden

 

[Golden]

OK......this is worth a go, although I'm not sure how it would have changed (is this PC in a corporate environment by any chance?). The Preview pane can be disabled by using a specific policy : lets check to see it that is the case.

1. Click Start Orb, and in the search box type gpedit.msc and hit enter. (gpedit = group policy editor)
2. Navigate to Preview Pane Location as shown in the attached image.
3. Right-click on the option, and then select edit.
4. Is the Preview Pane Location shown as Not configured, Enabled, or Disabled? (refer to the attached image)

Regards,
Golden