Photos become permanently corrupted when viewed in Windows Explorer

[mal1938]

Hi there, Good day to you.

I have joined forum because after several months, I came across a thread which seems closes to my inquiry. (
http://www.sevenforums.com/music-pi...k-windows-explorer-windows-photo-gallery.html



I received a message that the thread was last open 97 days ago. I should consider a new thread. Hence this post for your help.

I attach some interesting photos. When I view photos in Explorer as "Large Icons", or "Extra Large Icons". the thumb nails change colour right in front of me. It is dramatic. If I click on a photo to see in full screen, the enlarged size is also corrupted. There is more. If I go back to the original folder, the corruption is permanent in the folder. Not all photos get corrupted. Not all photos get "attacked" by the same colour.

Photos on the SD Card in the Camera are perfect.

I have used Kaspersky paid version, Avast free version, Windows scanner (Microsoft Safety Scanner - Free Virus Scan with the Microsoft Safety Scanner), Norton, Bidefender on line virus checkers. There is no virus.

If I load the photos form the SD Card again, different photos get corrupted.

I have updated drivers. Made no difference. Memory is not faulty. Monitor is not faulty. The monitor only displays what gets corrupted.

This started happening in the last 6 months. Nothing was changed. I am unable to create travel videos.

I have changed disk and installed earlier version of Acronis image.

I have transferred some photos to DVDs. The images are safe on the DVD. Photos do not get "attacked" on the DVD.

I have not found anything remotely similar (yet) in the camera forums. I am hoping there is some experience in the Seven Forum community.



Computer details are

HP Compaq dc7900 Model Small Form Factor PC, Model KP721Av
Windows 7, 64 bit
Intel (R) Core (TM) 2 Duo CPU [email protected] GHZ
8 Gb GB of Ram
Intel (R) Q45/Q43 Express chipset (Microsoft Corporation-WDDM 1.1)
Motherboard Product Hewlett-Packard Motherboard 3031h
HP LE2201w LCD Monitor
Western Digital Black 1 TB hard Disk

mal1938

 

[GokAy]

Try a clean startup - http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ation-conflicts-performing-clean-startup.html

What Antivirus you got now? Scan with Malwarebytes Anti-Malware free (https://www.malwarebytes.org/) and Farbar (http://www.bleepingcomputer.com/download/farbar-recovery-scan-tool/) as well. If AV complain about Farbar disable until scan is over.

Does it happen is Safe Mode? Did you try with another account?

 

[mal1938]

Dear GokAy,

Thanks for your prompt response. You prompt response made me wish I had joined forum in October 15 when the problem began or joined several year ago. Thanks.

1 Antivirus. At present I am using Kaspersky. Box says Kaspersky Internet Security Multi-Device 2015. (I have tried Avast free version, Windows scanner (Microsoft Safety Scanner - Free Virus Scan with the Microsoft Safety Scanner), Norton, Bitdefender on line virus checkers).

I have tried Microsoft fix it.

I will try those you mentioned.

2 Clean Start Up.

2.1 I tried clean set up on an old 120 Gb Disk. As far I can recollect, same problem. The disk was too small to install my Video Editing software and other support software.

2.2 I carried out clean install of Windows 8-64. No improvement. I have bcome used to Windows 7 64 and hence did not download Windows 8.1 or download any updates.

2.3 I have Windows 7-64 installations on 2 disks at present. (Have licenses. So no breach there. Microsoft have been good at activating repeat installs on formatted disks/ or new disks very generously)

Is there a problem with any of the windows 7 updates?

3 I have tried looking at these sites. I may not have interpreted the content correctly. I could use help.

3.1 Tried this and found no problem. Troubleshoot monitor and video card problems

3.2 This site says "A major problem has been identified in the code used in many Microsoft applications, and those using Microsoft's software libraries in how it decodes JPEG images "
Problems in Microsoft's JPEG decoding

Did I miss anything in the above?

3.3 Windows Confidential: The Mystery of the Recalcitrant JPG https://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/gg981675.aspx

It is possible I am searching incorrectly.

4 Does it happen is Safe Mode?

A friend suggested this. Did not resolve the problem. Moreover I cannot use all my software in this mode.

5 Did you try with another account?

By this did you mean another install? See item 2 please and comment.

6 Extras

The SD Card is not faulty.
I have tried using different SD Cards
I have tried using a different SD Card Reader
I have downloaded images directly from the camera to the computers

7 XP Computer

I used old slow Windows XP computer. (Core 2 Duo). There is no corruption of images on that computer. (XP is not supported by Microsoft. My Video Editing softwares are not compatible with Windows XP.)

I look forward to your comments and any comments from other Forum users.



Regards
mal1938

 

[mal1938]

In the last post should have said October 2014

 

[GokAy]

To make sure, you only have 1 AV at the moment, right? Just Kaspersky?
Get Malwarebytes Anti-Malware free (https://www.malwarebytes.org/) regardless, it is a good product. It runs as a complimentary to your AV.

You didn't read the clean startup link! What you are telling me is a clean install of Windows.

Safe Mode is for diagnostic, only basic/generic drivers are loaded. So most programs won't run.

But having the same problem in several OS installations (it was not obvious in your first post) looks like a software you are installing. How many Video editing/image editing (and the sort) do you have installed?

Try:
- Uninstall your Video Editing software, restart and see if the issue continues.
- Uninstall any other similar program (anything that has to do with pictures/videos - you get the idea I hope) one by one, restarting after each and checking if the issue will correct.

- If the above fail, clean install Windows once again (on an unused drive for example) and see if it is correct without any software installed. Then one by one install your software, restart after each (and open the program after restart) and see if you can find the culprit.

 

[NatalieGreen]

Re: Photo turning black problem

Here is something I found that looks like it's working.
The problem is driver related but if the jpeg decoder is contained in the driver files (like AMD catalyst) you can simply remove/rename them so pictures are viewed using the embedded windows decoders and the graphics chip driver still works (it seems).
look in C/program files/common files/ATI technologies/multi media
rename all jpeg-decoders to .txt or something, example : amf-wic-jpeg-decoder64.odll
I disabled the R5 device before I did this and uninstalled AMD Catalyst control center, etc so it wouldn't because it kept re-enabling the R5 driver. Not sure if this was necessary, but it seems to work. I couldn't delete the file above because it was being used, so I renamed it. Pictures instantly started working again.
Time will tell about the crashes, but now I can play with the AMD drivers and (hopefully) keep the picture issues resolved.

 

[mal1938]

Hi NatalieGreen,
Very thankful for your response. I attach a word document, "Windows 7 Forum response to Natalie Green.doc". I I have found ATI Technologies folder under Program Files and under Program Files (x486). The computer does not have the folder you mentioned. Could it be located under a different location? I have Intel (R) Core (TM) 2 Duo CPU on this computer. Thanks again for your time. mal1938

 

[GokAy]

Eh, why is there an ATI folder in your PC? Did you have an ATI card at an earlier date?
I have the same folders but under AMD, however my motherboard is AMD. Yours are all Intel. Can you check in Programs and Features (Control Panel) for any ATI/AMD entries?

CCC is short for Catalyst Control Center.

 

[mal1938]

Hi GokAy,

Thanks for your interest, zeal and energy to help in the forum

No idea why I have ATI folder/s. Should I consider removing it? I may consider writing to the HP forum

The compute is exactly as I bought it. (Not new) When I bought the computer, it had operating system only (Windows 7 64)

I have an Acronis image of the original instlltation. If I find an old SATa disk, I will examine the original installation.

I will reply to your previous post separately.

On a separate issue, please send me link to log in to the forum. At present I can reach the forum only from the link to your posts. Thanks

mal1938

 

[GokAy]

No, don't delete them on your own.
Scan with CCleaner Free and fix. Also scan the registry and fix. Then go into Tools - Uninstall (should be default) and Save to text file. Attach (install.txt) here.

You can start trying after we check the install.txt:

- Uninstall your Video Editing software, restart and see if the issue continues.
- Uninstall any other similar program (anything that has to do with pictures/videos - you get the idea I hope) one by one, restarting after each and checking if the issue will correct.

 

[GokAy]

http://www.sevenforums.com/ like this?

 

[mjf]

You could also see what results you get with a different viewer. FASTSTONE is an excellent free viewer and as a keen photographer I use it all the time. I use the portable version that involves no installation.
Download FastStone Image Viewer
It may help you narrow down the issue.

 

[GokAy]

I don't know about the OP but I will get that portable for sure

 

[mal1938]

Hi mjf,

Thanks for your input.
I use Faststone software for resizing photos to send by email. For example images sent with my first post were resized to reduce size for uploading.. I have not used it for viewing photos. I have used PICASA to view and create collages. If the images are corrupted in the folder then PICASA reads them as colour corrupted. I feel that Fast stone might do the same. I will try.

I will carry out procedure mentioned by GokAy. Procedure suggested by GokAy has 2 prong attack.

(1) Is there any malware or virus.
(2) Is any software causing the problem. (That is how I see it).

My review of the problem suggests that colour corruption takes place when I copy images with Windows 7 Explorer.

1 Copied images from SD Card to a 80 Gb IDE Disk. (It was just there to be used I am not viewing image sform 80 Gb on main computer just to be safe. I only use if for storage of images and copy to the main disk)
2 Images are NOT colour corrupted on spare computer (So far so good)
3 Copied images to main computer with Windows 7 explorer.
4 When images show up on screen, colour corruption creeps in. (See my first post on what happens)


My current view is that
1 It will be good to check for any virus not picked so far (i.e. follow GokAy's procedure)
2 See if any program is interfering (See GokAy's input)
3 Hopefully there is way to determine if Windows 7 explorer is the culprit and if COPYING with explorer is the cause.

Your input is most appreciated

mal1938

 

[GokAy]

If it is windows explorer then still a 3rd party app should be responsible. One that has hooked to the process, maybe added to context menu. That's why we are uninstalling them one by one.

 

[mal1938]

Hi GokAy, Got it thanks

 

[mal1938]

Hi GokAy,

I attach a document named, GokAy Procedures 2.doc". I used CCleaner, Malware Bytes and FARBER. I have included screenshots in the attached document. No Malware or Virus were found. I also attach FRST.txt and Addition.txt.

I hope I have followed the procedure correctly for Clean start up. I am prepared to rework, if I missed any step. On the [FONT=&quot]Services [/FONT]tab, clicked to select the [FONT=&quot]Hide all Microsoft services[/FONT] check box, and then clicked [FONT=&quot]Disable all[/FONT].


A 80 Gb Hard Disk has over 12 GB of images. Copied with explorer to the troublesome computer (named HP3). . Images show correct colours on XP computer. As before, Images show up colour corrupted on the troublesome computer (HP3). I again connected 80 Gb to the XP computer. All images are colour correct



Antivirus programs on the computer. I removed Kaspsersky. I only have Avast Free Antivirus.


I will re-examine your posts and try what I have not tried so far


Thanks and Regards


mal1938

 

[GokAy]

Some consideration at first sight:
- You have both Avast and MSE running, please uninstall Avast for now.
- Update flash player (your version is 10, current is 18) https://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/
- You have AMD Catalyst listed, please run CCleaner and switch to Tools - uninstall any AMD entry, HydraVision should be AMD too. Also click the Save to text file (lower right) and attach here.
- Ask.com toolbar, did you install this on purpose?

 

[mal1938]

Hi GokAy,
You are knowledgeable and thorough with detail. Very much appreciated. Lucky to have you helping. I did not install ask.com tool bar. I have disabled it many times or removed it. I have gone to Google, settings, mange search engines and removed it with many others. It keeps coming back. I used Avast to check for viruses again. We found Avast picks up what others miss. Will uninstall to test. I should have replied and said that I have Corel Video Editing software. None others. Removed Adobe and Sony Vegas in favour of Corel. Any extras are from Corel only. Hence all Corel products should be compatible. I have used Corel for several years and had no problem with corrupt of images before. 11.46 pm here. Will be back to the key board tomorrow. Thanks and regards. mal1938

 

[GokAy]

No worries, whenever you have the time.