Solved Windows Explorer hangs on picture files and lost rotate functions

[leo68]

Windows Explorer started hanging for a short time (about 20s) each time I select (single click) or right-click on a picture file (jpeg, png, gif...). Other file types respond quickly. It shows a rotating icon and "(Not Responding)" on the top left of the Explorer window until things work. However, the rotate functions have disappeared from the context menu.

I tried restarting of course and also changed the default programs for such files without success. Did some cleanup too (CCleaner, disk cleanup tool).
I have been working with images for years and this just started happening a few days ago without making particular changes, although I agreed to uninstall Flash after some Adobe pop-up recommended it.

After some research, I also tried the "sfc /scannow" command which appeared to stop after verifying up to 49%. The TrustedInstaller then disappeared from the resource monitor and everything I did became very slow for a while until I got a statement that the scan could not be performed successfully.

I would appreciate advices on solving this as even moving pictures has become a tedious thing.

 

[wither 2]

In Windows Explorer, click on Organize, Layout. Disable "Preview Pane." Does that help?

 

[leo68]

In Windows Explorer, click on Organize, Layout. Disable "Preview Pane." Does that help?

The preview pane was never enabled and all previews work fine. Switching to list or detail view makes no difference either.

 

[wither 2]

If the preview pane was never enabled, how do the previews work fine? Not being a smart a??

What happens if you disable the navigation pane?

 

[leo68]

If the preview pane was never enabled, how do the previews work fine? Not being a smart a??

What happens if you disable the navigation pane?

The issue remains after disabling that too.
Preview was already in the details pane. Stripping it all down to bare files names, the problem remains too.

 

[leo68]

Problem solved. I found out the lost rotate function in the context menu was provided by the Windows Photo Viewer, which for some reason no longer works. I assume this is what was causing Explorer to hang when selecting image files.

This thread told me how to edit the registry to remove the association, although I had to remove the ContextMenuHandler key for each file type (.jpg, .jpeg, .png, .gif…) instead of just "image" as described: How to disable the Windows 7 picture viewer?

I have lost the rotate function in the context menu for good but clicking on files to handle them works normally.

Thanks to all who read and replied.

 

[wither 2]

Preview should only be available in the details pane if it is enabled in the Organize, Layout settings.

I have no idea why you had to disable a ContextMenuHandlerkey. If, in Default Programs, you went to "Associate a file type or.............," all you have to do is select Change Program for each file type you want to change and either select or browse to the program you want to open it with.