Windows Explorer Previews all blank

[nabilalk]

I have lost the ability to preview any files other than pictures in Windows Explorer. What can I do to restore the previews? Thanks!

Update: I tried a System Restore to a point before the problem started and that did not work. I created a new account and was unable to view any Explorer previews other than picture files. Please help.

 

[Jacee]

What was the last thing you did on your computer? Did you reset something, download an application, use a registry cleaner?

 

[MacGyvr]

I have lost the ability to preview any files in explorer. What can I do to restore the previews? Thanks!

Use System Restore to go back to before the problem occurred if possible.

 

[nabilalk]

I'm not a fan of System Restore. In the past, problems have arisen after using it, and I see it as a last resort. Am I being paranoid? As far as what I changed, I installed Adobe Acrobat, Photoshop, but thats it. I use CCleaner to clean temp files every now and again, but that shouldn't have changed anything.

 

[Jacee]

I installed Adobe Acrobat, Photoshop

This may have taken over your 'previews'

 

[reghakr]

Check Control panel > Folder Option and make sure on the View tab that always show icons,.never thumbnails is unchecked

and Show Previews handlers is checked

 

[nabilalk]

Check Control panel > Folder Option and make sure on the View tab that always show icons,.never thumbnails is unchecked

and Show Previews handlers is checked

Both of those settings are set as you suggested. I can preview images, however, I have lost previews for Microsoft Office documents, pdf's, mp3's, video files, even .txt files.

 

[nabilalk]

Still no solution to this problem.

Anyone have any other suggestion for this problem? I don't want to reinstall Windows just to fix this. Thanks.

 

[reghakr]

When you say "preview for mp3 files", are you referring to a graphic or the ability to make changes to the ID2 tags, such as Genre, Artist Album, Contributing Artist, etc?

 

[jfar]

Have you checked what Jacee told you about earlier?

 

[nabilalk]

When you say "preview for mp3 files", are you referring to a graphic or the ability to make changes to the ID2 tags, such as Genre, Artist Album, Contributing Artist, etc?

I'm referring to the preview that is supposed to show up in the Explorer preview pane. My preview pane is completely blank (see screenshot), however, if I double-click on the blank area, the song is played in Windows Media Player. So there is a preview being detected, it is just blank. Likewise for Word docs, PDF's etc. If I double-click on the blank areas, the files open up in their default applications. Thanks for your help.

 

[nabilalk]

Have you checked what Jacee told you about earlier?

Yes. Those options were already set as Jacee specified they should be.

 

[Dom]

In the start menu search, type in "appearance and performance", then press enter.
Find the option in the screenshot below:
View attachment 46556
Make sure this is ticked.

Dom.

 

[reghakr]

If you're referring to the picture on the left side, it depends what it's associated with and there must be a file named folder.jpg to give you the preview you want.

I usea program that gives the bitrate. That"s why you don't see a preview for my mp''s

Other than that, I don't know what you are referring to.

 

[nabilalk]

In the start menu search, type in "appearance and performance", then press enter.
Find the option in the screenshot below:
View attachment 46556
Make sure this is ticked.

Dom.

Dom, the attachment took me to a broken link. Could you post another screen or describe which option you are referencing?

 

[nabilalk]

If you're referring to the picture on the left side, it depends what it's associated with and there must be a file named folder.jpg to give you the preview you want.

I usea program that gives the bitrate. That"s why you don't see a preview for my mp''s

Other than that, I don't know what you are referring to.

I am referring to the preview pane on the right-hand side. As you will see from my screenshot, the Right-hand side is completely blank. However, if I double click on the blank area, the mp3 file or avi file, or pdf, doc, etc... open in their respective programs. However, I cannot scroll through PDFs, Docs, Txt documents etc... with the preview pane, and I used to be able to do so.

 

[reghakr]

Have you tried changing the view to medium icons?

I cannot scroll through PDFs, Docs, Txt documents etc... with the preview pane, and I used to be able to do so

In what operating system?

 

[nabilalk]

Have you tried changing the view to medium icons?

I cannot scroll through PDFs, Docs, Txt documents etc... with the preview pane, and I used to be able to do so

In what operating system?

Win 7 Pro x64. And yes, I just tried all views, including medium icons, and the preview pane is blank for every filetype except for pictures.

 

[Dom]

In the start menu search, type in "appearance and performance", then press enter.
Find the option in the screenshot below:
View attachment 46556
Make sure this is ticked.

Dom.

Dom, the attachment took me to a broken link. Could you post another screen or describe which option you are referencing?

That option was 'Show thumbnail previews'

 

[reghakr]

Look over the attached screen shot. Is this what you are referring to?