lokos
Member 
Inactive
Ontario, Canada
Posts: 167 
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Post by lokos on Feb 15, 2014 13:12:37 GMT
Looking for any suggestions from our resident computer geeks.
I'm running an older system using Windows XP and after starting my system up this morning things are suddenly not behaving the way they should. Everything was working fine last night when I turned it off.
For viewing pictures the default program has always been "Windows Picture and Fax Viewer". This morning I had just made a scan and when I attempted to open it to view it, nothing. The thumbnail worked fine, opening it in paint worked fine but when I clicked on it I got nothing. No errors or anything just simply no response, it was like I hadn't clicked on anything. I tried a bunch of diff. pictures all of which failed to work. It was like windows picture viewer was no longer there. I attempted to force windows to open with the viewer by using the open with command and still nothing.
Doing a Google search looking for an answer I found instructions all saying the same thing about "regsvr32 shimgvw.dll" needing to be addressed. I tried the fix that was recommended and nothing changed, instructions suggested that restarting may be needed which I did. After restarting picture viewer still did not work but now when I clicked on any folder to open it nothing happened. Things were going from bad to worse.
I used a restore point from yesterday and everything at the moment seems to be back to normal, at least for as much as checking a couple of pictures and typing this out.
My question is anyone have any ideal as to what happened to cause picture and fax viewer to stop working to begin with? As far as I know I changed nothing on my system, it worked fine up until I shut it off last night. If it was a simple glitch when I turned it on this morning that sometimes happens, multiple restarts this morning didn't help which leads me to believe it was some type of permanent change which was only resolved by me using a restore point from yesterday. If anyone has any insight or experience with a similar issue I'd appreciate any suggestions you have. I would like to try and fix or correct whatever I need to before/in case it happens again.
Thanks,
Rick
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rod222
Member
Posts: 9,901
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Feb 15, 2014 23:54:52 GMT
No idea Rick, just a post in support.
XP can act up whenever it feels like it, and a switch off, and reboot in 5 minutes time generally fixes
most stuff.
Last year I lost my entire Hard Disk, I think in reflection a Video card malfunction.
I now employ external HDD's and have 4 XP computers with fresh installs, that will only take
a few minutes to transfer over.
Hiccups are there to remind one to Backup occaisionally.
Never used windows picture and fax viewer.
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Post by stampgeezer on Feb 16, 2014 0:51:27 GMT
Rick, are you using windows explorer and then clicking on the pic? If so, right click on it and then open with and then do you see the program you wish to view the pics? If I am not mistaken, the default for viewing pics on xp is Windows Photo Gallery.
Theron.
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Philatarium
Member
Los Angeles, CA
Posts: 1,032
What I collect: Primarily focused on Japan, but lots of other material catches my eye as well ...
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Post by Philatarium on Feb 16, 2014 2:35:12 GMT
Rick: Boy, have you brought back memories for me. I remember doing all these steps, more often that it seemed like I ought to have. I felt a little tightening in my stomach, in commiseration.
(That computer failed one day, and the replacement came with Windows 7, and I've got to say that I rarely ever have a problem with it.)
Since system restore fixed it in your case (mine would often fail the restore), it seems like it's possible that a setting got changed, or a rogue piece of something got on your computer, or something. Is your virus protection pretty good? Or malware-detecting software?
I would say it's possible that yours was a one-off thing. Certainly, if it happens again, you've got a pattern to contend with.
(All this was totally non-helpful, I know ...)
You've got a support group here, anyway!
-- Dave
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Jerry B
Departed
Rest in Peace
Marietta, Georgia USA
Posts: 1,485
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Post by Jerry B on Feb 16, 2014 6:25:07 GMT
Hi Rick
To make sure everything is alright do the following:
1. Go to Control Panel
2. Open Folder Options
3. Select General Tab
a. Under click items as follows
Make sure Double-click to open an item is checked
4. Select File Types Tab
Under Registered file types: find the Extension of your pictures and make sure they
are associated with "Windows Picture and Fax Viewer". To see association click on Extension
and the association is in the bottom window.
If everything is alright exit out of everything. It was probably a glitch. I have had this happen
to me before and opening the image with the right-click menu Open seems to fix the problem.
5. If was not in the file types list then you would have to add the extension and the associated
program with which to open the image.
Rodney is right. With WIN XP, or any operating system, one has to "kick the tires" every now and then. Having written Operating Systems I can tell you first hand there is an amazing amount of code. To me the fact Windows works so well is a true engineering feat.
Rick is right, "Windows Picture and Fax Viewer" is the default picture viewer for Win XP.
What do you use to look at your scanned images?
Jerry B
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rod222
Member
Posts: 9,901
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Feb 16, 2014 7:38:16 GMT
What do you use to look at your scanned images?
Jerry B
ACDSee Version 3.0 IIRC, Jerry, It is my stamp album, currently handles 500,000 images. Works only on XP With a poor video card or memory, you will need to do automatic image index maintenance, but that takes seconds. I use it as my defacto "Windows Explorer" has more bells and whistles, batch renaming etc. I launch all my computer programs through it.  |
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rod222
Member
Posts: 9,901
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Feb 16, 2014 7:44:37 GMT
Jerry,
how in the Dickens do you manage to get members quotes in little boxes?
danged if I can do that,
I can get a big quote and delete text, but then my cursor will not jump outside the box?
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Post by Perfs14 on Feb 16, 2014 7:46:49 GMT
Rod, I have seen screen shots of your data base on your stamps before and I am still in complete awe and utter amazement! It looks absolutely great!  |
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rod222
Member
Posts: 9,901
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Feb 16, 2014 12:52:54 GMT
Rod, I have seen screen shots of your data base on your stamps before and I am still in complete awe and utter amazement! It looks absolutely great! Thanks Perfs, it was a good idea at the time  already outdated to some degree, no one told me how big stamp collecting was. I barely scratched the surface. I no longer scan single images, not enough time on the planet, I spend my time sorting what I have, and mounting, I find that more enjoyable. I still wish I had the finance for a large book scanner, I would have liked to scan all my ancient Australian Stamp Magazines before they turn to dust. The vast scale of the hobby, is what makes it interesting, as you well know. |
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tomiseksj
Moderator 
Woodbridge, Virginia, USA
Posts: 6,265
What I collect: Worldwide stamps/covers, Cinderellas, Ohio Prepaid Sales Tax Receipts, U.S. WWII Ration ephemera
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Post by tomiseksj on Feb 16, 2014 13:19:20 GMT
... I can get a big quote and delete text, but then my cursor will not jump outside the box? When the cursor gets stuck in the box, switch to BBCode mode and place the cursor to the right of the "[/quote]" command. Then you can either continue your post in that frame or switch back to Preview. |
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Jerry B
Departed
Rest in Peace
Marietta, Georgia USA
Posts: 1,485
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Post by Jerry B on Feb 16, 2014 13:55:03 GMT
Hi Rodney It is the Techie secret of the ages. 1. Highlight the text you want to quote. 2. CTRL+C to copy the highlighted text to the clipboard 3. In your reply do a CTRL+V to paste the text you highlighted into your reply at the desired position. 4. After pasting there is a board message Read More:. Delete the entire message. 5. Add a first line to the text you pasted that has the member name you are quoting. 6. Highlight the entire text, the "member line" plus the pasted text. 7. At the upper right of the reply box there is a button that says Quote (next to the Smiley). 8. Click the Quote button. As we say in French Voila! You now have quoted text. To get the cursor outside of the "quote box". Before the box CTRL+HomeAfter the box or end of reply text CTRL+EndYou could also just put the mouse where you want to type and Left-ClickNow that the secret is revealed you will have to be nice to the "Techies". No more complaining about how we program things Jerry B |
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Jerry B
Departed
Rest in Peace
Marietta, Georgia USA
Posts: 1,485
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Post by Jerry B on Feb 16, 2014 14:06:47 GMT
Hi Rodney
Let me check to see if there is a free ACDSee DLL or Library. If so I should be able to "wrap" the Dll in a VB.NET program and then it should be able to run on Win XP and above. I might also be able to create multiple data bases therefore upping the amount of images.
Jerry B
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Andy Pastuszak
Member
Praying for my family and everyone in Ukraine.
Posts: 1,533
What I collect: United States, Ukraine, Ireland
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Post by Andy Pastuszak on Feb 16, 2014 17:29:56 GMT
I would recommend doing a disk repair. Right click on the C: drive, choose Properties. Go to the Tools tab and there should be an option for error check of disk repair.
And just as a side note, support for Windows XP ends in April of this year. No more hotfixes and security updates. Windows will obviously continue to work, but vendors may choose to release software and not make it XP compatible.
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rod222
Member
Posts: 9,901
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Feb 16, 2014 19:08:23 GMT
... Not so fast, Batman.
How does one prevent double line spacing when pasting text, in threads and in private messsages to each other ?
But Thanks Jerry, super.
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Jerry B
Departed
Rest in Peace
Marietta, Georgia USA
Posts: 1,485
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Post by Jerry B on Feb 16, 2014 20:33:23 GMT
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Post by Perfs14 on Feb 16, 2014 23:02:39 GMT
I have had no trouble with XP so far and have been using it for many years. I do scan for malaware daily; BUT I have NO Norton or Mcfee any where near my system (they are real trouble) I do not update XP as they want you to do on almost a daily basis. I defrag weekly and check for registry errors two or thee times a week and scandisk periodically...so far so good. |
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rod222
Member
Posts: 9,901
What I collect: Worldwide Stamps, Ephemera and Catalogues
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Post by rod222 on Feb 17, 2014 2:13:41 GMT
Use them excessively? Crikey, that proboards forum is nerd city, couldn't handle the flashing avatars  Try typing something in Microsoft word, then pasting to a private message to me, it will always come out double spaced, I have had if from messages from Steve and Bud, all double spaced. I'll endure and delete white space.
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lokos
Member
Inactive
Ontario, Canada
Posts: 167
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Post by lokos on Feb 17, 2014 20:05:12 GMT
Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions. Since I did a restore to the previous day the problem hasn't reoccurred but I'm working my way through the suggestions in case there is something I can correct or make better to hopefully make sure it doesn't happen again. This system is probably 6 or 7 years old now, maybe a little more, and while I have had problems in the past, some quite extensive, for the most part it had nothing to do with XP. The only real major problem I had with XP was when I attempted to upgrade to service pack 3 and that completely screwed up everything. Never did get it to work and never tried again. I've been limping this system along for a few years with some hardware issues and I know I really should be replacing it but cost aside I really hate having to go through the whole process required when setting up a new system. I know its inevitable that I will have to replace this one and that I should do it when its convenient and its still running allowing to move things over easily to the new one but its one of those things I've been doing my best to drag my heels on.
Thanks again for the help, nice to see so many computer literate members,
Rick
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