Image Previews Not Displayed in Windows Explorer (192573)

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about modifying the registry. Before you modify the registry, make sure to back it up and make sure that you understand how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For information about how to back up, restore, and edit the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

256986 Description of the Microsoft Windows Registry

SYMPTOMS

When you click an image icon in Windows Explorer, the picture preview may not be displayed in the left pane.

NOTE: Previews are available only if you have the View As Web Page option enabled for the folder that contains the image file.

CAUSE

This behavior can occur if the file association for the type of file that you are trying to preview has been changed by a third-party program.

RESOLUTION

WARNING: If you use Registry Editor incorrectly, you may cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that you can solve problems that result from using Registry Editor incorrectly. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To resolve this issue, verify that the following registry entries exist for the type of file that you are trying to preview:

Registry key: HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\file type\ShellEx\{BB2E617C-0920-11d1-9A0B-00C04FC2D6C1}

Value: (Default)="{7376D660-C583-11d0-A3A5-00C04FD706EC}"

MORE INFORMATION

The following file types use the registry values listed that are listed in the "Resolution" section:

.art
.bmp
.dib
.gif
.jfif
.jpe
.jpeg
.jpg
.png
.wmf

For additional informationabout thumbnail previews, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

176882 How to Enable Thumbnail View for Folders in Windows Explorer

NOTE: This issue has been know to occur after an installation of Internet Explorer 5.5 SP1. This was resolved by running the Internet Explorer Repair Tool.