Problem opening my photos - help please!

moggie · 30 Jun 2020

Hello

Have just got a brand new Acer Aspire 3 laptop to replace my old one and am running version 1903 windows 10 as before.
Have transferred all my docs, favorites etc using a memory stick and all is great except.............

I have all my docs and photo folders located in Documents exactly as I did on my last Acer and on that one when I clicked open a folder say family photos all the photos in that folder appeared with view set to 'large icons' and I could see all the photos on screen so I could then open them individually. NOW on my new laptop something funny has happened!

When I open the photos (or any other) folder they do not all load up with the little green line moving across above them and all I can see is a couple of photos as large icons with the remainder just showing as a 'blue mountain' icon with the photo number beneath. I then have to click on each of these one at a time to see the photo within! Going into defaults on my laptop and then 'photos' the default is shown as 'Photos' with something like 'best for Windows 10' under it. The only other choice seems to be 'paint' or something.

Have tried everything like going into view - options -view and making sure the little box re icons is left unticked but nothing changes. On my old Acer I had a choice of Windows Photo Viewer and MS Office picture manager but I do not have Word on the new Acer. Have tried reloading Docs from my memory stick but no change. Everything else works perfectly as before.

I am elderly but quite tech savvy but this has beaten me. Help anyone (in simple terms please)

Moggie

Samuria · 30 Jun 2020

It sounds like you can only open certain types like jpg .bmp download free xnview and see if it can open them you can browse and see thumbnails with it and basic editing XnView . The Best Windows Photo Viewer, Image Resizer and Batch Converter

idgat · 30 Jun 2020

Agreed with @Samuria, you need to test with another image viewing program. File/Windows Explorer is not imtended as an absolute image viewing option, and can be deficient when handling some image formats. Successful previous experience is probably down to more good luck than anything else.

Also when you open up your image folder(s) you may need to wait a minute or two while Windows "(re)populates" the thumbnail image depending on its file size.

Check the layout option in File/Windows Explorer - View menu > choose the size of the thumbnail you require (Extra large/Lareg/Medium size). You may have to wait again while the thumbnail image is re-adjused. Unfortunately you will have to do this image thumbnail size change for every single individual folder.

What file types are they (jp(e)g, bmp, png, tif(f), etc. In File/Windows Explorer turn on the extension indication; View > Options > View tab > untick Hide extensions for known file types. Your file names will now be revealed as imagename.jpg (nothing to do with your current problem, just a better way of showing your file names for troubleshooting).

Also what are the filsizes for the "problem" files (a couple of the larger sizes, and smaller sizes examples will be sufficient. Just need to check that there was no corruption in the transfer process. )?

Was your previous system Windows 10?

Ghot · 01 Jul 2020

As Samuria said... XnView is what you want. I use it myself. It will also allow you to choose w/e size thumbnails you want.

moggie · 01 Jul 2020

Thanks so much everyone. I have been trying all the suggestions from you - especially going into view and options and unticking/ticking some of the items therein.

Nothing much seems to have helped but...............I have my folders set to 'large icons' and I accidentally moved a folder to show in 'medium sized icons'

Lo and behold I set all the folders to this and they all now show the pictures immediately I open the folder!

Don't know what this means technically ( you might be able to tell me) but I am leaving them as they are now!

Thank you everyone again

Moggie

Ghot · 01 Jul 2020

I would still try XnView. It's free, very small, and is an awesome program.
If you don't like it, you can always remove it.

However, I think once you try it, you'll never go back.

moggie · 01 Jul 2020

Ghot - I will do that! I will give it a while then let this forum know what I think
Moggie

Ghot · 01 Jul 2020

moggie said:

Ghot - I will do that! I will give it a while then let this forum know what I think
Moggie

I think you'll be happy with it. It can do so much. I've been using it for about 15 years, and still haven't used all it's options.
I especially like the slide show that it can run.

moggie · 02 Jul 2020

May I be so bold as to ask one further question now that you have helped me ste up my new Acer A3 Aspire?

I transferred all my Favorites and Docs from old Acer using a memory stick and they are now safely installed here but........when I go into and open a folder in Docs and all the individual files appear and, whilst most can be opened ok there are quite a few which will not open! I looked in the properties of these files and it says 'eml'. I do not know how they got like that and I presume that is something to do with email? These are not files from my emails.

I do have G Mail on my laptop but nothing to do with files. I wonder if the following is anything to do with the problem?
On my old Acer I had Word 2003 but when I got this new one I downloaded Open Office (apache) so I thought all the files in my docs would automatically change and open in that.

My photos all open in Windows picture viewer and I have set that as my default in PC settings. Also.......in addition some of my older docs like letters and receipts have the Explorer icon against them and I cannot access those either as I now use Edge!

I am in a complete pickle here. Have tried re-copying the docs on a new stick from my old laptop but nothing changes. If i go into any of these files - properties and click change the options in the list do not include Open Office.

Due to help from this forum everything else on my new Acer works perfectly

Help please!

Moggie