Photo apps won't open photo files

mccoady · 31 Jan 2018

Out of the blue I can no longer open photo files like PNG, JPG, etc. and don't know when this started. I can select open with Windows Photo Viewer and it will open fine but if I close that file and reopen again I get an error "The app didn't start". Nor can I open any other files it only works the first time you try to open with a given app.

If I select open Picasa Photo Viewer it will again open one of those files but won't reopen if I close it... I get the error screen. Any ideas?

Steve C · 01 Feb 2018

Check your file associations for the app you want to use. Which is your preferred app for opening photo files?

dalchina · 01 Feb 2018

if I close that file and reopen again I get an error "The app didn't start"

What happens if you simply launch the program from a shortcut (start menu) rather than via its association with a file? Does the program launch correctly?

Try some basic checks:
Check your disk.
Download and install Hard Disk Sentinel (trial) and run it- post a screenshot of its GUI.
To post a screenshot please use the icon above your post to the left of the video icon.

Check your file system.From an admin command or Powershell prompt run
chkdsk c: /scan
and post the summary result.

Then run SFC /SCANNOW and post the result.

mccoady · 01 Feb 2018

Thanks guys it was the file associations it was set to Photos but after I changed it to Picasa Photo Viewer it's working again. Not sure why Photos Viewer quit working but using Picasa is fine.