Old Windows Photo viewer freezing with Iphone, works fine w all others

Hi all! Strange issue going on - win 10 updated with the old windows photo viewer added as default

Have used the same PC for 6 months using the old photo viewer for pc pictures and with a number of Iphones; import/copy photos mainly. Never any issue viewing, moving, deleting iphone photos from the PC until a few days ago

Suddenly, ANY iphone plugged in causes the same problem - I can open old photo viewer, view all dcim folders and all images in them as thumbnails. However, the minute I click on something, it either totally freezes, or give an error, or it will take 60 seconds or so to come up, then another freeze and take another 60 seconds when I try to go to the next picture.

Tried 3 iphones - all the same issue. WD hard drive works fine with zero issues viewing photos. PC photos work fine too.
Just tried on a laptop too, and same issues, occasionally getting "windows photo viewer can't open this picture bc either PV doesn't support file format, or you don't have the latest updates to photo viewer" (It's a normal jpg)

Photos can be viewed fine in paint, if that matters

Evenutally, and often when I'm trying to close it out - i'll get a "com surrogate is not responding" error

What am I missing / what do I have set wrong?

Thanks in advange :)