What if I *want* Windows Picture and Fax Viewer?

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I tried re-installing but when I try to run the command it shows the error the file not found, I tried the other way to but that did not work either, is it possible i have deleted the dll
kindly advise

To user Aman: You may be having the same problem as me - when trying to access Picture & Fax Viewer or reinstall the dll, I get "system cannot find the file specified", but it's visible in system32 directory as it should be.

Check C:\WINDOWS\system32 for shimgvw.dll. If it's not there, you'll need to get hold of the file again (Google "download shimgvw.dll") & copy it in, then you'll need to re-register the file by doing Start, Run, & it should be OK.

If shimgvw.dll is already in the system32 directory, despite what Windows error messages say, then you have the same problem as me and I'm still looking for the solution.

Leo, do you have any suggestion please why Windows would report file not found when it's clearly visible?

Sorry, further message because an item I'd put in arrow brackets was skipped. Second paragraph of above was supposed to have read:
Check C:\WINDOWS\system32 for shimgvw.dll. If it's not there, you'll need to get hold of the file again (Google "download shimgvw.dll") & copy it in, then you'll need to re-register the file by doing [Start, Run: regsvr32 /i shimgvw.dll] & it should be OK.

To Zap Coffey-Brittain

thanks! that helped solve my problem of a missing Windows Picture and Fax viewer, turns out I was missing the shimgvw.dll in my system32 folder. searched for it, downloaded it and placed it in the folder. lo and behold after start-run-regsvr32 /i shimgvw.dll, it reinstalled and my thumbnails came out. again, thanks!

Create an icon for Windows Picture and Fax Viewer on your desktop or in a folder which appears on the desktop. Do this by creating a "dummy" icon by copying something else. Then change the properties so that the target is: rundll32.exe C:\WINDOWS\System32\shimgvw.dll,ImageView_Fullscreen

In Windows Explorer, go to the folder containing the pictures you want to view. Drag and drop one onto the new Win Pix/Fax Viewer icon. Then you will be able to use all its features on the pictures in the folder you selected.

In vista the name of the program it is not PFV is different is windows photo gallery...

anyone wanting to display gifs on vista... try downloading windows live photo gallery from http://get.live.com/betas/photogallery_betas

worked for me!!

I was very happy with Windows Picture and Fax viewer with Windows XP. Now I have Vista, and it has been replaced with Windows Photo Gallery, which does not have the features I want. Is there any way to get back to the Pictures and Fax Viewer?

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Not that I'm aware of, it appears to be specific to Windows
XP or whatever version it might be running on.

My recommendation is actually to dump Windows Photo Gallery
(And Windows Picture and Fax Viewer) and get a tool like
IrfanView http://www.irfanview.com/ or FastStone Image
Viewer http://www.faststone.org/FSViewerDetail.htm

Leo

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I liked the Windows Picture and Fax Viewer in XP, but now I've switched over to Vista Ultimate. The photo gallery program is not nearly as friendly. Is there a way to download in run the older Windows Picture and Fax Viewer program on Vista?

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