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Summary: Windows Picture and FAX Viewer is the default application for viewing images under Windows. But there are many other programs out there as well. How do I make something other than "Picture and FAX Viewer" the default for viewing pictures? I'm sure that Microsoft believes they're being helpful by providing this default viewer for graphics images. But in reality this is a common question I get and it's one of several things I "fix" when I install a new copy of Windows XP. It's not difficult to change, just a tad cumbersome. • If, when you try to view a picture, it's displayed in the "Picture and FAX Viewer", do the following:
"...it's one of several things I 'fix' when I install a new copy of Windows XP."
This made your selection permanent. That particular type of image file will now be opened with the program you've selected. The only down side to this approach is that you'll need to repeat it for each different image type (file extension) that you typically view. Fortunately that's usually only a handful. You can also change the program used per extension by visiting Tools, Folder Options, File Types in Windows explorer, but personally I find this technique using Open With ... and Always use ... to be easier and quicker. Update: I've teamed up with Lockergnome and Techsmith to produce a series of weekly video tips. View Selecting a Different Image Viewer and watch as I walk you through the Tools, Folder Options method of making this change. Related Links:
Article 167 | Posted March 18, 2004 |
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Using the right mouse button and selecting a viewer would not work for me. XP would always try to use Notepad if I tried this approach. Using the Tools/Folder options approach worked fine.
Posted by: oldanalyst at March 31, 2007 7:14 AMI had to disable that piece of crap called the 'picture/fax viewer'. It wouldn't let me change and use my choice of program 'ACDSee'.
to do this:
click on 'Run' and then type in the box:
regsvr32 -u %windir%\system32\shimgvw.dll
I was setting up WinXP on my nephews computer for them and discovered one fault of this procedure, you cannot change your picture on your account.
to reverse it:
regsvr32 %windir%\system32\shimgvw.dll
One question: I noticed on your page you have certain words underlined and when you pass the mouse over them a ballon ad appears. When I do this in 'Opera', the fonts go crazy; then get large and start merging together. Becomes a jumbled mess. Refreshing clears it up unless I do it again.
I also have the 'Seamonkey' browser on my system. It seems to be just an 'Opera' issue.
WinXP Home and 'Opera 9.10' - the latest version.
http://www.geocities.com/terryhollett2003/shimgvw.html
Posted by: Terry Hollett at March 31, 2007 2:26 PMI do want Windows Picture and Fax Viewer to be the default image viewer, but I want to change the Edit Picture button from Paint to Photoshop, how can this be done while keeping WPFV the default?
Posted by: Rick Huff at April 28, 2007 8:17 PMhi, when i open a file in hotmail with pictures attached they are displayed as a box with a red "x" in the corner. how can i view it in the first hotmail screen, without having to click on the file itself to download it?
Posted by: marc at May 22, 2007 11:49 PMwhen i am trying to open my pictures with windows picture and fax viewer i am getting this error "Error in loading shimgvw.dll". How can i overcome this problem?Please help me.
Posted by: Harika at August 1, 2007 2:27 AMWhen I am trying to download my picture in the required box,it won't print and I can't send it ,even do how many times I have tried it.I Installed it in my computer as Picture.jpg under "Piicture and Fax Viewer" Can you help me how to download it in appropiate box
Posted by: Francisco Leo Hortillosa at August 8, 2007 1:22 AMSo here's one for you: I already knew everything you've said in this article. However, concerning my GIF files, when I check the "Always use the selected program..." checkbox and click ok, it'll open the file that one time in my app (IE 7). But after that, it auto-defaults back to Windows Pic & Fax viewer. I even unregistered the DLL as stated above. Now, when you double click the file, the hourglass flashes for a split second and then nothing happens. I've been up and down looking at everything I could find to make the change permanent...no go. Could it possibly have something to do with IE 7? Thanks much for any help you can lend!
Posted by: Boyd Campbell at September 6, 2007 11:17 AMThanks for your help. You answered other peoples questions and therefore helped me. Sincere thanks
Posted by: nathan at November 1, 2007 1:17 AMI don't like W.P.&F.V. because every damn picture I happen to see anywhere on the web and/or receive through e-mail as an attached document goes into the WPFV memory of which I did not find any way of getting rid of AT ONCE.
Posted by: André Beauséjour at February 5, 2008 2:59 PMi use windows fax for my fax. when i clickon view, adobe photoshop opens the file with only the first page showing.
Posted by: Charles at April 15, 2008 8:21 AMhow do i get it to show all the pages? how do i change the viewer to some other program? like windows pic and fax view?
thanks
a fast answer is appreciated.
Charles