[Nando]

Every time I try to open an image file using windows photo gallery, by double clicking any image file in a folder it tells me windows explorer has stopped working and needs and it restarts and I can't open the file. I can only open it through any other photo software.

Any ideas on why this keep happening?

[Noyb]

Just curious .. What's your other Photo software ??

[Nando]

photoshop, picasa...

[Noyb]

Sorry, I have no clue ...
But I replaced Photo Gallery with Irfanview as soon as I saw it did nothing new.
I'm wondering if the pics are trying to open in Explorer, Not M$ PG.
Checked your defaults ??

[Nando]

it's definitely open in MS PG

[Nando]

Anybody else??

thanks!

[Noyb]

Since I really don't like booting to Vista ..
I was hoping someone else would jump in and help here ..

What does your Program Defaults look like ??
Is M$ PG set as the default for your Image files ??

[Noyb]

Are these Photoshop psd files you're trying to open in M$ PG ??

[Nando]

Yes, MSPG is the default program for images like jpeg, gif, bmp... and whenever I double click to open any pictures, it causes the problem.

psd files default program is photoshop.

And if I choose to open MS PG by clicking in Start>All programs> MS Photo Gallery, it simply won't open...

[Noyb]

Originally Posted by Nando

... If I choose to open MS PG ... It simply won't open...

Those are key words ... What's the Make n Model of your Computer ??
I'm thinking something like the OEM support ?? .. Maybe a repair install ??

But with Photoshop and Picasa ... Why do you even want to use M$ PG ??
I'm wondering where all our TSG Vista Wizards are hiding ??

[InfotechCapital]

Well hello again, Nando

Perhaps this thread will help you. A summary of Randy's comments, in case the thread moves, is:

Nero would cause COM surrogate to shut down.
Uninstalling Nero caused DLLHost to go to 100% in relation to WPG.
Deleting the files Nero didn't uninstall, i.e.:
DosBootimage.IMA, mfc71u.dll, NeroHistory.log, VMPEGEncNDX.dll
caused the problem to go away.

Another possible solution (delete/rename possibly corrupted Windows Photo Gallery Index, in the %appdata% folder).
Another (looks like speculation; smitfraud malware).
I've also seen a common theme related to codecs and multimedia apps, but that link's a huge post, so take it with a grain of salt.

Good luck. As an aside, I would strongly caution that the following hotfix is still in development, and can lead to corruption on Vista with Canon RAW files:

When you try to use [WPD or Explorer]...Canon RAW file on [Windows Vista]...the file is corrupted

[Nando]

I don't have Nero and never had, so the issue is not about it. I tried the second link solution, but couldn't find any possible corrupted WPG index in the %appdata% folder... the third link, as you said is very big, I tried some things posted there, which weren't much helpful, unfortunately.

[InfotechCapital]

Vista SP1 RC (release candidate) solved most of my problems, but the process is a whole lot of trouble for not a lot of benefit if you aren't planning on just reinstalling your OS when the official release is out in March, as I am.

That said, because RC went RTM (release to manufacturing) on Feb 4, 2008, it is now difficult to obtain a copy of the RC...and while you can find it (by also searching for the word "refresh"), not getting it from Microsoft is risky, so I'd suggest--if you can wait--it's a good idea to do so.

RTM announcement for Vista SP1.