Downloading images

[thetruthhurts]

I downloaded an image today to put on a forum. Usually I click on the image, the download window appears I click save and the image is downloaded and visible. Today however, I follow the same process but when the image is downloaded it is NOT visible. I have to click on it and a window opens and asks me if want to open it, after clicking open I get asked what I would like to open it with and I chose one and it then opens the image. I can't understand why I now have to do this to get to an image that I have downloaded when up till today I simply went to downloads and it was there to see.
I have Windows 7 and to the best of my knowledge I have changed/added/removed anything since yesterday when all was ok.

[thetruthhurts]

Just to add to that, If I want to upload the image to photobucket I cant do it because by the time I've selected what to open the image with, I lose the 'select' option to upload to photobucket.

[Buenchico]

Your PC keeps a list of 'file associations' so that it knows, for example, that files ending in .doc should be opened in Word but files ending in .xls should be opened in Excel. Most downloaded images are in jpeg format (with the .jpg file extension). Either the picture you've downloaded is in a format which doesn't have a current file association (perhaps .png or something similar?) or your PC's registry has lost the file association for jpeg (or whatever) images.

Go to where you've saved the image file and right-click on it. Select 'Open with'. Even if the program you require is shown in the list, don't click on it. Instead select 'Choose program'. Put a tick alongside 'Always use the selected program to open this type of file'. Click on the appropriate program. (I'm guessing that you use 'Windows Picture & Fax Viewer' but it might be something else). Click 'OK'.

Chris

[thetruthhurts]

Cant see a 'choose program' option?

[thetruthhurts]

Also when I right click on image I don't get an open with option. I can click open then I get a window that's asks me if I want to open it. When I click open then I get the choices of which programme to open it with. there is no 'choose programme.

[Buenchico]

Oh, I should have remembered that Microsoft tries to make a simple task harder every time they 'improve' Windows! (My method works with most versions of Windows but it seems that Microsoft have decided to complicate things in Windows 7).

For Windows 7, follow the instructions (starting from the word 'alternatively', in bold italic type) given here:
http://www.winvistaclub.com/t19.html

Chris

[thetruthhurts]

ok give it a try after dinner let you know. Cheers

[bibblebub]

This may be too simple but it sounds like the photo has been saved without an extension i.e. just the filename without the .jpg extension (or .bmp or whatever is appropriate for that particular pic).

[thetruthhurts]

Forget dinner. Just tried it Doesn't tie up with what I see on my pc. If I just knew why it has changed since yesterday.

[Buenchico]

Bibblebub may well have a point there. Perhaps, when you downloaded the file, it had a file name such as 'ab342mkf.jpg' but you decided to rename it to something more memorable. If you called it something like 'cutedog', instead of 'cutedog.jpg', it would explain your problem.

If you still want to check your file associations (and the bit after 'alternatively' doesn't work for you) try the instructions from my link that appear BEFORE 'alternatively'.

Chris

[thetruthhurts]

biblebub it's not a photo, it's every photo that I download. I must have inadvertently changed a setting or something?

[Buenchico]

Your latest post only serves to confirm my theory that your PC's registry has lost the information telling it which program it should use to handle files with the .jpg file extension. (It often happens, irrespective of whether you've 'inadvertently clicked on something').

Take another look at my link, above. Carefully follow the initial instructions (i.e. the ones before the word 'alternatively') and take a look at which program (if any) is associated with the '.jpg' file extension. Then change it to whatever you want it to be (such as Windows Photo Viewer 7, which appears to be the default image viewing program under Windows 7).

Chris

[thetruthhurts]

Ok, tried that,j.peg images is already set to windows photo viewer. Doesn't matter which programme I chose, still goes the same...have to click on downloaded image>>pop up window appears asks if I want to open>>click yes>>pop up windows gives list of programmes>> click on one and the image appears in another window......strange!