Windows RAW thumbnails not showing

[GregH]

Hi all,

I have recently upgraded my PC which involved a fresh OS install and also reinstallation of all programs etc. Was actually not the nightmare I thought it would be BUT in Windows Explorer, RAW file thumbnails are not showing the image. They were on my previous set up so I guess I have just forgotten to install something to make these visible? Double clicking the icons opens them fine in the Adobe Camera Raw 5.5 that is included with PSE 8

I have Windows 7 Professional 64bit. Do I need to download an update to the Raw editor perhaps? what am I missing?

[bomtek]

Im not too up to speed with the latest Windows offerings but generally you will need either drivers of codecs to view RAW images in Windows explorer.

[substar]

what camera are you using?

I've got a Nikon raw-view app that you install and it then allows you to view the thumbs. It is not part of Windoze.

[bomtek]

Download the viewer for XP here

[WayneB]

Greg, you don't say whether you shoot Nikon or Canon, but if it's Nikon there is a codec that you need to download from the Nikon site that lets most graphics programs display the image of NEF files on your PC. Take a look at their web site and i'm sure you'll find it. Search for 'codec' through the main Nikon portal.

Wayne

[W Semmelink]

There are several reports on the Internet of issues with Nikon codecs running on 32-bit only. I experience it myself as well.

Nikon's latest version, 1.9, includes support for D3s, and still explicitly states it supports 32-bit Windows 7 only. http://www.nikonimglib.com/nefcodec/
So, officially, the codec is 32-bit only.

The one I tried last, installed fine on Windows 7 64-bit, but Explorer is 64 bit and the codec 32-bit so Explorer seems not to load the codec. However i've read reports that some of the latest codecs do work on 64-bit. There's also talk of starting the old 32-bit Explorer on the 64-bit box to view the nef files with the codec.
This guy gave some write-up on it. He also talks about a 3rd-party 64-bit codec. http://robburke.net/2009/02/19/nikon...32-and-64-bit/

Note that CaptureNX and Nikon View, Nikon Transfer all work on Win 7 64-bit, it's only the codec that has issues.

[ianweatherburn]

If you're a Canon shooter then you're out of luck on an x64 platform as Canon don't provide a native raw viewer (only works on x32).
To my knowledge your only option then on an x64 platform is the codec here:
http://www.ardfry.com/cr2-codec/

[GregH]

Thanks for the advice.

Yes i do have a Canon - 5D2. I changed to 64 bit to cure other issues - I guess you win some, lose some .

Thanks for the link Ian!!! - went across there now. I see it is $30 / R250 for a registered version that works more than 15 days. Guess I will have to spend even more on this PC . I've just downloaded the file @ 1.3MB, will install tonight.

On a parallel topic - I went to Canons website to check for any updated Windows 7 software for the 5D2 - nothing there. One has to use the Vista options which I know do work for 32 bit win 7 but I'm not too sure about 64 bit. Not prepared to take a chance and upset my new systems stability. I wonder if Canon will release such versions for Win7 64? With the advent of Core i7 processors and triple channel memory becoming more mainstream, so will 64bit computing which is required to make use of it.

[Ralphm]

Found one that work for Canon (and a bunch of others). I am running Windows 7 x64 and use a 40D and G9.

http://www.fastpictureviewer.com/codecs/