MS Photo Ed & Graphics File Observations...

[robert213]

I have two identically prepared T30's. This enables me to experiment with new software on one machine and only keep the software setup that I like on the other. I've found that I can crop photos (at precisely 800x600) faster in MS Photo Editor than other editting programs.

Observation #01: One way to install MS Photo Editor is using MS Office 2000 install CD. It is NOT available on MS Office 2003. Another way is to copy a working version, folder "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\PHOTOED", from another machine.

Observation #02: Pay attention to [File][Open]"Files of Type:" list. It should read...
All Files (*.gif, *.bmp, *.jpg, *.jpeg, *.tif, *.png).

Observation #03: Somewhere along the way (Uninstalling reinstalling MS Office 2000 and experimenting with other photo editting programs), the list changed to...
All Files (*.bmp, *.tif, *.png). I was no longer able to read or write *.jpg files. I receive error message: "Photo Editor cannot find or open file name".

Observation #04: Google revealed several other computer self-help forums which incorrectly recommended changing file associations: [Windows Explorer][Tools][Folder Options][File Types] and updating registery permissions per:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/q260151/

Observation #05: Fortunately, I have my other machine with an unmolested Windows XP registery file. Rather than update the permissions of:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Shared Tools\Graphics Filters
I noticed that many of the graphics file types were missing in the registery of my experimental machine. It was fairly easy to get them back by reinstalling the Office File Converter Pack (oconvpck.exe) per:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/212265

Observation #06: Unfortunately, simply reinstalling the registry entries didn't bring back the missing items in MS Photo Editor's "Files of Type" list. However, by exporting "HKEY_LOCALMACHINE_SOFTWARE_MICROSOFT" and using "find" feature in MS Notepad, I found an incorrect string entry for [Shared Tools][Graphic Filters][Export]
"Image API Enabled Filters". Correct string entry is "BMP GIF JPEG PCX PNG TIFF FPX MIX"
I corrected string entry for [Shared Tools][Graphic Filters][Import], as well. Also, I verified string and DWord values for each file type from registry of my working machine to be thorough. Now MS Photo Editor is working as before.

Observation #07: Because all of the other computer forums gave incorrect advice, I am adding these Keywords -- so hopefully Google will pick up this thread for other users of MS Photo Editor to find.
PHOTOED, MS Photo Editor, Files of type list, Graphics Filters, Unknown file format, No file format information can be found in the Registry, Photo Editor cannot find or open file name.

[RealBlackStuff]

Guess you never tried IrfanView http://www.irfanview.com/
Click on Image/Resize, select 800x600, click OK
Probably quite a bit faster than that old Photoeditor!