Deja View all over again ( a Raw problem !)

[Dagwood]

Some time ago I had a problem viewing raw files in Windows 7 ie as thumbnails and in opening them. I have Elements 9 which I purchased recently and downloaded the Raw plug-in for that without problem. Raw files open ok in PSE9 but I notice Windows 7 cannot see them now nor will they open in Live Photo Gallery. I had this problem once before and was given advice about needing a codec. I've just downloaded a Lumix codec 1.0 but it will not open and I get a message that there is no operating system to support this. I'm lost! Can anyone think what it is I'm doing wrong? Everything seemed ok when I had PSE6 and I could see thumbnails and open them when I clicked on them. Now all I get is a white square with a title for each picture when I view the thumbnails. Heeeeellllpppp!
Dagwood

ps A late thought - I recently installed a new, larger hard drive, checking just now I notice Picasa is no longer there ,so have just downloaded again. That may be the answer to opening Raw files in Windows LPG?!?

pps Ok ,I can open Raw files with Picasa and I'm very impressed with the new version, it has a lot of information about the file and is still as easy to use as ever. But I still cannot see thumbnails in Windows Explorer. Again ..... Heeeeelp!

[GeoffWessex]

Maybe you need this codec set.

[Forseti]

The link you posted doesn't work for me Geoff so you may well be meaning the codecs package that I'll be linking to here.

@ Dagwood. The codecs package linked to here http://www.fastpictureviewer.com/codecs/ used to be donation ware but other than me it appears few used to actually do any donating. The writers have now been forced to provide these at cost ( approx 9 GBP) which to my way of thinking is quite reasonable. I'm sure there may well be some free packages out there but installing codecs can be somewhat hazardous in my experience as they are installed behind the scenes so to speak in that you don't actually get to see them.......only the results.

The problem is that various applications install their own set of codecs (Picasa being one such application and Nero another) and one set can interfere with another. I discovered this for myself when first installing freely available codecs to view raw files in Windows 7 only to later find that my burner no longer worked with several applications that needed access to it. Since uninstalling these and subsequently installing the package linked to above all is now working fine and all applications requiring access to the burner (Nero, Picasa, Sony Movie Studio and Windows Live Movie Maker amongst others work as intended. So in my book paying out a few pounds would be well worth it.

Edit: your link appears to be now working Geoff........strange.........and we've both linked to the same package LOL.

[Dagwood]

Geoff, Forseti, Many thanks for that info. The video attached is very useful and I will be downloading shortly. At this moment I am doing what I need to do with Picasa but it isn't the same as seeing your thumbnails open. Thanks again
Dagwood

[Dagwood]

It's been a while since Geoff and Forseti advised me about FastPictureViewer and owing to a problem with PayPal which is the only method by which you can purchase their products it's only now that I am able to buy their Codec Pack. My question is that seeing there is also a Fast Picture Viewer Pro which has codecs incorporated I'm wondering whether I should buy this or just the Codec Pack. Does anyone have a view or advice on this?
Dagwood

[MattUK]

Hey - funnily enough, I read this thread and went and bought the codec. I too considered the fast picture viewer, but didn't go for it. It was a lot of money for something which didn't really seem to give any more benefit over the standard Windows Photo Viewer...

The codec pack was nice and cheap though. One thing to note: when installing it, don't customise the install. I tried to switch off some Canon support and all that, but the installation cocked up. I then uninstalled then reinstalled and it was fine.

[donoreo]

Interestingly I can view my Canon CR2 files on my Linux machine without purchasing anything

[Dagwood]

Originally Posted by MattUK

Hey - funnily enough, I read this thread and went and bought the codec. I too considered the fast picture viewer, but didn't go for it. It was a lot of money for something which didn't really seem to give any more benefit over the standard Windows Photo Viewer...

The codec pack was nice and cheap though. One thing to note: when installing it, don't customise the install. I tried to switch off some Canon support and all that, but the installation cocked up. I then uninstalled then reinstalled and it was fine.

In the end I did exactly the same as Matt .. I decided against the viewer after reading some negative reviews ,well perhaps negative is too strong a word inasmuch as there didn't appear to be any great advantages gained by using it, and downloaded the Codec Pack after viewing the installation video. I also found things went wrong when I started fiddling and tried to customise the download. If I had studied the video carefully you can see that they don't alter anything. As soon as I restarted the installation all was straightforward and I can see RAW files without problem in Windows Explorer. There are a considerable number of file types which can be opened with the same Codec pack. In summary for £9.45 I think it's well worth it.
Oh, a salutary tale here which many should take note of. In going thro' the website info for this product it appears that only 0.2% of the 116,000 odd free downloads resulted in any form of donation when it was a "freebie". Result? They stopped downloads as donationware.Time to stop moralising
Dagwood