How to disable WINXP photo viewer

[crank33]

I’m running Windows XP. I use Photoshop for photo editing and a couple other programs for viewing. I have assigned Photoshop to open my photo files but every time I open a folder of photo files, all the files are represented by another icon, then the file icons gradually change to the Photoshop eye. The next time I open that same folder, all the files have this other icon, then gradually change to the Photoshop eye. No matter how many times I open the same folder (or any other folder of photo files), the files are represented by this other icon, then gradually change to the Photoshop eye. Very annoying! The file associations are set correctly. I’m guessing this happens because WinXP has its own built-in photo-viewer. Is there any way to uninstall the WinXP photo viewer or shut it off? Since I have my own photo-viewing and editing programs, I would like Windows to butt out. Thanks, Crank

[Tuf]

Delete this key in the registry:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SystemFileAssociations\image\ShellEx\ContextMenuHandlers\ShellImagePreview

You can back a copy of it up in case you decide you want it again.

[crank33]

Thanks Tuf. That may not solve the icon problem but getting the photo previewer out of the way will surley help. Crank

[Tuf]

You can change the icon to anything you want after you get the photo viewer to quit stealing associations.

[crank33]

OK, thanks. The problem isn't the wrong icon, its that when I open the folders, the photo files have the wrong icon at first, then they all change to the correct icon (the Photoshop eye) one at a time, sort of like a row of dominoes falling over. Now that I have shut down WINXP preview, the change takes place much faster, almost instantly. I can live with that. The problem is still there but the change from the wrong icon to the correct one is much faster. Incidentally, the wrong icon is the one that is associated woth ASA, ASP, CDX, DGF, JOD, KLNX etc files. The top half is white, then a blue line across the center with one or two different colored little symbols on the bottom half. Why that icon represents the photo files at first I don't know but I suppose it happens with XP everywhere. I'm used to Win 98SE where the assigned icon always represents the proper file without any screwing around. Thanks for your help. Shutting down the preview program and making a few setting changes really helped the situation. Crank

PS This problem might not sound important but when you have over 500 photo files in some folders and each time you open the folder you have to sit there and watch all 500 of them switch from one icon to another, it is a pain in the you-know-what. Close the folder, open it again and watch the whole process repeat itself.