Photos Display VERY slowly

I'm not sure if this is a Photoshop problem or a Windows problem:

I just installed Photoshop 7 into my brand new computer and now, when I open a folder with photos, the computer goes through a rather long process of "assigning" a program to view the pics. If this folder is set to "List" ( under "View" options ) then first there is the generic windows icon next to each photo ( that icon being the paper looking one that has 6 miniature icons in it ). Then, each icon slowly changes to the PS 7 icon. If I close this folder after all this has been done, then re-open the same folder, it goes through this same process all over again. If I have the folder set to "Thumbnails" then for just a split second the photos are displayed normally. Then the computer goes through the same process again: The thumbnails turn into that generic icon, then they change to a slightly smaller thumbnail. If I have 50 photos, this process might take 4-5 minutes.

If I RH click on a photo and choose "Properties" under the "General" tab, it shows that the chosen program is "Windows Picture and Fax Viewer" ( THAT'S what I WANT ). If I change that selection ( to "Paint," "Photo Editor," whatever ), it shows that I changed it but if I return to a folder with pics in it, the photos still open with PS 7, and slowly, as described above.

So in a nut shell, PS 7 has muscled in and taken over the display of ALL of my photos. Windows thinks that everything is okay and that it's showing the photos correctly. Is there somewhere other than "Properties" to change Windows' settings? maybe some way to give Windows a kick in the rear and get it back on track.

This REALLY slows me down and is quite annoying.

I searched the web for quite a while and found someone with exact problem, but the postings ended before his problem was fixed. I also posted on a Photoshop site and it seemed that they thought it's a Windows problem.

For extra info, this is on a Dell 9100 with a 2.8 Ghz Pentium D and 2 GB ram. Overall it seems that the machine runs okay, it's just this display problem. AND, I grabbed about 100 pics and installed them on my wife's computer ( older, slower, etc. ) and the pics showed up the right way, instantly. So I don't believe it's a problem with file size. ( But what do I know? )

Thanks for any help,
John

 

Have a look at this thread. Your answer to how to stop it may be in the last post in the thread.

 

Thanks Zander. I'm away from my computer for a couple days but I'll try this tip first thing upon returning.

 

Ok. When I saw your post I remembered seeing this problem once before but I don't remember for sure what the fix was. There is one out there though. Hope this is it and I hope it works for you. Let us know how it goes.