Cannot Open Image Files (JPEG's or BMP's)

Greetings, and thanks for offering this board.

I just bought a computer with Windows 98 SE from eBay. Everything seems good except for one fundamental problem:

I copied all my image files to disk (JPEG's, BMP's, and TIF's) and transferred them to the 'My Pictures' file of this PC. But their icons are all those white rectangles with the "flying window" logo inside of it, and when I click on them I get the dreaded white-X/red-circle window with this disclaimer:

This file does not have a program associated with it for performing this action. Create an association in My Computer by clicking View and then Folder Options.

And when I do go to the specified location in My Computer, I have a whole slew of options, but so far none of them seem to lead to me being able to view these image files!

I'd greatly appreciate any ideas....especially ideas that will work!

Thanks in advance, it's very cool of you to help out strangers.
-David Brennan

 

JPEGs by default open in Internet Explorer. The default for BMPs is Paint and I think paint will open TIFs too. Depending on what's installed on your computer you might be able to use Paint for JPEGs also.

Otherwise, Irfanview is a great image viewer and will open almost any image file you're likely to come across. Also, does some of the simpler editing things like adjusting color, brightness, contrast, cropping, red eye reduction, etc. It's the best freebie on the net as far as I'm concerned.

You can also download plugins for it that will allow it to open other files. One that comes to mind is mp3 files. Check it out. You can select which files you want it to be associated with in the options. In Irfanview click options>properties>extensions. If you download it, check out the other options while your in there. Lots of stuff there.

 

Okay. Thanks a lot. I downloaded that Ifanview program. Thanks again.
-DBrennan3333

 

DBrennan3333--

That suggests that the problem is not what graphics viewers you have installed, but rather whether any of them are associated with the various image files (like .jpg, .bmp, etc.). You need association or else the image files will not open.
To associate the various image file types with any of the graphics programs (like Irfanview, MSPaint, IE, etc.) hold down Shift|right click on any one .jpg file|Open With...|pick the graphics editor you choose|click the box at the bottom "Always use the selected program... "|OK. Repeat the process for any one .bmp program, .tif program, etc.
Now these various file types should open with the program with which you have associated it by just clicking on the image file.
P.S. I this does not help, right click on any of these image files|then Properties and tell us if any boxes at the bottom are checked (Read Only, Hidden, etc.).