Troubleshoot problems with pictures in Windows Media Center

Applies to: Home Premium, Ultimate.
Which edition of Windows Vista am I using?

Here are solutions to some common problems with pictures in Windows Media Center.

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Why doesn't a picture display in Windows Media Center?

The following is a list of reasons why a picture might not display in Windows Media Center, as well as how to make the picture appear in Windows Media Center.

•	The picture file type is not supported in Windows Media Center. For example, digital photos that are taken with a digital camera and saved in the RAW file format are not supported in Windows Media Center. For a list of file types that are supported in Windows Media Center, see File types supported by Windows Media Center.
•	The file type has changed to an unsupported file type, such as a thumbnail, or is corrupt. You may need to modify the image by opening the file in a photo-editing program, and then resaving the image in a file type that is supported in Windows Media Center.
•	The file is hidden. To make sure the file is not hidden, check the file properties. For more information about viewing file properties, see View the properties for a file.

The quality of the picture is low.

When a file is changed and saved by using the Touch Up feature in Windows Media Center, the file is compressed. Repeatedly changing and saving the picture can reduce the picture quality. To ensure that the picture is a high-quality photo to begin with, refer to the documentation that came with the digital camera or image-capture device. For more information, see Edit pictures.

To ensure that you have a copy of the original picture, consider saving your picture originals in one folder and copies of each picture in another folder that is specifically for editing. If you have a backup copy and something happens to the edited version of a picture, you can always go back to the original picture.

I cannot save a picture after editing it in Windows Media Center.

The following list provides some possible reasons why you might not be able to save changes to your photos in Windows Media Center and provides possible solutions or ways to work around the issue:

•	The file is corrupted. Try to open the picture in a photo-editing program to see if you can edit the picture in that program. If you can, try to make and save the changes to your photo by using that program.
•	There is not enough free disk space to store the edited picture on your computer. To work around this possible issue, free additional hard disk space, and then try making and saving changes to your photo again in Windows Media Center.
•	The file property is set to read-only. To work around this issue, remove the read-only property. For more information about file properties, see View the properties for a file.

How can I change the program that AutoPlay opens when I plug in a device or insert a disc?

Follow these steps:

1.	Open AutoPlay by clicking the Start button , clicking Control Panel, clicking Hardware and Sound, and then clicking AutoPlay.
2.	To never see the AutoPlay dialog box, select Take no action next to the device or disc. To choose an action each time you plug in a device or insert a disc, select Ask me every time. To have a program open automatically each time, select the program.

Troubleshoot problems with pictures in Windows Media Center

Why doesn't a picture display in Windows Media Center?

The quality of the picture is low.

I cannot save a picture after editing it in Windows Media Center.

How can I change the program that AutoPlay opens when I plug in a device or insert a disc?

See also