Windows Vista's Media Center; missing picture/video thumbnails?

10. April 2007 02:02

Scott Hanselman writes a blog post about missing image previews under Media Center in Windows Vista. I recently faced something similiar, but with video files. I tried everything, and nothing would bring back the preview icons for .MPG, .WMV, etc… I eventually wound up reinstalling Windows Vista. And I believe I tracked it back to an older version of Nero.

So if you’re having the same problem, you too may need to reinstall. Or try the registry tricks from Scott. Maybe you can add that “PerceivedType” key to the different video files and get it working again. Who knows. I’m just frustrated that a company I have trusted for years (Nero) could have released a version that blows those away with such ease.

Tags: bugs, video, pictures, vista, registry

66383134-3b24-4668-b877-f38634aeed62|0|.0

Tags:

bugs | rant | technology | windows vista

If you are running Nero 9 (pre-Reloaded version) this may help:

Doing a Full Installation of Nero 9 (Pre-Nero 9 Reloaded) onto Windows Vista x-64

1.  Create a folder on your desktop named "Nero 9"
2.  Take a black marker (such as a sharpie) and write "DO NOT USE" on the original Nero 9 Installation CD.  Do not throw the disk away.
3.  Uninstall Nero 9.
4.  Restart your computer.
5.  Go to "www.nero.com/enu/tools-utilities.html#tab4" and download the Nero General Clean Tool.  Save the file in "Desktop\Nero 9\Tools\General Clean Tool\"
6.  UnZip and then Run the General Clean Tool.
7.  Restart your computer.
8.  Go to "www.nero.com/enu/downloads-nero9-update.php" and download the Nero 9 update.  Save the file in "Desktop\Nero 9\Nero 9 Installation\"
9.  Run the Nero 9 update program.  Three things will happen during the update (but I can't remember which order they happen in.):
     a.  You will be told you need to install an update program to continue the installation.  Do so.
     b.  You will be asked if you want to purchase Nero 9.  Click on the purchase button (or it might say "buy"), and enter the serial number that came with the Nero software you purchased.
     c.  You will be asked to choose which programs you want to install.  I selected everything, so I'm not sure what happens if you only select some of the programs.
10. The Nero software will start to install.  This process takes a long time (about 30 minutes in my case.)
11. Once the installation program is complete, restart your computer.
12. Go to your start menu, and find the icon for "Nero Control Center"  (Go to Start > Nero > Nero Control Center).
13. Right-click on the icon (a menu appears), then Left-click on "Run As Administrator".  (You will need to do this even if your user account already has administrator rights)
14. Now, repeat step 13 on all of the program icons in the Nero 9 folder.*

15. Ok, let's check our progress.  Start the "Nero Control Center".  (Go to Start > Nero > Nero Control Center)
16. Check the list of Nero Programs.  The programs that SHOULD NOT be installed are:
     - INCD
     - Nero BackItUp 4
     - Movie Templates (Pack 1)
     - Menu Templates (Packs 1-3)
     - Nero Live
     - Nero Live Gadget
     - All Help files
     - All Manuals
17. Close Nero Control Center
18. Go to "www.nero.com/.../...oads-backitup-update.php" and download the BackItUp 4 update.  Save the file in "Desktop\Nero 9\BackItUp 4 Installation"
19. During the installation, you will be asked for your serial number.  Use the BackItUp 4 serial that came with your purchased software.
20. Restart the computer.
21. Go to your start menu, and find the icon for "Nero BackItUp 4" and set it to Run As Administrator (the same thing you did in step 13
22. Go to "http://www.nero.com/enu/tools-utilities.html" and download the x-64 version of Nero InCD.  (Once it is downloaded, don't let the window titles fool you. This is NOT the InCD reader.)
23. The installation will ask if you want to restart.  Do so.
24. From this point on, you can ignore the Nero Control Center, because it will not be showing correct information.  InCD will still be showing as not installed.
25. Go to "www.nero.com/.../...ads-nero9-helpfiles.html" and download the "All-In-One Download Package".  Save the file in Desktop\Nero 9\Nero 9 Help Files"
26. Run the file.
27. Restart your computer.
28. OPTIONAL:  Go to "www.nero.com/enu/support-nero9-manuals.html" and download the *.pdf manuals.  Save the files in "Desktop\Nero 9\Nero 9 Manuals"
29. Go to "www.nero.com/enu/nero9-template-packs.html" and download the template packs.  As of 12/6/09, there are 5 packs.  Save the files in "Desktop\Nero 9\Template Packs"
30. Install each of the template packs.
31. Restart your computer.

WARNING!!!  Only do steps 32 through 41 if you are missing thumbnails for video files.

32. Go to "www.hanselman.com/.../...indowsExplorer.aspx" and download Scott Hanselman's registry file.  You will need to right click on the download link and left-click on "Save As".**  Save the file in "Desktop\Nero 9\Missing Thumbnails Fix\"
33. Go to Control Panel > Folder Options.  Click on the "View" tab, and make sure that "Hide extensions for known file types" is unchecked.
34. Go to "Desktop\Nero 9\Missing Thumbnails Fix\" and rename "fixvideothumbnails.txt" to "fixvideothumbnails.reg".
35. Click on the Start button, and in the "Start Search" box type "regedit".  You should then see "regedit.exe" listed in the start menu. Run regedit.
36. Click on "File > Export".  An "Export Registry File" window will appear.
37. Click on the "Desktop" button to save the file on your desktop.
38. In the "File name:" box, type "Backup"
39. Under "Export range", choose "All".
40. Click on "Save".  (WARNING:  It is very important that you don't try to multitask while the file is exporting.  The registry file is quite large, and multitasking might cause registry editor to stop responding.)
41. Go to "Desktop\Nero 9\Missing Thumbnails Fix\" and Double click on "fixvideothumbnails.txt" to apply the changes to your registry.

Ok, that's all I have so far.  Here are the problems I haven't worked out yet:

a)  Installing Nero Live
b)  Installing Nero Live Gadget
c)  Fixing Nero Control Center to correctly show the programs, help files, and manuals that are installed.

* I don't know if this is really necessary for all the nero programs, but it is important to do this to Nero Start Center (it saves you from having to unlock it every time you run it) and Nero Burning Rom (it stops a Class ID error from appearing everytime you run it)
** (If you don't, the file will just open up inside internet explorer.)

8/5/2007 3:34:12 PM #

I uninstalled Nero and am still having the problem. What's next please?? Thnx in advance...

bliss | Reply

12/6/2009 1:15:05 PM #

Ciabhan | Reply

8/6/2007 1:25:08 AM #

Bliss, did you look at the solutions suggested in my post?

I ended up trying all sorts of registry hacks, but didn't know about the PerceivedTypes part of that. I believe if you update those, you'll be back to normal.

Other than that, you may have to repair your installation of Vista, or do a completely new one. Sucks, but that's the damage that (the older version of) Nero does.

Nicholas | Reply

10/6/2007 1:54:52 PM #

I was frustrated when I would open my Wallpaper folder (that I had created)for my Vista desktop. Instead of the familiar thumbnail images (as I had enjoyed in XP), a generic icon had replaced each file (one form for JPEG, another for Bitmap, etc.) The solution is very simple. Start > Control Panel > Folder Options > View tab > Clear check box "Always show icons, never thumbnails." This restored the thumbnail images to my video files.

Wes Duckett | Reply

10/7/2007 10:21:39 PM #

To get your video thumbnails back in Vista media center, you need to make the system files visible then delete the ehthumns_vista.db file that the video files are stored in, the next time you start Media Center you should have your thumbnails back.

Matt | Reply

10/9/2007 2:37:26 AM #

I am having the same kinda problem with the preview icon of video file in regular windows explorer. This happend about 3 weeks after buying my Windows Vista premium system. Wen I put the files on I had previews and in the morning they worked but after turning off my computer when I left the house and turning it back on later that day, they no longer gave previews of any video file (avi, mpg, mpeg, wmv, asf) but my image previews still work. The file allocations display that the open with DivX Player or Window Media Player but that doesn't seem to be the problem Anyone know how to fix it?

Colin | Reply

10/9/2007 3:24:51 PM #

Colin,

Try this site: http://www.winhelponline.com/articles/105/1/

10/17/2007 4:50:56 PM #

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/videothumb.htm

Go to this Site and try this. I'm still using XP so not sure if it will work with Vista. Also, I linked the problem to Nero as well.

Kyle | Reply

11/6/2007 7:28:02 AM #

i use to have the problem called "com surrugate" but i fixed it with the combined community codec pack. now its as though the folders aren't loading. i use vista and where a green loading bar would load in the background of the folder address it no longer does it anymore. how can i solve this loading problem?

Peter | Reply

6/3/2008 10:14:15 AM #

Uninstall Adobe Reader. it fixed mine

Hero | Reply

7/30/2008 5:29:39 AM #

M77GA
I have not even got Nero installed on my Vista laptop and it's just happened in the last day or so - no new progs installed McAffee running - so what should I do now my lovlies?

lottietotts | Reply

12/10/2008 8:59:56 PM #

Hi and Tank,
My problem is that I can see only some of the thumbernails, and other files are only icon as W.M. as example...

can you help me
I'll be very tankful
tank you

FIREWASP | Reply

4/25/2009 5:39:48 AM #

I have the same problem, Firewasp. Were you ever able to fix the issue?

Kreigz | Reply

6/30/2009 10:04:29 AM #

Hello Kreigz,
Yes I fixed this annoying problem, the step are easy.....
A- Start Menu + Control Panel,
B- Folder option + View
C- below Files & Folder title, un-click option 1 & if you like opt. 3:
[(1)Always show icon, never thumbernail]
[(3)Display file icon on thumbernails]

Sorry for the waiting, I was too busy to answer...
So, I hope that will fixed the trouble.... It work for me...

You Take Care

FWASP

5/16/2010 3:06:04 AM #

Hey! Worked, thanks.

Now, harder one, how did I fix shows with missing or corrupt meta data? Example, I've recored all the BBC Robin Hood series and two of the shows don't show up as Robin Hood series, but are just grouped by their file name.

What do I do?