Photo Explorer 8 no longer displays jpg photos

[trouble]

All of a sudden, Ulead Photo Explorer 8.0 SE Basic does not recognise the files downloaded from my camera (jpg format).
Photos (stored on my hard drive), that I edited in the past in Photo Explorer, no longer display in it (no error, just no picture).
I have Windows XP SP3.
I received the software on a DVD with a Vivitar camera.
The DVD also contained Photo Express 5 SE. I have uninstalled and reinstalled both from the DVD: no difference. There is nothing else on the DVD.
If I use Photo Express, I get the error "Editing files of this type is not supported", when I browse to the photo.
In Photo Explorer, I get no error, just a blank screen.
The photos open fine in Ulead Instant Viewer, Windows Explorer and Paint.
Can anyone help?

[Ron P.]

Try applying the patch for PE 8.X. You need to go to Corel's Ulead Patches and Updates page, then click on the link beside Photo Explorer 8.X. It will download a zip file, containing a PDF document. Unzip the file, open the PDF document, and there will be link to the patch to download.

[trouble]

Thanks.
I downloaded the pdf.
In the pdf, I selected Ulead Photo Explorer 8.0 Update Patch site 1.
I clicked Run.
I got the message “Setup cannot find Ulead Photo Explorer 8.0 installed on your system.” See attached.
The version I’ve got was installed from the CD enclosed with my camera. It is Ulead Photo Explorer 8.0 SE Basic.
What can I do?

[Ron P.]

I was concerned about your program being an SE version. Most of the patches will not install to SE or trial versions. Since it came bundled with a camera, the camera manufacturer could have tweaked the program to work with his product.

Do you have any other photo editing programs installed? If so try opening those photos in that program and just re-saving them. Then see if PE can see them. What make/model is your camera? I can look at the specs to see if there is something there, where it's doing something weird with the photos.

I know you've already tried reinstalling, however the only thing that I can think of is to try, try again. This time however when you uninstall it, make sure you do a clean uninstall, removing all traces of it. You can find some instructions on how to do this at the following link:
http://forum.corel.com/EN/viewtopic.php?p=55773#p55773

Out of curiosity, are these jpg photos, the standard jpg, or could they be the jpeg-2000? I'm guessing the standard jpg since Paint, and windows explorer will open them.

[trouble]

I tried the clean uninstall and reinstall - no improvement.
The camera is a Vivicam 5340s.
I don't have any other software, other than MS Office Picture Manager - I tried opening the files in here and saving them. All was successful, but still made no difference.
They are standard jpg files, by the way.
What I don't understand is that it worked fine originally.

[Ron P.]

This is stumping me, which with these older programs is not easy to do. I have PE 8.6 that came with PhotoImpact 12. I've been looking to no avail as to why suddenly the program decides to reject jpg files. What really is confounding, is Instant Viewer, which is part of PE, can see them. I haven't asked yet so I don't know... Are you having problems with any and all jpg files, or just the ones from your camera?

If you want, you can send me a couple of photos, and I'll see if my version of PE has a problem with them. If so then I would say a part of the photos have been corrupted. This part being the header data, that PE needs to read these files. If not then for some reason, your version of PE is corrupted, and quite possibly be the install file on your CD.

You can send them to me at ronpete362 AT yahoo DOT com. (That's the way to display your email address on a forum, so the spam bots do not grab it).

Also try downloading the free photo program Irfanview. It's really a great little, yet powerful photo program. You may like it enough to not worry about your PE program.

FWIW, I have at anyone time about 6 or more different photo-related programs. Some do things better than others, so I'll use them accordingly. Some are freebies and others not. I do have and used Irfanview over the years. I've been trying to locate another one, but is going to take me sometime. When I do I'll post it here.

Here's a couple of more:
PhotoScape from PhotoScape.org
Stoik-Imagic they have a free version for private use.

[trouble]

Thank you very much Ron: problem solved!
I downloaded Irfanview and I can now view and edit my photos beautifully!
I promise to upgrade my camera soon!
Thanks again.

[Ron P.]

Irfanview is a powerful little program. I've read for several years now, people question why it's still free. I wouldn't worry about upgrading your camera, if it works for what you do, then that's what matters. I've been wanting to upgrade my camera, but so far what I'm looking for is outside my budget, like a Canon EOS Rebel, or Nikon, either with additional zoom/telephoto lens.