JPGs won't load into PSP7 from Windows Explorer

[shalebing]

I use PSP 7 on a Windows 10 desktop machine - I appreciate it is an old program but I find it very handy for quick, simple jobs. This morning I found that when I double click on a JPG file in Windows Explorer nothing happens whereas usually the image will automatically load up in PSP and has done for as long as I can remember. The same problem occurs if I right click on the JPG thumbnail in Explorer and select "Open with PSP". Same thing happens if I try to open a GIF, TIF or PNG file, although I normally only use JPGs. I have the file associations set up correctly in PSP Preferences and I can load files OK if I load up the PSP program and select File > Open.
I have this thought in the back of my head that I may have encountered this problem before a few years ago but I honestly can't remember how I rectified it.

[shalebing]

Further to my post above I am now getting a notification every time I try to load PSP 7 from the desktop icon. This is something I have never had before. It's maybe worth noting that I had to take a photo of this notification with my camera as when I tried using Fn-Print Screen and Ctrl-V it wouldn't copy into PSP. I am thinking perhaps a re-install of PSP might be required.

[LeviFiction]

Was there a recent Windows Update you installed? Because this hasn't happened recently I can only assume one of three things (both because of my lack of imagination and my lack of experience seeing anything else) 1) There was a recent Windows Security update that is cracking down on older software or 2) the Security Certificate that Jasc signed their software with expired and now Windows suddenly doesn't know who published the software or 3) Something has gotten corrupted and it needs a re-install.

If it's 1 or 2 then your only real options are to decrease the security of your computer by turning down the UAC, or using newer software. Paint.NET is probably powerful enough to replace PSP 7 for most things depending on your needs. Not all things, but most things. GIMP is far more powerful though a bit janky to use. And of course PSP but I assume you stayed away for more than just the fact that PSP 7 has been good enough so far.

[shalebing]

Was there a recent Windows Update you installed? Because this hasn't happened recently I can only assume one of three things (both because of my lack of imagination and my lack of experience seeing anything else) 1) There was a recent Windows Security update that is cracking down on older software or 2) the Security Certificate that Jasc signed their software with expired and now Windows suddenly doesn't know who published the software or 3) Something has gotten corrupted and it needs a re-install.

If it's 1 or 2 then your only real options are to decrease the security of your computer by turning down the UAC, or using newer software. Paint.NET is probably powerful enough to replace PSP 7 for most things depending on your needs. Not all things, but most things. GIMP is far more powerful though a bit janky to use. And of course PSP but I assume you stayed away for more than just the fact that PSP 7 has been good enough so far.

Thanks for your reply. Yes I think there was a recent Windows update but PSP has been working OK since then and it's only this morning I started having the problem. I use PSP virtually every day for simple edits and Photoshop Elements for my digital photos and I would have noticed if the problem had arisen immediately after the Windows update. I have downloaded Paint.NET and will give it a try but if I don't get along with it I'll try re-installing PSP7 as I am so used to it I can almost use it blindfolded.