Unable to get preview pane to show previews of anything

[CharlieBoy]

Hello. Yup. I'm new to Windows 8. I simply cannot get the preview pane to show previews of my folders. I have read and re-read all and any information pertaining to this problem and have tried all the advice given regarding clicking on preview pane, going to view, options, changing icons/thumbnails but.... alas and alack, I still cannot preview documents or e-mails. I wonder if some kind bod out there has any advice in simple words?!

This is a screenshot of my "no preview available" problem.

I do hope someone can help me.

 

[Brink]

Hello Charlie, and welcome to Eight Forums.

The preview pane will not show previews of folders. Instead, the preview pane can be used to see the contents of a file, such as an Office document, without opening it in an app, and image files.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/35233-preview-pane-hide-show-preview-handlers-windows.html

 

[CharlieBoy]

Hello Brink. Thank you for your reply. I am confused :huh: as I have read too much now, so I probably didn't express myself as eruditely as I normally might! I understand your answer. I am wondering if my solution is to perform the action, as per the attached "snip" so I can view the contents of files as I used to be able to do in Windows 7?



If I do this, would I then have my preview function restored?

Many thanks for reading me!

 

[Brink]

That would be to turn on the preview pane to have it show in File Explorer. Your screenshot shows that you already have it turned on.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/24461-preview-pane-show-hide-windows-8-file-explorer.html

Instead, see if setting to show preview handlers in the preview pane using the tutorial below may help to have it work again for your documents and files.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/35233-preview-pane-hide-show-preview-handlers-windows.html

 

[CharlieBoy]

Hello again, Brink

Yes. "Show preview handlers" is checked, as per my snip attached.



This is why I am confused. This is checked, preview pane - as you could see from my previous snip - is enabled yet.... I cannot view previews? Hmmmmmm.

I don't know what to do next!

 

[Brink]

Emails usually need to be opened in your email client program to read them.

What file types are your documents, and what is the default program you are using to open them with?

Are you having issues viewing a preview of any other files? For example, images.

 

[CharlieBoy]

I use Incredimail. I have that set as my default mail client. In Windows 7, I could see the preview when I highlighted the file I wanted to preview. The same with Microsoft Word 2003.

 

[Brink]

Double check to make sure that these programs are set as your default programs with all of their associations set to them. Afterwards, test the preview pane again.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorial...ms-set-your-default-programs-windows-8-a.html

 

[CharlieBoy]

Hello again. I........... think I might leave it for now. I am using hours and getting into things I don't really understand! But thank you so much for your help and patience!

 

[Brink]

The tutorials I posted will help show you how to if you like. If you have any further questions, then please feel free to ask.

 

[CharlieBoy]

Except to just say, having gone back into "file folders" that .jpg will preview, word documents don't. I save some Incredimail mails in different folder, and they don't preview. If that's any help?!?!

 

[Brink]

If you open the files, do they open with the correct program? That would be another way to check and make sure that the programs are set as the default program or not.

 

[CharlieBoy]

Yes. If I open an MS word document, it will indeed open in Word. Same with the Incredimail docs in their folder.

 

[Brink]

If you like, you might give these free explorer alternatives a try to see if they may work better for you. They are more advanced with a lot more features.

FreeCommander - freeware file manager

OR

https://explorerplusplus.com/

 

[CharlieBoy]

Thank you, Brink. I shall look at those.