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Two copies of Microsoft Picture It?

Dave, I recently had to reinstall Windows XP home. After that I then set up Verizon DSL for the first time. When I attach my digital camera, now, I receive the usual window that gives me the choices where to download my pictures, but I noticed that there is the same program (Microsoft Picture It Express) is listed twice. When I click on anyone one of them the software doesn't load. I have to click on Start -> All Programs -> Microsoft Picture It. Then the software loads. I would like to know is how can I delete one of the Microsoft Picture It programs? Or should I uninstall then reinstall it? If so how may I do this?

Dave's Answer:

It's hard to know whether you have two copies of the program or whether something else is a bit messed up on your computer, actually. A first test, to see if you have two copies of Picture It, would be to search for the program on your system.

Go to Start -> Search -> For Files or Folders... and type in "PictureIt" then see if more than one program is matched. (Since I don't have Microsoft Picture It, I'm not 100% sure that's the name of the actual program. You might need to experiment a bit to find what Picture It is called on your computer).

I'm going to guess that you only have one copy on your computer, though, and that the reason you're being presented with more than one copy of the program when you hook up your camera, and that neither can launch, is that your file associations are corrupted.

In a nutshell, Windows has a mini database that associates file types with specific programs that should be used when those files are opened. ".doc" goes to Microsoft Word, ".xls" to Excel, and so on.

If your file associations are messed up, then Microsoft Windows doesn't know what programs it should associate with digital camera images (JPEGs, most likely), and the kind of problem you're experiencing can occur.

The good news: there are a number of utilities that can help you reestablish the correct mapping, and I'll recommend that you check out Windows XP File Association Fixes, in particular JPE/JPG/JPEG Association Fixes.

Good luck with this, and do come back and report on whether this fixes the problem.

Thanks to Sahil Tandon for his assistance

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Comments

Hi. I have a problem with my Microsoft Picture It. How can I find a troubleshoot location? It won't do jpegs, and insists on doing only .mix photos ... but it used to do jpeg. I did have to reinstall it on a new computer. Any ideas? Thanks, Anne Whiteman

Posted by: Anne Whiteman at January 20, 2006 12:37 PM

Hello! I am glad I found this. My problem is this: I own an HP and recently had a new hardrive put in and video card. Upon its return I tried to open Microsoft Picture It! 9. It was NOT there!!! I did a recovery on my PC twice now and it is not coming up. Is this a program that is in another program or is it a standard software editing program that comes with my HP at time of purchase? I use this program at least 12 times a day, as I have three babies. I VERY much would like any advice or knowledge to be given my way in efforts of getting this program back on my PC. Thank you!!!

Posted by: Christa at November 20, 2006 8:35 PM

While i was reloading "picture it" an error message popped up while loading disc 3. Is there any way i can install without having to purchase the entire program?
Thank you.
Christi

Posted by: christi at February 15, 2007 1:08 AM

I have used MS Picture It 99 for many years. I'm an amateur and just like to edit/tidy up my home digital pictures which I often incorporate in my home videos. Picture It 99 is adequate for me. Quick, simple and idiot proof, and it works with XP. I feel I should get up to date but there appears to be a dozen or more new versions and variations. Digital, Pro9, 10, anniversary etc. etc. It's simple editing I need but not necessarily the organizing & emailing ability.
Which should I buy?

Posted by: Richard at March 4, 2007 3:01 AM

Richard... I got my start with photo editing with picture it! 99. I used it for years and got very good at getting it to do any photo tricks i needed. A few years ago my install of picture it got corrupted and i couldnt find the cd anywhere so i was forced to find a new program. I tried photoshop for about a year, but was never happy with it. I got paintshop pro after that and got hooked on that. In my opinion the interface is better than photoshop, and is easier to learn how to use (if you're looking to upgrade this is my pick). Just yesterday I found my long lost picture it cd in the trunk of my car, so i'm going to try to relive the good old days.. Its just so much easier working with text and doing some things with layers in picture it than in photoshop or paintshop pro so i plan on having it installed for that purpose...

Posted by: BMF at March 26, 2007 10:22 AM

I cannot get my photos out of the frame when I use the cookie cutter feature. It has a block frame around the picture. How do I get that to go away? Thanks.

Posted by: Milski at September 2, 2007 1:49 PM

Dave,
My Picture It 99 is low on disk space and shutting down. I looked at the program properties and it say I have no space left. Now, can I unistall it and reinstall to fix the problem or is it the disk itself storing files.
If I do uninstall will I loss all my files?
Angela

Posted by: Angela at April 11, 2008 12:22 AM

Dave,
I have picture it, 2001 and I do love it. I just clean and brighten my digital photos and love to send by email.
But when I go into computer, pictures and try to delete, (I only leave 1 yr. on at a time.) the pictures multiply! I have copy no. 27 and can't get rid of it! Help!

Posted by: Judith at June 6, 2008 8:24 PM

I want to this pic

Posted by: Selina at June 19, 2008 10:12 PM

How can I get Picture It 99 to work with Vista??

Posted by: Barry at June 20, 2008 8:21 AM

Dave, Picture It worked on my computer before, but now i am unable to open some pictures that I want to work on. The message I get is " Picture It is unable to load this photo" It use to load all my pictures but for some reason won't load many of them now? Any ideas?

Posted by: Dion at August 4, 2008 10:26 AM

Dave,
I scanned a photo into Picture It Express 9 (windows XP). I used a high resolution scan resulting in an error from Picture It saying that I had exceeded the pixel limit and the program could not open the file. I want to find the file and delete it since it seems to be using a lot of hard drive space. I have no file name-Picture It just called it "uncompleted project " without a file name . How can I find it and delete it?

Posted by: Geoff at August 6, 2008 8:23 PM

I have Microsoft Picture It Publishing Platinum v2002. When my computer crashed and I reinstalled Picture It, but when I pull it up and click on pick a project the screen goes blank and the program disappears. I had this problem once before but can't remember what the fix was.

Posted by: Jean Cochran at October 15, 2008 6:00 PM

How can I make Picture It! the default program on my computer. I use two digital cameras and want picture it to be the default. Thanks.

Posted by: Karen at October 28, 2008 2:00 PM

i HAVE BEEN USING MS PICTURE IT FOR MANY YEARS AND
FIND IT A BRILLIANT PROGRAMME,BUT I HAVE JUST UPDATED MY COMPUTER AND WHEN I TRY TO RUN IT I GET AN ERROR MESSAGE [GIF GRAPHICS MISSING] I WOULD APPRICIATE ANY HELP ON THIS
MANY THANKS

Posted by: john davis at May 31, 2009 1:54 AM

I have a lot to say, but ...

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I do have a comment, now that you mention it!