Why are thumbnails different on Desktop and Laptop

**amotl** · 04 October 2007, 02:22 PM

I run Microsoft XP on both machines and also Xara Xtreme. However the thumbnails displayed in My Documents are different. On the desktop the Xara X only and on the laptop the details as shown.
This drives me up the wall as I would prefer to see the details for easy identification on both machines.
Any assistance would be much appreciated
Regards
amotl

**MER** · 04 October 2007, 04:00 PM

This is a Windows setting. To change open 'My Documents'(or any Windows Explorer window). Click the 'View' pull down and choose the the type of view you want. Then go to the 'Tools' pull down and choose 'Folder Options'. Click the 'View' tab and choose 'Apply to All Folders'. Close the 'My Documents' window and reopen it and it should display the way you want.

MER

**amotl** · 05 October 2007, 06:50 PM

Mer
Thank you for your reply. I followed your instructions to the letter but still the problem persists. I had both machines opened side by side to ensure I hadn't made any mistakes.
Regards
amotl

**handrawn** · 05 October 2007, 07:09 PM

just to check - you did 'thumbnails' in the My Documents view menu?

**amotl** · 05 October 2007, 07:22 PM

Steve
Yes I did.
Rgds
amotl

**handrawn** · 05 October 2007, 07:41 PM

that is strange then - it should show the details I would have thought

**steve.ledger** · 05 October 2007, 08:58 PM

It's possible that you may have some other software which has conflicted with XP's thumbnail view for some file types. I've seen this sort of thing happen with various shell extensions (for example) that have been installed on PC's, and forgotten about.

You could try restoring Thumbnail Views with this registry fix tool.
See line 17, right-hand column:
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm

Alternately there are thumbnail viewers that support .xar
http://www.softfields.com/prode.php
or
http://xaraxtv.at.tut.by/xtvd.htm

**Jon G** · 06 October 2007, 07:45 AM

Also check the Folder Options - File types tab: it should have XAR there, and it should also read that XAR files open with the current version of Xara you have installed.

In other words the .xar file type needs to be associated with the exact version of Xara you have currently installed. If not, Windows is not able to display the file contents as a thumbnail.