Can WinXP's photo-appln be prevented from installing?

[Guest]

I'm currently a Win2K user but am contemplating installing WinXP Home in a
dual-boot setup. When first installing WinXP, is there any way of preventing
the built-in photo application from installing?

As a result of using mildly photo-related applications, I already have to
endure five different photo-editing applications on my Win2K machine that got
installed as default, so I sure don't want yet another one! I use Photoshop
and that's quite adequate for my pro-processing/printing needs. Each
additional photo-application takes up precious hard drive space and extends
the boot-up time.

 

[Yves Alarie]

Not while installing, but after installing.
You simply click on Start and click on Run and type the following in the
textbox:
REGSVR32 /u SHIMGVW.DLL
and press the Enter key.

If you want it back type in:
REGSVR32 SHIMGVW.DLL

Make sure you enter the appropriate required space(s) in the above commands.

I don't recommend you remove the application, but you be the judge.

 

[Guest]

Thanks.

I assume that shimgvw.dll is a shared file and that therefore, by preventing
that feature of WinXP from loading (which I presume the "u" does), it might
well foul up some other process or application on the machine. Is that the
case? Have you actually tried it for yourself?

microman.

 

[Yves Alarie]

Correct, the "u" prevents it from loading.
This application does a lot of "things" for image files, other than just
displaying them. We get a lot of complaints here when this function is lost.
I never tried the "u".
I prefer to right click on a photo and click on Open with and select
Photoshop on the list. This way I get to Photoshop quickly, and still keep
the XP functionality intact.

 

[Yves Alarie]

Sure enough.
Look at a post above your post, "reducing photo for email" and see what was
needed for repair!

 

[Guest]

Eh, open one application just in order to open another? That's pretty warped
thinking, if you don't mind me saying. No wonder Windows software is
increasingly described as bloatware. And you're making assumptions about the
kind of workflow needed by serious photographers. Why does Microsoft always
insist that we should have embedded applications? I don't doubt that some
WinXP users like to have this photo application but when Microsoft designed
WinXP Home, they could have just as easily given us a choice as to whether
that, and maybe one or two other media features, gets installed.

I'm already extremely annoyed at having five photo-editors on my machine,
three of which are totally redundant. They got installed from third-party
applications via the same daft thinking that Microsoft seem to have adopted.
I sure don't want yet another one. Sorry to rant a bit but I'm trying to
organise a clean, lean machine.

Is this compulsory photo application only present in WinXP Home? I mean, is
it there in WinXP Pro as well?

microman

 

[Jim]

Eh, open one application just in order to open another?

That isn't what he said or meant to say. What he meant was to change the
program which displays the image when you right click on the image from one
application to another. In no case is it necessary to open the image in one
application for the mere purpose of change the application.

In my case, one of things which Easy CD Creator installed was PSP which I
never use. If I weren't so lazy, I would just remove it.
I have associated Windows Print and Fax Viewer as the application which runs
when I right click on an image primarily because I only do that when I just
want to look at the image. Windows Print and Fax Viewer does load much
faster than PS.

I do all image work in PS because when I am doing that kind of thing, I
usually edit several images at once.

If you have more image editors than you want, why don't you just uninstall
them? I would not bother with Windows Print and Fax Viewer because removing
it saves no disk space.
Jim

 

[Guest]

Thanks for your input, Jim, but uninstalling the programs will only lead to
more mayhem (shared dll files problems). Some of the programs I have are
mandatory, anyway. For example, it's not possible to import RAW camera files
into PS or PE from my Canon camera without a minimal amount of Canon software
being put to use. I don't expect you to appreciate this and I certainly don't
want to move off into a different discussion, save to say that those of us
who take our photography much more seriously necessarily make efficient use
of hard disk space and do not want to deliberately install photo software on
our machines that we'll never use and which could cause problems with
third-party photo applications. Some of these programs amount to several
hundreds of MB each.

It seems to me that Windows XP was the start of a Microsoft extended venture
into multimedia and the premise that "you'll jolly well have to put up with
what WE decide you should have". I resent that. As far as I can determine,
they've even embedded the photo application in XP Pro.

Looks like, other than trying the command that was suggested earlier, to
unload the feature, I'm stuck with it, in XP. And perhaps we'll have to just
leave our differences of opinion at that.

 

[John Inzer]

I resent that. As far as I can determine, they've
even embedded the photo application in XP
Pro.

===============================
What "photo application " is embedded
in your copy WinXP Pro? The only thing
in my version that could be remotely called
image editing software is Windows Paint.

If you truly want a clean - lean OS maybe
it would be prudent to format your hard
drive and install nothing more than WinXP
with the necessary updates and drivers
and only the programs that you require,

--

******John Inzer********
**MS Picture It! MVP**

*****Digital Image******
Highlights and FAQs
http://tinyurl.com/aczzp

*********Notice***********
This is not tech support
........I am a volunteer.......

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you.

Proceed at your own risk.

 

[Yves Alarie]

Jim, we can't help this person.
We have such, from time to time.
Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving and the same to John Inzer.

Yves

 

[John Inzer]

Jim, we can't help this person.
We have such, from time to time.
Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving and the same to John Inzer.

Yves

=================
Thanks Yves...

And I hope you and your family
had a great thanksgiving also.

--

******John Inzer********
**MS Picture It! MVP**

*****Digital Image******
Highlights and FAQs
http://tinyurl.com/aczzp

*********Notice***********
This is not tech support
........I am a volunteer.......

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you.

Proceed at your own risk.

 

[Guest]

Actually, reformatting and installing XP is more or less what I intend to do.
But that isn't the issue. The issue is that, in XP, you get Microsoft's photo
application whether you like it or not.

But hang on. Are you saying that, in the Pro version, it doesn't exist
because, if so, I'll buy the Pro version instead? I ask that in all
sincerity. All that I've read about the two versions of XP on Microsoft's
website and elsewhere has led me to believe, though, that the photo
application is also embedded in the Pro version. Perhaps that's a case of bad
descriptions.

If you're saying that, categorically, there's no embedded photo application
in XP Pro, then I'll get the Pro version instead. I'll then be a much happier
bunny.

 

[John Inzer]

Actually, reformatting and installing XP is more or less what I
intend to do. But that isn't the issue. The issue is that, in XP, you
get Microsoft's photo application whether you like it or not.

But hang on. Are you saying that, in the Pro version, it doesn't exist
because, if so, I'll buy the Pro version instead? I ask that in all
sincerity. All that I've read about the two versions of XP on
Microsoft's website and elsewhere has led me to believe, though, that
the photo application is also embedded in the Pro version. Perhaps
that's a case of bad descriptions.

If you're saying that, categorically, there's no embedded photo
application in XP Pro, then I'll get the Pro version instead. I'll
then be a much happier bunny.

===================================
What "Photo Application" are you referring to?
What is the name and version?

The WinXP Media Center Edition has some
extras that Home and Pro do not have...maybe
this is the version of XP that you are running.

Touch up your photos with Microsoft Windows
XP Media Center
http://tinyurl.com/ynywzt

Windows XP Media Center Edition:
http://tinyurl.com/2oajg

And you could be referring to one or more
programs that your computer manufacturer
included in their OEM software bundle. If this is
the case....these programs have nothing to do
with Windows XP and can be uninstalled.

--

******John Inzer********
**MS Picture It! MVP**

*****Digital Image******
Highlights and FAQs
http://tinyurl.com/aczzp

*********Notice***********
This is not tech support
........I am a volunteer.......

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you.

Proceed at your own risk.

 

[Guest]

John,

I'm afraid you've misunderstood several different things. Also, your views
on image-editing are clearly totally different to mine.

Let me point out that I don't have WinXP as yet. I'm currently running Win2K
and am merely contemplating a purchase of XP. Although XP Home edition would
probably be okay for the kind of work I'm doing, I simply don't want my hard
drive cluttered up with a photo application that I don't want and will never
use. I'm using third-party, high-quality photo-editors. I was simply trying
to find out if the embedded photo app can be stopped from installing at WinXP
setup, that's all.

If I knew what that embedded photo application in WinXP was called, I'd say
so, but none of Microsoft's description of it that I've come across actually
mentions its name. It's certainly not MS Paint, though.

If I can get it confirmed that there's no photo app embedded in XP Pro, I'll
buy the Pro version instead.

 

[John Inzer]

John,

I'm afraid you've misunderstood several different things. Also, your
views on image-editing are clearly totally different to mine.

Let me point out that I don't have WinXP as yet. I'm currently
running Win2K and am merely contemplating a purchase of XP. Although
XP Home edition would probably be okay for the kind of work I'm
doing, I simply don't want my hard drive cluttered up with a photo
application that I don't want and will never use. I'm using
third-party, high-quality photo-editors. I was simply trying to find
out if the embedded photo app can be stopped from installing at WinXP
setup, that's all.

If I knew what that embedded photo application in WinXP was called,
I'd say so, but none of Microsoft's description of it that I've come
across actually mentions its name. It's certainly not MS Paint,
though.

If I can get it confirmed that there's no photo app embedded in XP
Pro, I'll buy the Pro version instead.

===============================
Quite frankly....I have no idea what you are
talking about when you mention:
"embedded photo application in WinXP".

Maybe you would be better served if you
posted your questions in the rec.photo.digital
newsgroup...you'll find some experts and
professionals there.

Good luck with your system.

--

******John Inzer********
**MS Picture It! MVP**

*****Digital Image******
Highlights and FAQs
http://tinyurl.com/aczzp

*********Notice***********
This is not tech support
........I am a volunteer.......

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you.

Proceed at your own risk.

 

[Jim]

Jim, we can't help this person.
We have such, from time to time.
Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving and the same to John Inzer.

Yves

And to you as well. We did have quite a feast yesterday.
Jim

 

[Paul Ballou]

Are you referring to the Picture and Fax Viewer or the Photoprinting Wizard?

There is no Photo Editor in any version of XP that I'm aware unless you want
to call MS Paint a Photo Editor....

--
Paul Ballou
MVP Office
http://office.microsoft.com/home
http://www.freeserifsoftware.com/
http://www.ballousgiftshop.com

 

[Jim]

Also, MS Paint is part of Windows MCE. I won't ever use it.
Jim

 

[John Inzer]

Also, MS Paint is part of Windows MCE. I won't ever use it.
Jim

==============================
Remove it...

Add-Remove Programs / Add Remove
Windows Components / Accessories and
Utilities / Details button / Accessories /
Details button /...uncheck...Paint / OK...

--

******John Inzer********
**MS Picture It! MVP**

*****Digital Image******
Highlights and FAQs
http://tinyurl.com/aczzp

*********Notice***********
This is not tech support
........I am a volunteer.......

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you.

Proceed at your own risk.

 

[Jim]

==============================
Remove it...

Add-Remove Programs / Add Remove
Windows Components / Accessories and
Utilities / Details button / Accessories /
Details button /...uncheck...Paint / OK...

Removing the useless Paint saved me 2.6 MB of disk space. The disk holds 60
GB, thus removing Paint is hardly noticeable.

Jim