HELP PLEASE - All my pix have changed format

[skysurfer]

Hope somebody has an answer for this one.
I have noticed that suddenly all my pictures have changed from .jpg to .bmp format!
And if I try to save a picture it won't allow me to save except in .bmp format.
I don't remember changing anything and am panicking because I have thousands of valued photos.
Help please.....

[skysurfer]

Sorry peeps but things seem to be changing.
I wrote the above because when I tried to save a picture it only let me save in bmp and when I looked in the picture file from that window all the pictures were registered as bmp.
But now when I go into my picture file via Explore etc they are all in jpg again Yippee!.
But now when I try to save a picture I get a message which says 'The system cannot find the file specified' with Ok and Help. So I click Help and a window says 'Cannot find the CWindows\system32\mshtml.hlp file. Do you want to tr to find this file yoursef?' I click Yes and a panel comes up headed System 32 asking me to click to look for the mshtml.hlp file which I click and it says 'Can't find the file. I need to reinstal it.

Maybe some clever clogs out there might have some idea what's going on?
Thanks

[JohnnyReb51]

Hiya.

There is no such file, thats why it cant be found, its a bug in Internet Explorer 7.

Have you recently updated to IE 7 ?

Where are you saving these pictures from ?. email, camera, etc.

[skysurfer]

Hi Johnny
I have not done any updating recently.
I am trying to save them from emails and somebody suggested it doesn't work because they are embedded. But I have tried loads of examples and I know they worked before.
Here's a weird thing which I have noticed on Google is common to others who have suffered this thing.If I try to save a picture from an email which I have sent - it saves correctly. But any other other picture when I right click I don't even get the same 'save picture as' panel come up. I simply get a panel which says Cut, Copy, Paste and Properties at the bottom. If I hit copy and then go to a blank page to paste I find the paste word is greyout and doesn't work.
I ran Kapersky which did catch some ad thing called Zwinzi and I've logged off and on again but it hasn't helped.
I am not very computer minded and I don't know what to do next. Thanks for your help. Anyone else have any ideas please?

[JohnnyReb51]

Hiya.

Try emptying your Temporary Internet Files cache.

Open IE and on the toolbar click on > Tools > Internet Options.

On the page that opens, there should be a Delete Files... button to clear the Temporary Internet Files cache.

[skysurfer]

Thanks JohnnyReb. Have done that as you suggest with partial success.
At least now when I click on the pictures I do get the correct panel coming up with Save Picture As.
But unfortunately when I Save Picture As I still get the message saying 'The system cannot find the file specified'
I have found a weird way round this but it's a bit of a pain.
Remember I said that oddly I can save pictures I have sent to myself?
If I want a pic off an email and so forward that email to myself and then click Save Picture As - it works!
So overall - the bmp prob seems to have gone away, and the wrong panel opening seems fixed thanks to you, but the problem of being able to simply Save Picture As - still remains.

[JohnnyReb51]

Hiya.

Thats some good new then, we just have to sort out the other problem.

How long have you had IE 7 installed.

Try a copy and paste into Paint, then save as jpg or whatever, that may work.

[skysurfer]

As I can't remember when I installed IE 7 it must have been quite some time - unless it installs automatically?

I'm sorry I don't know what Paint is but I tried copying the email pics and then pasting them on another email. It won't let you Save Pic As on a new email anyway, so I posted it to myself and then when received tried to Save Pic As.
And this is what happens - it open My Pictures where again I see they are all bmp!
So I try to save and that comes up in bmp too. So I presume I can save it but into bmp which is what I don't want.
I really hate computers! How can heroes like you see this as a bleedin challenge?!
Please tell me where Paint is - if I have it. Thanks

[Memfis]

paint = Microsoft paint (comes with windows).

start : run : mspaint

[JohnnyReb51]

Hiya.

Paint is in > Start > All Programs > Accessories.

When did this actually start playing up, maybe an update caused it if its only happened just recently.

Are the pictures sent as an attachment, or in the actual email.

[skysurfer]

Thanks guys. Found paint and pasted the pic in there successfully and then went to file and saved it into a picture folder. But again all the pics came up as bmp but this time on the drop down menu at the bottom I had the option of changing the format which I did to jpg and they all turned to jpg.
But of course I'm still stuck with the prob of not being able to save pic as in the first place without getting that silly 'system cant find the file specified' notice.
In answer to Johnns - yes the pics I am trying to save are ones on the body of emails but as I write I will see if I can save attachments. Hang on - yes it will save in attachments and glory-be I was able to save another properly just now!
The original pics still won't save but give us a few mins and I'll check things out again. It could be we're getting there guys......

[skysurfer]

OK Guys - please take BOW and accept my congratulations.
Something you told me to do has worked because it is now working properly again.
There are just one set of pics which throw up the original problem but I think that must be because they were 'embedded' whatever that means....
But I can now go to Google images and Save or save attachments or pictures on emails etc - so THANKS A LOT guys.
You've made my day.
Now to sort out my faulty DVD-ROM drive which my PC refuses to acknowledge as having a disc in it.....
Thanks again

[JohnnyReb51]

Hiya.

Thats great news.

Embedded means the picture is inserted into the Email, not as an actual attachment.

Unfortunately, MS has offered no fix for the problem, the only workaround I have seen is to uninstall IE7 and revert back to IE6, which instantly removes the problem.

Does the DVD-ROM play any dvd/cd disks and/or write to them, have you tried another dvd/cd to see if its a certain one causing the problem.

Is the DVD-ROM recognised in Device Manager, is there any ? marks or other in there against the DVD-ROM entry.

[skysurfer]

Hi Johnny
Well since you are a sucker for punishment... here goes.
The DVD-ROM drive will play DVDs/CD discs but will NOT write which is the problem I'm having.

The DVD-ROM IS recognised in Device Manager and under Properties it says it's working properly
If I hit the troubleshooter button it gives me bullet points but none that apply to me.
There is none which say - everything working except writing or playing MP3 discs.

Here's what I am trying to do.
I record a lot of mp3 podcasts into my hard drive and then transfer them on CDs.
After trouble with Roxio I ditched it and started using CD Burner XP which suddenly stopped working.
Somebody suggested rt clicking on the drive and tick boxing a place which says 'enable writing' or similar which I did - and it worked again.

But now when I go through the process of opening CD Burner XP, pressing the Create a Data Disc button (create an audio disc I've discovered is not for mp3) and drop and dragging my podcasts into the box provided, it tells me there is no disc in the drive. And I'm stumped.

In fact if I put an already recorded mp3 disc in the drive - and I check first that there is stuff on it - and go to Explore and click on the drive, it doesn't recognise there's anything in there. It also won't play or even show an mp3 disc when I insert it in the drive.

The device in question is LG DVD-ROM DRD8160B if that helps.

I'm sure it's not a prob with the discs because I have tried many new ones and many already recorded mp3 old ones.

[JohnnyReb51]

Hiya.

From what I have read, that dvd-rom drive is a read only device, it doesnt record.

Your disk/s may not contain anything if you think you have recorded to them and show nothing on them in explorer.


Go here and download this free program, click on the Softpedia Mirror (US) link.

http://www.softpedia.com/progDownloa...load-5983.html

Once downloaded, extract the zip file to its own folder, go in the folder and double click on the Infotool.exe, skip the drive speed test as it opens and wait till the program has finished analysing the drive. A small window will open then close, then another window will pop up with the drive/s capabilities, it will have red X's next to what it cant do and green ticks next to what it can do. I think you will find it reads only.

If you have more than one DVD and/or CD drive, it will analyse both of them, you can select which one to inspect from the dropdown box on the top right of the window.

PS. CDBurnerXP supports the following audio formats.

Extension
MP3
MP2
WAV
BWF
OGG
FLAC
WMA
AIFF
WV
APE
MPC
MP4

[skysurfer]

Johnny wrote "From what I have read, that dvd-rom drive is a read only device, it doesnt record.

Your disk/s may not contain anything if you think you have recorded to them and show nothing on them in explorer.


D No Johnny. I have used that drive to record many times. And the discs do contain data because I have played them on my music system which takes mp3 discs.

In view of this I think the infotool thing won't help will it?

I do have a second drive - HL -DT DVD-RAM GSA-H55N.

[JohnnyReb51]

Hiya.

You know your PC better than I do, lol.

It may be a DVD-ROM/CD combo then, which will write CD's but not DVD's, my apologies if I have mistakenly misinformed you, but there was no mention of writing dvd/cd's in all the articles I have read.

I was thinking DVD recording not CD's for some reason.

So back to square one.

It may be the software you are using is corrupt, can you uninstall it and reboot the PC, then re-install it.

Here is the download link if you havent still got the setup file....

http://cdburnerxp.se/download.php

PS. Does the HL -DT DVD-RAM GSA-H55N drive play/record OK ??

[bouncingjohn]

I think JohnnyReb is right about the LG DVD-ROM DRD8160B - as far as I can tell it's not a writer (the "ROM" bit in the name is a bit of a clue = read only memory). Your second drive (also an LG by the looks of it), on the other hand is a writer (though most of the comments I've found on it aren't very complimentary). Are you sure it wasn't that one you were using to write discs?

[JohnnyReb51]

If skysurfer installs that program I mentioned, it will clear up any misunderstanding, lol, even the manual I found doesnt mention burn speeds.

[skysurfer]

Hi Guys
I know for sure this drive DOES write because I have used it many times - it's the bottom one on my tower and I know for sure this is the one I've used, not the top one.
If you look at my earlier email you'll see that I used it a day earlier, then it packed up, then I ticked that box to enable writing, it worked once and then next time it stopped working.
I appreciate your idea that the CD Burner software may be corrupt but this can't be the reason for my probs either because like I said, when I put an mp3 disc in the drive it won't play or even be recognised as being in there.
And yet if I put a commercial wav CD or even a DVD in there , they both play.
When I had Roxio I would copy CDs and mp3 discs by putting one in the top tray and a blank in the bottom tray and hitting 'copy'.
I know the HL-DT DVD-RAM one plays OK but I don't think I have ever used it for recording.

[bouncingjohn]

Okay, the colours may differ from yours, but this is the LG DVD-ROM DRD8160B:



... and this is the HL -DT DVD-RAM GSA-H55N:



Are you sure you haven't mixed them up?

[skysurfer]

Well I have to tell you - the black one is definitely a dead ringer for the one I am having trouble with.
The other looks different.
So yes you are right. I am sorry I have misled you by giving you the wrong name for the dodgy drive.
The faulty drive IS the HL RAM not the LG ROM.
But that doesn't mean I have been checking out the wrong one - on my computer the lower tray is E and the upper tray is D.
And when I put a normal CD in E and go to explore and click on E - it plays OK.
When I put a DVD in there - it plays also.
But when I put an mp3 disc in E and click on E in Explore it won't register - no tracks are shown.
And when I put a blank disc in E to burn mp3s from my hard drive, it doesn't work. The software burner keeps saying put a disc in the drive.
But remember something has changed because previously I could put in a blank disc in E and burn the podcasts.
I'm sorry this is giving you such a hard time.....

[JohnnyReb51]

Hiya.

No probs on the mix up,we all make them, lol.

Will get back on this tomorrow.

[bouncingjohn]

But that doesn't mean I have been checking out the wrong one

Originally Posted by skysurfer

Understood - and no blame attached. It just makes things a bit easier if we know exactly what we're dealing with.

[skysurfer]

Thanks so much guys. I'll be here tomorrow.

[JohnnyReb51]

Hiya.

Ok, now the mix up is settled, we can start some more suggestions.

Did you uninstall Roxio completely, it doesnt really like other burning software installed along side of it and may cause conflicts. I used it years ago, but from what I have read lately, it possibly leaves behind errant files in various places.

Have you tried uninstalling the Drive via Device Manager ( Right click on the drive entry and select Uninstall ) and then rebooting the PC.

Maybe try a dvd/cd lense cleaning CD, it may be possible the lense/s are dirty. From memory, there are 2 lenses inside the drive, one for the CD's and one for the DVD's. The cleaning CD's are about 5 - 10 pounds, depending on where you go for them and the quality/brand.

E.G. Such as the one in the link below, although they have none in stock, lol.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Scotch%C2%AE.../dp/B00006HZ2Z

Does the drive record DVD's.

Have you tried another brand of CD, or have you changed brands lately.

Are the CD's big enough in capacity to accept the MP3's you have selected for burning, if the selection is over the maximum allowed limit, it will spit out that insert disk error. Which means its asking for a larger capacity CD/DVD.

Put one of your recorded MP3 discs that you cant see the MP3 files in Explorer, into the dodgy drive, then start CDBurnerXP and open a recording session, data and/or audio, it doesnt matter which. On the toolbar, select Disc > Disc Information and see if it actually recognises the MP3 data on there. Dont forget to select the correct drive in the middle of the window.

The Nero Info Tool I posted a link to, gives a lot more data on the drive/s and disc information than CDBurnerXP, if you want to use that.

Thats all I can think of for now.

[skysurfer]

Hi Johnny
So good of you to try and help
What's happened this morning is that a mate in a company pays for one of those IT companies to do their computers so he got one of their guys to phone me today and remotely take over my PC to try to solve the problem.
In short he gave up and said it must be a hardware issue.
He couldn't get the drive to recognise a blank disc or a mp3 disc but it would recognise and play a normal CD and a DVD.
So I think we may be screwed!
The drive was put in only a matter of weeks ago by a pal - not sure if he has a guarantee or how long he had had the drive sitting at home. But it was brand new. And don't forget it DID work using the same make CDs - Maxell -and more recently the same CDBurner XP which replaced Roxio.
I will now paste here your latest posting and go through it one by one with you.

Did you uninstall Roxio completely, it doesnt really like other burning software installed along side of it and may cause conflicts. I used it years ago, but from what I have read lately, it possibly leaves behind errant files in various places.

S I did uninstall it but who knows completely. I will search under Roxio and see if anything comes up and ditch it.

Have you tried uninstalling the Drive via Device Manager ( Right click on the drive entry and select Uninstall ) and then rebooting the PC.

S Yes I did that early on. It didn't solve it.

Maybe try a dvd/cd lense cleaning CD, it may be possible the lense/s are dirty. From memory, there are 2 lenses inside the drive, one for the CD's and one for the DVD's. The cleaning CD's are about 5 - 10 pounds, depending on where you go for them and the quality/brand.

S I will try this if you think it's worth it. But is it likley to be that when it plays DVDs and normal CDs OK - just won't function for blank discs and m93 discs?

E.G. Such as the one in the link below, although they have none in stock, lol.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Scotch%C2%AE.../dp/B00006HZ2Z

Does the drive record DVD's.

S Don't know that because I have never tried to record a DVD and not sure how to do it. But it certainly plays DVDs - weird.

Have you tried another brand of CD, or have you changed brands lately.

S No I haven't but as I mentioned above. It worked with Maxell CDs but suddenly stopped working.

Are the CD's big enough in capacity to accept the MP3's you have selected for burning, if the selection is over the maximum allowed limit, it will spit out that insert disk error. Which means its asking for a larger capacity CD/DVD.

S Yes - because I load the empty CD and drag across podcasts several at a time until it reaches the 700MB capacity. But even before I do that the CDBurnerXP registers NO DISC at the bottom even though there is one in there.

Put one of your recorded MP3 discs that you cant see the MP3 files in Explorer, into the dodgy drive, then start CDBurnerXP and open a recording session, data and/or audio, it doesnt matter which. On the toolbar, select Disc > Disc Information and see if it actually recognises the MP3 data on there. Dont forget to select the correct drive in the middle of the window.

S I have just done that and I can't remember exactly what it said but it didn't register any disc in there at all. I think it said No Disc

The Nero Info Tool I posted a link to, gives a lot more data on the drive/s and disc information than CDBurnerXP, if you want to use that.

S Yes I'll do that if you think it's worth it in view of the above.
Maybe Johnny you can tell me in view of the above whether you think it's worth me doing anything more or do I assume the drive is faulty?

Thanks again

[skysurfer]

You are not gonna believe this....
But after telling you that drive never plays a self recorded mp3 disc, I was closing down the windows and found the one which asks what medium you want to play in - Windows Media, Real etc. I pressed the button and the bloody disc started to play!

I will now put a blank disc in and try to record and see if that is solved too...
Hang in there....

[skysurfer]

NO - I have tried recording on a blank disc and the BurnerXP won't recognise there is a disc in there.
I have made a screenshot but not sure how to attach it here.
Have tried but it was a Word document and wouldn't attach. Will try again

[JohnnyReb51]

Hiya.

Well from all that we have suggested, I was holding back on the last resort, which was saying the drive is faulty and to replace it.

If you want to purchase the cleaner cd, its up to you, it will come in handy for any DVD/CD drive/player you may have.

As the final resort a new DVD/CD drive may have to be purchased, be wise and read a lot of reviews on any that you might take a liking to, make note of the good and bad points. Any with a lot of bad feedback, I would give a miss.

I dont know if this drive is IDE or Sata, but check the data lead and power lead are fully pushed home on both, drive end and Motherboard socket, loose cables can do wonderous things to mess you about, lol.

Just saw you other reply but will post this anyway.