Microsoft KB Archive/927830

Knowledge Base

How to force Windows Photo Gallery to display images by using GDI on a Windows Vista-based computer

Article ID: 927830

Article Last Modified on 10/11/2007

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APPLIES TO

• Windows Vista Ultimate
• Windows Vista Enterprise
• Windows Vista Business
• Windows Vista Home Premium
• Windows Vista Home Basic
• Windows Vista Starter
• Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Edition
• Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit Edition
• Windows Vista Business 64-bit Edition
• Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition
• Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit Edition
• Windows Live Photo Gallery

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SUMMARY

Important This article contains information about how to modify the registry. Make sure that you back up the registry before you modify it. Make sure that you know how to restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up, restore, and modify the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

322756 How to back up and restore the registry in Windows XP and Windows Vista

SUMMARY

INTRODUCTION

This article describes how to force Windows Photo Gallery to display images by using graphics device interface (GDI) on a Windows Vista-based computer.

MORE INFORMATION

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall the operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

Windows Photo Gallery displays an image by writing to a Microsoft DirectX surface. However, you may want to force Windows Photo Gallery to display an image by using GDI for the following reasons:

• You may encounter issues with video card drivers that are incompatible with how Windows Photo Gallery displays an image to a DirectX surface.
• You may use a utility that must force Windows Photo Gallery to write by using GDI to gain access to screen bits.

Note The performance of Windows Photo Gallery decreases significantly when you force the program to display images by using GDI. Therefore, use this registry entry only when it is necessary. Then, reset the value of the registry entry to zero as soon as possible.

To make Window Photo Gallery display images by using GDI, you must create a registry key. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Click Start , type regedit in the Start Search box, and then click regedit.exe in the Programs list.
   
   If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type your password, or click Continue.
2. Click the following registry subkey:

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows Photo Gallery

3. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click Key.
4. Type Viewer as the name of the new entry, and then press ENTER.
5. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD (32-bit) Value.
6. Type ForceSoftwareRender as the name of the new entry, and then press ENTER.
7. In the details pane, double-click the ForceSoftwareRender entry.
8. In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.
9. Exit Registry Editor, and then restart the computer.

Keywords: kbhowto kbgdi kbexpertiseinter kbwinliveportal KB927830

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