To cut a long story short - someone brought a new Dell laptop to me last night because of problems viewing jpg files. It's win 7.

I was convinced that it was a PEBKAC error (Problem Exists Between Keyboard And Chair) but when trying to open a jpg I got, at most, the top 10% of the file. The rest was grey fill. Viewed on the laptop where the file came from, it looked fine. For some reason this laptop (the win 7 one) just seems to have a problem opening jpg files.

Never come across this or even anything remotely like this. Any ideas?

Does it have enough memory allocated to the gaphics card?

My laptop does that sometimes when I use the memory card adaptor usb thingy!, but put the card into the wife's laptop (which has a built-in card slot) and it workes fine?

What about the sample jpgs that are in the Pictures folder?

What about the sample jpgs that are in the Pictures folder?

No, they opened okay, just when using photos on a memory card with the usb adaptor thingy. I'm NO expert, but the laptop doesn't need the display driver updated does it? (that is a totally random guess).

No, they opened okay, just when using photos on a memory card with the usb adaptor thingy. I'm NO expert, but the laptop doesn't need the display driver updated does it? (that is a totally random guess).

Very much doubt it. If other jpgs open fine, then you know its ok.

What if you copy the pics from the memory card to the documents folder or something?

Very much doubt it. If other jpgs open fine, then you know its ok.

What if you copy the pics from the memory card to the documents folder or something?

No, they still came out half grey? I had to use the camera cable with the card in the camera to view/copy the files and then they were ok, the half grey thing only happened trying to use the memory card inserted into the usb card reader thing.

my mate has a dell lappy with the same sort of problem iirc.

I'll give him a shout tommorrow, see if he has had any luck yet

my mate has a dell lappy with the same sort of problem iirc.

I'll give him a shout tommorrow, see if he has had any luck yet

Just found this, might be worth a look?

No, they still came out half grey? I had to use the camera cable with the card in the camera to view/copy the files and then they were ok, the half grey thing only happened trying to use the memory card inserted into the usb card reader thing.

Tell me if I haven't got this right:

Opening pics directly on card in reader - Grey

Opening sample pictures from windows - fine

Files copied from card into Pictures folder, then opened from Pictures folder - grey

Files opened from card on another pc with a different card reader - fine

What about using the same card reader on a different PC?

Edited 9 November, 201015 yr by softscoop

Tell me if I haven't got this right:

Opening pics directly on card in reader - Grey

Opening sample pictures from windows - fine

Files copied from card into Pictures folder, then opened from Pictures folder - grey

Files opened from card on another pc with a different card reader - fine

What about using the same card reader on a different PC?

Lol, I never tried that as the card fits into a built in slot on the wife's laptop so doesn't need the usb thing. My laptop isn't as posh as hers. :p

The rest of your comments are correct.

Lol, I never tried that as the card fits into a built in slot on the wife's laptop so doesn't need the usb thing. My laptop isn't as posh as hers. :p

The rest of your comments are correct.

Well if you get the same problem on a different PC using the same card reader - then it's a duff card reader

Oh OK. Did you try the link on post # 9?

Yes but if you can open the pictures fine with another reader, they are not corrupted on the card - so you dont need it.

TRied other files from the same card, not jpgs?

If it has problems with other files would indicate the card reader.

Also try another card with jpgs in the same reader if you can.

In my case, the files can be read on a memory stick connected to the originator's XP laptop. Plug the memory stick into the W7 laptop; no good. Also she has had problems opening jpgs which sit on her hard disk. So not necessarily related to USB stick issues.

A quick guess but I'd suggest updating the drivers for the card reader or remove it from the list of USDB devices the machine recognises (so it reinstalls next time you use it) and then try it again?