PDF thumbnails not showing up in folders

Anonymous
2009-12-22T21:17:35+00:00

I just loaded Vista Ultimate 64-bit. Folders only show thumbnails for JPGs and not PDFs. In past, when I had 32-bit Vista, the thumbnails showed up for PDFs. All view settings are correct. Hidden files, file extensions boxes, etc. Box to always show thumbnails and not icons.

I have disabled user accounts and all security, but, all I get for PDFs is the icon for Adobe Reader 9.2. It won't show a thumbnail. In same folder, all JPGs show up. I really miss this feature which worked in XP and Vista 32-bit. What is going on??

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Files, folders, and storage

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
Anonymous
2009-12-23T20:10:56+00:00

Hi Ben9000,

Welcome to Microsoft answers!

This symptom occur because a 64-bit process that runs on a computer that is running an x64-based version of Windows cannot load the 32-bit .dll files that are required by some program features.

You may try the following work around:

You must use the 32-bit version of Windows Explorer. The 32-bit version of Windows Explorer is located in the %windir%\Syswow64 folder on the computer that is running an x64-based version of Windows.

To use the 32-bit version of Windows Explorer, follow these steps:

Click Start, click Run, type the following in the Open box, and then click OK:

Drive_Letter :\windows\syswow64\explorer.exe /separate

Note The placeholder Drive_Letter represents the drive where the x64-based version of Windows is installed.

For more information:

Some Windows Explorer extensions and some Control Panel items are not displayed on computers that are running an x64-based version of Windows

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/895561#appliesto

Now check if the issue is resolved.

You may want to try the following steps:

PDF thumbnail view via the Acrobat reader:

  1. Run Acrobat Reader. In Reader, click File > Open and navigate to the folder(s) containing your PDF file(s). If necessary, move the slider to show all your PDF files.
  2. Cancel out of Open and exit Reader.
  3. Open Windows Explorer and navigate to the folders(s) containing your PDF file(s).
  4. Click Views and move the slider until you see PDF thumbnails.

Thanks and Regards:

Ajay K

Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

Was this answer helpful?

9 people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

49 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2016-02-01T01:22:34+00:00

    Yeah you really need to get:

    http://download.cnet.com/Foxit-Reader/3000-18497_4-10313206.html

    It will show your thumbnails. It's better than adobe.

    YES! Thank you, guys! Microsoft merely says this is Adobe's problem (!), even though it is a problem with Windows showing a Windows thumbnail in Windows explorer! Nevertheless,  some time ago I purchased Tracker PDF-XChange & installing this corrected the thumbnail display. However, the Tracker update & other functions seems to render unstable Windows versions 7 & later. I today tried Foxit PDF reader & this fixed the problem. It is ironic that third party applications seem to handle Windows thumbnails whereas Microsoft seems to have been unable to do so for over a decade, & continues to take responsibility for this Windows problem. Again, thank you great people. Tonyzn.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2016-02-01T01:21:52+00:00

    YES! Thank you, guys! Microsoft merely says this is Adobe's problem (!), even though it is a problem with Windows showing a Windows thumbnail in Windows explorer! Nevertheless,  some time ago I purchased Tracker PDF-XChange & installing this corrected the thumbnail display. However, the Tracker update & other functions seems to render unstable Windows versions 7 & later. I today tried Foxit PDF reader & this fixed the problem. It is ironic that third party applications seem to handle Windows thumbnails whereas Microsoft seems to have been unable to do so for over a decade, & continues to take responsibility for this Windows problem. Again, thank you great people. Tonyzn.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2016-01-17T14:01:40+00:00

    I got it to work in Windows 10 by installing FoxIT PDF reader as the default PDF document reader. All of the thumbnails view in FoxIT. I then went to the folder where my PDF files are, right clicked on a file>chose "Open with...">chose Adobe Acrobat Reader DC> selected it as the default PDF reader, and all of my thumbnails remained, even after they were designated "A", for Adobe. Whenever PDF's were added, after that, the thumbnails viewed as they should have. It worked for me that simply. Try it, it may work for you too!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2016-01-17T07:35:46+00:00

    Not works in Windows 10 at all.

    Very, very frustrating.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments