Microsoft Picture It incompatability with Windows 7 and alternatives for .mix files.

Anonymous
2009-12-18T06:22:35+00:00

I have been using Microsoft Picture It for years to design tons of graphics for my business and now I have purchased a new pc loaded with Windows 7 and find that my true love Picture It! is not compatable.  I never dreamed this would be the case for a software that isn't even a decade old or that new pc I just spent thousands on would be sitting right back at the store it came from.  I really feel that Microsoft has cheated me out of something I paid for and invested so much work in by making it unusable and it has brought my small business to a standstill.  What other program is available that is compatable with Windows 7 that will allow me to edit and view existing .mix and other Picture It! format files and contain all the capabilities of Picture It?  I would be willing to purchase additional software from Microsoft to make Picture It compatable to Windows 7 if necessary.

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Apps

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
2011-03-14T18:21:06+00:00

Hello all,

I know that you are all disappointed that Microsoft Picture It is not compatible with Windows 7. 

Your feedback would be better heard if you send it to the Windows 7 Feedback site.

http://mymfe.microsoft.com/Windows%207/Feedback.aspx?formID=195

These are your options when software is not compatible:

If the program is not compatible, then you may try to install and run the program in compatibility mode.

Use the following steps:

1)      Right click on the Program

2)      Click on Properties

3)      Click on Compatibility tab

4)      Select Run this program in compatibility mode and select Windows XP, Windows Vista or whatever operating system the program was running successfully.

Refer to the link here: Make older programs run in this version of Windows

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Make-older-programs-run-in-this-version-of-Windows

If you run Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate version, install Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP mode (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/default.aspx) and execute your software in Windows XP.

If you run Windows 7 Home Premium, try VirtualBox (www.virtualbox.org) or VMware Player

(www.vmware.com) or any other 3party virtualization software and install a separate copy of Windows XP (either Home Edition or Professional) for that purpose. You can find virtualization software free of charge that will run on Windows 7 Home Premium. 

Sincerely,

Marilyn

Was this answer helpful?

10+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

320 additional answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2011-08-25T16:57:36+00:00

    Has anyone tried the Nik Software program as an alternative to Picture It?  Especially the Viveza?   I met a photographer on holiday last winter and he uses it with lovely results.  I haven't tried it because it is quite expensive for my taste and I'd like to know that it isn't a waste of money prior to purchase.  I know nothing will replace Picture It, but this looks like it might uncomplicate using Photoshop to a degree.  Am I right, that it is an add-on to Photoshop --  not a stand alone program?

    http://www.niksoftware.com/index/usa/entry.php?

    Thanks.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2011-08-28T22:37:22+00:00

    I was hesitant at first because it kept popping up and looked unsafe but GIMP is the best! I had all of the problems you all are having. I loved and relied on Picture It!

    Photo Shop is tedious and is not easy to learn. Download Gimp and just remove the extra gaming program and toolbar that comes with it. This is the best solution, I love it and there are a bunch of YOU TUBES to help you learn!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2011-09-03T00:50:43+00:00

    This is what helped me.  I posted this on another thread on the same topic elsewhere here on the Microsoft site:

    I have, after much hair-pulling, gotten Microsoft Picture It! 2001 to work with Windows 7.  Windows Live Photo Gallery doesn't do a fraction of the things that MPI2001 did and is horrible to use.  I have Windows 7 Home Premium.  Here's what to do (this worked for me; I can't guarantee results):

    1.  Install MPI2001 from your old disks BUT install it under Win98 compatibility.  For some reason, even though it ran just fine under WinXP, that compatibility mode didn't work for me.

    2.  The program will be installed but if you double-click on the icon or the exe file, it will crash.  This, of course, makes it seem like the installation failed.  So opening the program first doesn't work.

    3.  Find the picture(s) you want to edit and make a copy of it/each one.  This is very important!!  Then right-click on the copy of the picture and choose "Open with" and MPI2001.  The picture will open in the program.

    4.  Now, however, the "Save As" function does not work so to save your work you have to choose "Save."  This is why it's so important to make a copy of your original picture, so that original will not be overwritten with your edited one.

    I've used many of the functions of MPI2001 and haven't found any so far that don't work, except for the aforementioned "Save As."  Good luck!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2011-09-04T16:33:18+00:00

    Thanks!  I'll try that.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments