Photo Gallery slideshow full screen in Windows 8.1

Anonymous

I don't recall whether the upgrade caused this, i.e., whether fullscreen was functional in Photo Gallery for Windows 8.0 slideshow. Either way, my question is whether or not fullscreen will be implemented in future versions of Photo Gallery slideshow for Windows 8.1 or whether I can do something at my end to activate it now. Apparently fullscreen was available in the Vista version judging from Web chatter but several sources say it is not implemented in Windows 8 and that the Windows Experience Index (WEI) must be above 4 something to allow the fullscreen option. Since the WEI was eliminated in Windows 8.1, I am wondering if that is the problem. My equipment is very new (Dell XPS 2720) with a large high resolution (2560 x 1440) screen. Photos viewed in Photo Gallery slideshow have a large black area to the right and black areas above and below and the photo is not centered. Perhaps it is not possible to implement a fullscreen version, but if that is the case, it should be at least mentioned. Since Photo Gallery has many other useful features, I hope there is something I am doing wrong.

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

For anyone who is still trying, I found a simple solution!

I am a long time user of photo gallery and have a kind of love/hate relationship with it. I recently discovered this issue after upgrading from windows 7 to 10.

It took me about 30 minutes to find this solution, so unless this is not working for others and just for me, shame on you Microsoft (sorry, couldn't help myself)

So.... here goes:

Locate the Photo Gallery .exe file, in my case and most likely for anyone else:

C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Photo Gallery\WLXPhotoGallery.exe

right click and select properties.
open compatibility tab
put a tick-mark in "disable display scaling on high DPI settings"
click apply
close properties

Now startup Photo Gallery and try a slideshow.

Please let me know if it worked for you, as it did for me.

0 comments

Answer accepted by question author

Anonymous

Thank You! Finally a solution that works. Why have Microsoft not publicised this?

0 comments

70 additional answers

Anonymous

2015-01-14T04:21:50+00:00

Hard to believe. Just bought a new dell and trying to show my mother photos and video of my daughters and there is a big black area.... sad Microsoft.... sad!!! also looking at apple,,, they get the total package right.....this can NOT be that hard!!!!
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2015-01-13T01:05:07+00:00

Same problem when forced to upgrade to 8.1, how is possible not to fix bugs? Shame on Microsoft, I'm seriously looking to buy a Mac now after 2 decade of Windows use. This and the whole 8 experience made me just fed up.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments
Anonymous

2014-12-01T01:26:18+00:00

To all disappointed users for which I an one!

To clear the smoke, read between the lines, put 2 & 2 together and connect the dots:

MICROSOFT SCREWED UP SO BAD THAT THE PROBLEM WITH PHOTO GALLERY SLIDESHOW CAN NOT BE FIXED.

I have worked with Photo Gallery with Windows Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1 in each version Microsoft made improvements so Microsoft did not abandon Photo Gallery they just screwed up.

Microsoft will either have to rewrite Photo Gallery(a new Photo Gallery), Come out with a new version of Windows, or both. I expect The next version of Windows will have a replacement for Photo Gallery. When will that be? I'm not holding my breath!

From JamesWiMe, on November 28, 2013

Unfortunately we may never be able to use Slideshow full screen in Windows 8.1, maybe not in Windows anything ever again. On November 21st I received a private message from John_M, Windows Live Global Escalations Team. I will try to quote:

Hello JamesWiMe

Got an update from our product group and it was determined to be a program supportability issue in Windows 8.1. Sad to say, this new release of OS does not support Photo Gallery 2012 therefore the problem being apparent in your machine (and all others who posted on this thread as well). A new version of the application that will be supported in Windows 8.1 needs to be created in order to address this issue and that I believe is still in the works. I guess reverting to a lower OS version is not an option especially for you right now and as such the best they could suggest for the mean time is to use Windows Photo View application in the system.

We are hoping for your understanding regarding this matter. Our product team is aware of this concern addressed for future releases of the product.

Sincerely

Windows Live Global Escalations Team

From John_M, on December 2, 2013

Just as JamesWiMe had stated, this issue with the full screen option has been determined to be a program supportability o r functio nality in Windows 8.1. Apparently, Photo Gallery 2012 is yet to be supported by the new operating system. Since the software version of the application would address the concern. For now, there hasn't been any update whether there would be a new one which would be released soon but rest assured that all will be informed of this new version once it is available.

Microsoft is losing business to all their competitors because they don't care about what their customers are saying. Windows OS forced me upgraded my system from 8.0 to 8.1 even though I have delayed the upgrade as much as I can. I even disabled the notification about the upgrade. But windows found a way to upgrade my system when I reboot my computer. Then, the Photo Gallery does not work the way it did any more. It is a total screw up.

After I used windows for so many years , I am starting to think about a Mac computer.
Was this answer helpful?

0 comments No comments