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Remove the default Image Viewer in Windows Me/XP

Posted August 2002 by Steve Sinchak

This tweak works in Windows Me/XP, I have not try it in Windows NT/2000 yet, because i don't have that OS, you can try it if you have.

*This tweak does not work in Windows 95/98

To remove the Windows default Image Viewer, first:

  1. Click Start Menu
  2. Select Run menu
  3. Type "cmd", (for Windows Me, type "command")
  4. Then type "regsvr32 /u shimgvw.dll" to unregister this dll. This will stop it from previewing any picture that it support, e.g. JPEG, Bitmap, GIF....

* Before perform this tweak, make sure that you have the alternative Image Viewer installed in you windows e.g. ACDsee, FireGraphics... because once you do this tweak without that application, you can't open and view your image anymore! So, to undo it, type "regsvr32 shimgvw.dll" in command prompt.

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