I hope I can make myself clear. I got a new computer and installed photoshop CS3. The progam works fine. My problem is when I go to open a file the PSD file doesn't show the picture. When I put the display to "thumbnails" the other files, JEPGS, etc show as pictures, but the PSD files just remain an icon.

My other machine showed the PSD files as p[ictures.

Does anybody know whats wrong?

Hello Phily...

You weren't clear enough to make me understand what is the issue exactly tho! But my guessing that your windows explorer doesn't shot the .PSD thumb nails?

If this is your issue, and not anything else.. Its caused in fact by some missing .dll files from windows.. I know it sounds wiered by its the fact!

Now please follow the instructions on this LINK

That will fix the thumb nail issues under any windows..Also no matter of what Photoshop version you are using! Sigh!

Now before doing this, I want you to try something first please.. Question first... Does your photoshop can open files at all? (.PSD) if yes..

Then open any .PSD file, apply any quick changes to it or just use one filter/plugin and save the file to a different name! Close your photoshop, restart your computer and see if the thumbs will show in your explorer, if they will show up, then you all set.. If not then goto the first option that will fix it.

Thank you and regards

JOE

Photoshop CS doesn't create thumbnail previews (Windows)

Issue

Adobe Photoshop doesn't create thumbnail previews for images on the desktop or in Windows Explorer.

Solution: View images in the File Browser in Photoshop.

Choose File > Browse to open the Photoshop File Browser and view and open images.

Background information

Previous versions of Photoshop produced thumbnail previews for images by using the psicon.dll file. This file isn't installed with Photoshop CS.

In Windows Explorer, if you choose View > Thumbnails, Windows Explorer displays thumbnail previews for some image formats, such as JPEG files; however, it cannot display thumbnail previews for native Photoshop (PSD) files.

Download this .DLL file from this LINK
And copy it to your main adobe photoshop directory, system and system32 (BOTH SYSTEM AND SYSTEM32 ARE LOCATED UNDER THE WINDOWS DIRECTORY)

Hope that will help

JOE

phil, 

this problem stems for the pissing match between adobe and microsoft that has been going on for a couple of years. in previous versions when you viewed your files in windows explorer (in "by thumbnail" view), the OS would some times not release the control of the file, even after it was opened in PS. (if you ever had an error that stated "Unable to save file, file is open or in use..."  you'll know what i mean)

because microsoft said it wasn't "their" problem and adobe should fix it (and adobe said it was an OS issue), adobe decided NOT to include the .dll 

their take is *"if you want to add the .DLL on your own, feel free, but don't complain if you get that error!"
*so if you do install the DLL and the error crops up you'll know why.

it comes down to a trade off of sorts.

open any .PSD file, apply any quick changes to it or just use one filter/plugin and save the file to a different name! Close your photoshop, restart your computer and see if the thumbs will show in your explorer, all I get is the Adobe icon with the feather, when I click on the icon a picture does appear, and I can open it..Opening in the Adobe browser works

I'm not a techie,the thought of touching the registery make me lose sleep. I'm really afraid of messing up my computer. The link one gave dire warnings.

Thanks for taking the time to help, I really appreicate it.

Much as I hate using Bridge, it IS the solution.... it will show the thumbs. Lou.

My OS  (XP Pro) shows .psd files in Windows Explorer and always has.

But...

If I'm in "Filmstrip" mode...it will still show the thumbnail...but it will not show the "Preview".

I'll try the registry hack to see if I can get the preview too.

Tom

In my system (XPpro) Bridge is sooo slow. I just went through the instructions given on that link and now have thumbnails in the explorer. 
Thanks for asking that question and thanks for providing the link to the answer.

Hi all,

Well...After finding time to go to that site...I figured out why I have always been able to see .psd thumbnails.

The ".psicon.dll " file DOES come with PhotoShop 7, and although I primarily run PS CS+, I still keep PhotoShop 7 installed on my system, so it would only make sense that the ".psicon.dll" file exists on my system, and Windows simply uses it to display the PS CS+ thumbnails.

(For those wonder why I run both Versions...it's because there are certain fonts I use that are available in PS 7..but not PS CS+...The "Dummies" font for example...doesn't work in CS.

Anyway..even though a search of my system found the psicon.dll file (Which is good)...It was well worth going to the "DLLDump" ( The site linked above)  http://www.dlldump.com/ 

That site is a virtual Gold Mine for someone like me that repairs computers for a living. I wish I'd found it long ago.

Thanks for the link.

Great thread.

Tom