When you use a third-party tool to open a picture that was previously edited in Windows Photo Gallery, some metadata fields are duplicated, dropped, or corrupted

In Windows Photo Gallery, you add some metadata to a picture file. When you open this picture in a third-party tool, some metadata fields for the picture file may be duplicated, dropped, or corrupted.

This issue occurs in Windows XP, in Windows Vista, and in Windows Server 2008.

For example, you open and save a .jpg picture in Windows Photo Gallery, and then you embed some metadata into the picture by using a third-party application. When you open this picture in Adobe Photoshop, you receive an error.

In this example, if you open the .jpg file in a hexadecimal editor, you see duplicated XMP metadata tags. One metadata tag is set to xmp:xmpmeta and the other one is set to x:xmpmeta.

In Windows XP, in Windows Vista, and in Windows Server 2008, the Windows Imaging Component uses the xmp:xmpmeta tag. However, some third-party tools may recognize only the x:xmpmeta tag.

A hotfix is available to resolve this issue. After you apply this hotfix, the Windows Imaging Component uses the x:xmpmeta tag instead of the xmp:xmpmeta tag. This change affects applications that rely on the Windows Imaging Component, such as Windows Photo Gallery and Windows Live Photo Gallery.

Hotfix information for Windows XP

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, submit a request to Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

To apply this hotfix, you must have Windows XP Service Pack 2 or Windows XP Service Pack 3 installed on the computer.

Restart requirement

You have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other previously released hotfixes.

Registry information

To use this hotfix, you do not have to make any changes to the registry.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Windows XP, x86-based versions

Hotfix information for Windows Vista and for Windows Server 2008

A supported hotfix is available from Microsoft. However, this hotfix is intended to correct only the problem that is described in this article. Apply this hotfix only to systems that are experiencing this specific problem. This hotfix might receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, we recommend that you wait for the next software update that contains this hotfix.

If the hotfix is available for download, there is a "Hotfix download available" section at the top of this Knowledge Base article. If this section does not appear, contact Microsoft Customer Service and Support to obtain the hotfix.

Note If additional issues occur or if any troubleshooting is required, you might have to create a separate service request. The usual support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for this specific hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Customer Service and Support telephone numbers or to create a separate service request, visit the following Microsoft Web site: Note The "Hotfix download available" form displays the languages for which the hotfix is available. If you do not see your language, it is because a hotfix is not available for that language.

Prerequisites

There are no prerequisites.

Restart requirement

You have to restart the computer after you apply this hotfix.

Hotfix replacement information

This hotfix does not replace any other previously released hotfixes.

Registry information

To use this hotfix, you do not have to make any changes to the registry.

File information

The English version of this hotfix has the file attributes (or later file attributes) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time item in Control Panel.

Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, 32-bit editions

Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, 64-bit editions

Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008, Itanium-based versions

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed in the "Applies to" section.

For more information about the Windows Imaging Component, visit the following Microsoft Web sites: For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, about the performance or reliability of these products.