How to force Windows Live Photo Gallery to display images by using GDI on a Windows Vista-based or Windows XP SP2-based computer

This article describes how to force Windows Live Photo Gallery to display images on the computer screen by using Graphics Device Interface (GDI) on a Windows Vista-based or a Windows XP SP2-based computer.

Warning Serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly by using Registry Editor or by using another method. These problems might require that you reinstall the operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that these problems can be solved. Modify the registry at your own risk.

Windows Live Photo Gallery displays an image on the computer screen by writing to a Microsoft DirectX surface. However, you may want to force Windows Live Photo Gallery to display an image by using GDI for the following reasons:

• You may encounter issues with video card drivers that are incompatible with how Windows Live Photo Gallery displays an image on a DirectX surface.
• You may be using a utility that is required to force Windows Live Photo Gallery to write by using GDI to gain access to screen bits.

To force Windows Live Photo Gallery to display images by using GDI, you must create a specific registry key and value. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Use one of the following procedures, as appropriate for your operating system:
   • Windows Vista
     1. Click Start
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        , type regedit in the Start Search box, and then click regedit.exe in the Programs list.
        
        
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        If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type your password, or click Continue.
     2. Follow steps 2 through 9.
   • Windows XP
     1. Click Start, click Run, type regedit, and then press ENTER.
     2. Follow steps 2 through 9.
2. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft
3. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click Key.
4. Type Imaging as the name of the new entry, and then press ENTER.
5. On the Edit menu, point to New, and then click DWORD (32-bit) Value.
   Note For Windows XP, click New, and then click DWORD Value.
6. In the details pane, type SoftwareRender as the name of the new entry, and then press ENTER.
7. In the details pane, double-click the SoftwareRender entry.
8. In the Value data box, type 1, and then click OK.
9. Exit Registry Editor, and then restart the computer.