Article ID: 944221 - Last Review: March 15, 2011 - Revision: 7.0

Windows Live Photo Gallery freezes or does not start

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Diagnose and fix the problem automatically



Note If you would rather fix this problem yourself, go to the "Let me fix it myself" section.
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SYMPTOMS

Windows Live Photo Gallery freezes or does not start when you try to start it in Windows XP, Windows Vista, or Windows 7.
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CAUSE

This issue occurs because a database is corrupted. This database is created by Windows Live Photo Gallery to track photos and videos.
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Let me fix it myself

Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
322756  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/322756/ ) How to back up and restore the registry in Windows


To fix this problem, you have to regenerate the database for Windows Live Photo Gallery. To do this, follow the appropriate steps for your operating system:

Windows XP

  1. Close Windows Live Photo Gallery.
  2. Click Start, click Run, type %userprofile%\Local Settings\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Live Photo Gallery, and then click OK.
  3. Delete any existing instance of "OLD_Pictures.pd4" and "OLD_Pictures.pd5."
  4. Locate and then right-click "Pictures.pd4" or "Pictures.pd5."
  5. Rename "Pictures.pd4" to "OLD_Pictures.pd4" or rename "Pictures.pd5" to "OLD_Pictures.pd5."

Windows Vista

  1. Close Windows Live Photo Gallery.
  2. Click Start, click Run, type %userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Photo Gallery, and then click OK.
  3. Delete any existing instance of "OLD_Pictures.pd4" and "OLD_Pictures.pd5."
  4. Locate and then right-click "Pictures.pd4" or "Pictures.pd5."
  5. Rename "Pictures.pd4" to "OLD_Pictures.pd4" or rename "Pictures.pd5" to "OLD_Pictures.pd5."

Windows 7

  1. Close Windows Live Photo Gallery.
  2. Click Start, click Run, type%userprofile%\AppData\Local\Microsoft\Windows Live Photo Gallery, and then click OK.
  3. Delete any existing instance of "OLD_Pictures.pd4" and "OLD_Pictures.pd5."
  4. Locate and then right-click "Pictures.pd4" or "Pictures.pd5."
  5. Rename "Pictures.pd4" to "OLD_Pictures.pd4" or rename "Pictures.pd5" to "OLD_Pictures.pd5."


Note Windows Live Photo Gallery must be closed to perform this repair. When you restart Windows Live Photo Gallery, the database will be rebuilt.
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How the MATS package works to fix this problem

Click here to understand how the MATS package works to fix this problem
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Other issues that the MATS package fixes

930097  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/930097/ ) Computer is slow when Windows Photo Gallery displays TIFF images that do not fit into one page in Windows Vista
2415237  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2415237/ ) Can't preview pictures in Windows Photo Gallery in Windows Vista
2415238  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2415238/ ) Color issues in the print preview of an image in Windows Photo Gallery in Windows Vista
938818  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/938818/ ) Can't see pictures in a slide show in Windows Photo Gallery in Windows Vista
2009298  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2009298/ ) Can't download albums in Windows Live Photo Gallery after upgrading from Windows Vista to Windows 7
939395  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/939395/ ) An image and its background become yellow in Windows Photo Gallery in Windows Vista
930102  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/930102/ ) Image transition issues in Windows Photo Gallery in Windows XP or in Windows Vista
2425702  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2425702/ ) A screen saver that displays pictures stops working in Windows
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APPLIES TO
  • Windows Vista Enterprise 64-bit Edition
  • Windows Vista Home Basic 64-bit Edition
  • Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit Edition
  • Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit Edition
  • Windows Vista Business
  • Windows Vista Enterprise
  • Windows Vista Home Basic
  • Windows Vista Home Premium
  • Windows Vista Starter
  • Windows Vista Ultimate
  • Windows Vista Business 64-bit Edition
  • Windows 7 Enterprise
  • Windows 7 Home Basic
  • Windows 7 Home Premium
  • Windows 7 Professional
  • Windows 7 Starter
  • Windows 7 Ultimate
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
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