You may experience display issues when you use certain NVIDIA GeForce FX Series video cards to view images in Windows Photo Gallery

When you use certain NVIDIA GeForce FX Series video cards to view images in Windows Photo Gallery, you may experience display issues.

These issues may occur if there is a bug in the NVIDIA GeForce FX driver that you are using. This issue has been observed in the following NVIDIA GeForce FX Series video cards:

• GeForce FX 5100
• GeForce FX 5200
• GeForce FX 5300
• GeForce FX 5500
• GeForce FX 5600
• GeForce FX 5650
• GeForce FX 5700
• GeForce FX 5750
• GeForce FX 5800
• GeForce FX 5900

Your original image content will not be altered or harmed by this bug. This bug has been reported to NVIDIA.

To work around this issue, use one of the following methods.

Method 1: Install Windows Live Photo Gallery

Windows Live Photo Gallery contains a work around for this issue. To install Windows Live Photo Gallery, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

Method 2: Look for updated NVIDIA drivers

Install the latest drivers for your video card. To do this, visit the following NVIDIA Web site: Microsoft provides third-party contact information to help you find technical support. This contact information may change without notice. Microsoft does not guarantee the accuracy of this third-party contact information.

Note This issue has been seen in driver version 96.86 and earlier versions.

Method 3: Disable hardware acceleration for the Windows Photo Gallery

1. Copy the following text into a text editor such as Notepad, and then name the file Disablehardwareaccel.reg.

   Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
   
   ; ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   ; This file prevents the Windows Photo Gallery from using hardware to accelerate
   ; image rendering.
   ; ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   
   [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows Photo Gallery\Viewer]
   "ForceSoftwareRender"    = dword:00000001

2. Double-click the Disablehardwareaccel.reg file. The file contents merge into the registry.
3. To enable hardware acceleration as soon as the video card drivers are updated, follow these steps:
   1. Copy the following text into a text editor such as Notepad, and then name the file Enablehardwareaccel.reg.

      Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
      
      ; ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      ; This file allows the Windows Photo Gallery to render in hardware if it is available
      ; and compatible with the minimum requirements.
      ; ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      
      [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows Photo Gallery\Viewer]
      "ForceSoftwareRender"    = dword:00000000
      

   2. Double-click the Enablehardwareaccel.reg file.

The file contents merge into the registry.

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

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.