UBB.threads Forums General Interest Computer Help & Idea Exchange Forum download pictures help

Hello,
I have just bought a new dell computer with windows xp & with the media center program that comes with it. On my old computer,using windows 98 I could download pics in paint shop and change them in paint shop using batch conversion,lets say bmp to jpegs. In this computer even if I download them and save them as bitmaps, then convert them to jpegs with paint shop I still cannot view them in either program. In order to view them in media center,or paint shop I have to open them individually in aol picture finder,save,then I can open them in the above mentioned programs. My question I guess is,why can't I just convert them like I used to do in windows 98 and view them as I used to? This way I have to go thru aol picture finder and save each one individually,a hassle if you have lots of pics. I have set the preferences in paint shop so that it supposedly recognizes jpegs and bmps. When saved thru aol picture finder it says they are image files,which apparently include jpegs,bmps,gifs etc,but as I say I cannot view them if converted to these formats using any other program other than aol picture finder. Am I missing something here? Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Duzig(Bill)

Try right clicking on any picture and click "open with", instead of selecting a program scroll to the bottom and you should have the option to "choose program". Click this and tick the box in the lower portion of the window that says " always use this program to open this type of file", browse to the location of the .exe file that you want to use to open this type of file, paint etc and XP should now set that program to default!!.

Hello,
Degens, I did as you said regarding the choose program and stuff and the icons changed to paint shop icons. When you say browse to the exe file of program I want to use,I opened up the properties box of the program and made sure that all the file types I wanted it to open were clicked on. Still would not open any of these files,I still have to use aol picture finder to save,individually as I said,then I can open up on paint or the media center viewer. I'm probably overlooking some real basic item or something...I hope! In any case I appreciate your help & info.
Duzig(Bill)

Bill,
It sounds as if the AOL software has set itself as default while the program is still installed, the only thing I can suggest is check the options within the software itself and see you can dis-associate the file types you want to open with PSP, or uninstall AOL altogether if you dont use it. I for one stay away from anything AOL for purely reasons such as this. If the AOL program starts itself when you boot your PC, type "msconfig" in the run command and untick the AOL program icon located in the "startup" tab.....reboot your PC and try my first suggestion again!.
GL !!