HP Photosmart essentials 3.5 suddenly cannot locate pictures on iPad, iPhone (was working before)

[GRN]

After plugging in our iPhone and iPad into our computer (runs Vista home premium, 64 bit, version 6.0.6002), HP photosmart essentials 3.5 started, indicated it located the device, but instead of populating the window with pictures, it indicated no pictures were found - it could not locate any new or previously imported pictures still on the device.  This occured for all 3 of our Apple devices, from which we have previously successfully importing pictures.   Interestingly, the software successfully imported pictures from my Canon camera....so it seems to be only the Apple products it is having a problem with.

The only out-of-the ordinary thing that occured with the computer PRIOR to this error occurring is creating restore discs earlier in the week.  Possibly coincidentally, shortly after we located a new file embedded in our picture directory (titled 04-09-2012") that had an HP subfolder which had a number of subfolders (so on and so forth) including one titled power2go[something] which had many images (that looked like clip art) in it.  We deleted those folders, installed new security software, ran a scan, rebooted, tried again to import pictures, and the same error occured in photosmart essentials.  We called Apple support, but they could not help us.

Any ideas what could suddenly be going wrong and how to fix it?  Thank you.

[007OHMSS]

Power2go sounds like a file association with Cyberlink software. Most media programs will give the option of file association for images/videos. That may override your previous settings concerning image handling. If you right click on an image, select Open With and you will get a window with different software options. I would guess for the iPad/iPhone image type it will come up with Cyberlink/Power2go. You can select a different program for the default viewer. There may be more settings to adjust to get your old functionality back, but that may be enough to correct it.

[GRN]

Thank you for taking the time to reply.

When I right click on an existing photo that was recently downloaded from an Apple product, select Open With, it appears the default program is InfranView.

When I connect the Apple products to the computer for downloading, HP Photosmart Essentials (only recently - no idea what changed) cannot locate the pictures, so I'm unclear as to how to create a different default viewer to associate with images that are not yet downloaded (i.e., not picture to right click on...I have a very rudimentary understanding of technical aspects of using a computer, my apologies).  Nor do I understand which of the many software options I should choose.  Will changing the file association in one existing image change the default viewer for all current images of that type as well as future images?

Alternatively, I wonder if uninstalling the printer and reinstalling it might work since the is a more recent problem.

Thank you for any further direction you feel you can provide.

[007OHMSS]

No worries about your technical level. Okay if you locate a picture on your computer that originated from one of the Apple devices, right click it, you should have an Open With option. Select it, the resulting window will list several programs, just highlight the one you want to open this type of file by default in the future, and if there is not a checkmark in the box that says Always use the selected program to open this type of file put a checkmark there. Click Ok/Apply, this changes the default program setting in Windows. If that was the problem, Photosmart Essentials should now recognize those files.

In response to the process of file recognition, most image software programs have a process of associating certain file types with their program, unless selected otherwise by the user. If a file type is associated to a program, then it will automatically default to that program, unless manually directed to open with another program by the user. So where Irfan View is associated with the file, Photosmart Essentials will never automatically open that type of file.

[GRN]

Thank you for your continued follow-up; my apologies for not noticing your post until today.

Your instructions were very helpful, but unfotunately did not resolve the issue.  Although I did not see an option for opening the pictures with photosmart essentials 3.5, I did see other HP-related options, and Windows options, so I tried several, and then reattached my Apple device.  I had no success - same error as before.  Each time I went back in to  change the default option to try something else, it appeared to have reverted back to Infran View.  At least that is the program type that is highlighted.  So I wonder if your solution might not be working because the file association or program association is not holding.

If you have any thoughts as to how to get the computer to quit reverting to Infran View despite selecting it as a default option, and also how to find photosmart essentials as an option for opening the pictures in the future, I welcome your ideas.  It is so odd to me that for a year we had no problems and then suddenly we can't download through Photosmart Essentials.

[007OHMSS]

Okay try this in Irfan View:

To set the open associations, check the boxes for the file types you want and click OK. If you're having problems setting the open associations in Windows Vista or Windows 7, you might need to start IrfanView as administrator. (In the Start menu or Desktop, right-click on the IrfanView icon, and select Run as administrator.)

In IrfanView, you can go to Options → Properties/Settings → Extensions to change the file associations. Change these file associations that let you double-click on file icons in Explorer to open files in IrfanView. 

While here, make sure that the file types that you are using are not checked for selection. That way within the Irfan program itself, it is not associated with those types of files.

[GRN]

I located the InfranView icon and understand how to change the settings as administrator. 

My files are .jpg files incuding those imported from Apple Products.  However, I didn't make the change for 3 reasons....

(1)  When I went to open a photo this weekend, it opened differently - in a different program...so it appears the association did take place that I made with your last response ...and I know that change in file association did not solve the importing problem

(2) all the "open with" options cause different programs (some of them HP) to open products in templates or software I have never used before, so I'm not sure what to check to get photosmart essentials (not listed as an option) to open the photos and honestly, would like to keep things opening in a way familiar to me, and

(3) I believe InfranView has always been opening my photos when I access them outside of downloading them, so why would this association be creating a problem now with downloading?  In other words, I'm changing settings that have always been associated with my computer and software and have worked for a year when downloading, and so am unclear why, when they worked in the past, why they would be the issue now.  Intuitively, it seems like something else would be the issue.

Regardless of whether we move foward tyring to figure this out,  I want to thank you for the time you have spent trying to help me.  It has been very kind of you, and more than a little appreciated on my end. 

Best regards.