Some .gif files cause elements 2.0 to hang

[Phil Marq]

When I attempt to open certain .gif files in elements 2.0 it causes the program to hang. Using the file browser to open the folder that contains those .gifs also hangs the program when it gets to those .gifs. The curious thing is it's only a few .gifs that cause the problem and these files open without any problem in other veiwers and editors. When I check the properties of the .gifs I don't see anything that might cause the problem. Very preplexing. Any ideas? Thanks.

[Gerry Moravec]

Phil,

What OS are you using? Windows, Mac OS? How is your hard drive in relation to it's structure for damage?

Gerry

[Phil Marq]

OS is XP home. Hard drive has no structure damage. Scanned and defragged regularly.

[Beth Haney]

OK, Windows users... For Mac, the really good shareware program that can accomplish the impossible is GraphicConverter. There's something for Win machines that's comparable - give it a task and it just does it. But I can't think of the name of it!

I'm thinking these gifs might be corrupted. If so, another piece of software might be able to open them. Can gifs then be converted to another format and back again? If so, a process like that might clean them up so Elements would open them instead of locking up. I've been able to accomplish that with corrupted tiff files using GraphicConverter.

[Beth Haney]

Great! That was easier than a couple of the challenges I've faced. I'm glad. Watch the thread, though, to see if we can find out the name of that other program. A lot of people like it for stuff like this when tricks with Elements aren't successful.

Hmmm. Something like QImage?

Edit: Yup, I found a site for QImage, although you have to buy it. I was thinking it was free. Oh, well.