Windows XP Picture and Fax Viewer Problems

I can't remember if I have posted this here before, but when I use click on a photo and go through other photos, my computer will sometimes freeze up and then have to reset (not reboot, the picture viewer will close). It seems like it is missing a codec (or whatever it would be for just pictures.) any ideas on what the problem might be? It is XP Pro

anyone?

I always do my best to disable any feature where it lets Explorer show you picture thumbnails, precisely because it will slow down or crash explorer sometimes. Instead, I use a third party utility like ACDsee to view my files.

Unfortunately, I don't have handy the registry entry or settong that it takes to disable it. Have you searched the microsoft KB?

Yes, I have, but I didn't see anything....although it is hard to find stuff in that thing. I would like to still use the fax viewer if possible. Microsoft told me to reinstall windows....do you have any other ideas before I do something like that?

precisely because it will slow down or crash explorer sometimes

Never seen that. Precisely what do you do to these computers, Tony?