Just got 10.6
Preview not working consistently, I just get blank gray screen when I click on jpegs. is this a known issue?

Using Viewer for now, what is viewer? new app that comes with the OS recently? when was it invented? thanks.

Something's wrong on your computer, unless the files are corrupted or lack proper suffix (.jpg). Are these from e-mails? Did you try to trash Preview preferences?
I have never heard of Viewer nor have it as part of the OS? Any details about this app?

Just put the previw pres on desktop, did not work. viewer have no idea, think its a Canon app

I have a Viewer.app at /Applications/Canon/Utilities/PhotoStitch/Program/Viewer.app/, which opens .jpgs just fine.

When I right-click on a .jpg and choose Open With from the contextual menu, the list of possible applications includes a bunch of browsers, a bunch of HP and Canon image-editing utilities, GraphicConverter, QuickTime Player, and half a dozen or so others in addition to Preview. It seems unikely that Viewer.app would somehow become the second choice behind Preview without conscious intervention on the user's part, but what do I know?

DK, you lost me there.
The issue is when I open something in preview I get grey window.

I would delete the preference file for Preview, and reboot. Then try again. If that doesn't work, then delete the Preview app and reinstall from your OS X install DVD.

ok sturner, I deleted everything with word preview in preferences, and worked, after the reboot only.

But if the issue comes back in couple weeks (as last fix did) you agree then I need to reinstall app.

Where is it in DVD? thanks

You will need the Apple Install DVD and a program called Pacifist. It is a shareware program that costs $20. It is worth the price.

1. Insert the Install DVD.

2. Launch Pacifist.

3. Click the Open Apple Install Discs button. Wait for the packages to be read by the program. Go get a cup of coffee.

4. When it has finished a window entitled OSInstall.mpkg will open.

5. Navigate down by clicking on the right facing triangle.

Contents of OSInstall.mpkg > Contents of EssentialSystemSoftwareGroup > Contents of Essentials.pkg > Applications.

6. Select Preview.app

7. click the Install button at the top of the window.

Why need another software? Seem bizarre, you would think all apps, imovie, etc would just be on the apple DVD ready to copy over no?

You agree, if the issue returns again, I gotta do it.

No. Well, you might think that, but it's not the case.

Ah, MacFixit lives again!

You are saying there is no way to re-install Preview without a 3rd party app?
Odd no?

Preview is not working again.

Well, you could always reinstall the operating system. That doesn't require a third-party application.

(As always, be certain you've got a complete backup of your data prior to reinstalling OS X.)

DK, I could take the computer back to the store, just got it, but seems like a lot of work for a tiny app called preview.

I like the idea of re-installing it, seems bizaree you need to get another software involved to do that.

But before all that, I'll probably call Apple unless someone has another idea.

If you "just got" the computer, it seems somewhat unlikely that Preview spontaneously developed an intractable problem unrelated to the rest of the operating system. Unless you were messing around with it in some fashion? Adding some third-party software, or something like that?

DK,
i have about 40 3rd party softwares, don't most people?
New info:
It seems it works with PDFS, but not jpegs or psf files. for whatever that's worth. thanks

I use very little in the way of third party applications and I am very careful of what I install. The lesson was learned after having problems that ended with having to do an entire system re-install. The problems were caused by a third party piece of software.

There are folks at this site far better qualified than I to comment, but it essentially came down to the fact that some third party software is written with shortcuts that are incompatible with the operating system.

Since that re-install my rule has been: "If it ain't endorsed at FTM, it ain't going into my computer."

ryck

Thanks for the info! I use Canon camera but never downloaded or installed their software; this is why I have no Viewer on my machine.

You might like just to reapply a combo 10.6.2 update and do some cleanup with free Onyx. Concerning Pacifist, this is an excellent application and allows to extract bits and pieces from install disk that might get corrupted along the way, like apps, fonts, even Safari before it became a standalone. The downside is that you use it only once in a while.

Maybe, but most people don't have a major built-in component of the operating system failing on a Mac they "just got."

My thought was that possibly something you installed is conflicting with Preview. Since I'm not psychic, I have no idea what that might be...if it's even the case.

Are you certain that all forty of those third-party apps are 10.6-compatible?

+1
I guess you and I aren't "most" people. (But we are people!)