Screen Saver Files Become Associated with Fax Viewer

 Last reviewed: April 4, 1996
Article ID: Q140240
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 95

IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, you should first make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat). Both are hidden files in the Windows folder.

SYMPTOMS

When you double-click a screen saver (.scr) file, or use the right mouse button to click the file and then click Test on the menu that appears, the screen saver may not start. Fax Viewer may start instead, and display the following error message: 

   This file cannot be opened. It is not a fax image.

CAUSE

When you install Microsoft Mail version 3.2, the following entry is added to the [Extensions] section of the Win.ini file: 

   scr=c:\<msmail>\faxview.exe ^.scr
When you install Windows 95 on a computer that is already running Microsoft Mail, or install Microsoft Mail on a computer that is already running Windows 95, this Win.ini entry is copied to the (Default) value under the following registry key: 

   Hkey_Classes_Root\Scrfile\Shell\Open\Command
This registry value is given the following value: 

   c:\<msmail>\faxview.exe %1
This registry entry causes Windows 95 to attempt to use Fax Viewer to open files that have an .scr extension. Because screen saver files are not in the proper fax image format, you receive an error message.

RESOLUTION

NOTE: For information about how to edit the registry, view the Changing Keys And Values online Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe). Note that you should make a backup copy of the registry files (System.dat and User.dat) before you edit the registry.

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall Windows 95. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

To work around this problem, modify the (Default) value under the following registry key: 

   Hkey_Classes_Root\Scrfile\Shell\Open\Command
This registry value should be given the following value: 

   "%1" /s
NOTE: You should include the quotation marks when you type the above value.

This value causes Windows 95 to start the screen saver as if it were an executable file, using the /S parameter on the command line.

KBCategory: kbenv kberrmsg
KBSubcategory: win95 appscomp
Additional reference words: 95

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Last reviewed: April 4, 1996
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