Vista - Picture program works one way, but not another?

I installed PaintShop Pro (which I used on my old computer) to my new one and set it as the default program to open pictures. I can open the program, open & edit a picture, save it & everything works perfectly.
But - if I start out in the folder where the picture is and try to double-click the exact same picture to get it to open, I get a message saying "The version of this file is not compatible with the version of Windows you're running. Check your computer's system information to see whether you need an x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) version of the program, and then contact the software publisher."
Now I understand incompatibility issues, but if that's the problem, it should not work at all, right? What on earth is going on? I really need to be able to open the pictures from their folders. Anybody have any ideas?

Thank you!

The program might not be 64-bit compatible. However, can you go to default programs, and associate the .jpg and any other extension with the program? Update Paintshop too.

I did make PaintShop Pro my default program for all jpegs, etc.
What I don't understand is - if PS Pro is not 64-bit compatible, why can I open the program & use it just fine editing the exact same picture that will not launch PS Pro by double-clicking?
If it's not compatible, I would think the program would not open & work at all. It's just the method by which I try to launch the program that determines whether the computer will let the program open.
Does...not...compute...

heather

dompatibility isnt determined by double clicking. if thats the problem all you need to do is to associate PS with that file type and double clicking will work. If you can open it and use it, it is compatible.

let us know if you need help with associating PS

ken

Ok, I think I must not be making my problem very clear or I'm missing something obvious myself.
1. I realize that compatibility has nothing to do with double-clicking. That is why I am baffled when it says the program is incompatible when it should be launching after I double-click. I've opened the program & used it & I know it must be compatible because... I have used it.
2. I really know how to set a default program. This is the first thing I did after installing PS Pro. I set the default program for all picture types to use PS Pro. To be sure I was directing it to the correct thing, I set it to open the exact same program that the desktop & start menu shortcuts are pointed to (C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Dell Picture Studio\Paint Shop Pro).

And just to give the example to be even more clear:
I have a photo titled 101_5108.jpg that I want to open.
* I go to the start menu, click the icon for PS Pro and the program opens. From the PS Pro, I click the icon to open a file. From the pop-up, I locate the file 101_5108.jpg and select open. The photo opens normally & I can edit & save & everything is wonderful.
OR (and here's where it goes bad)...
* I go to the folder on my computer containing the file 101_5108.jpg and right-click that file. On the pop-up menu, I select "Open With" -> "Choose default program." I click "browse" & locate my program - C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Dell Picture Studio\Paint Shop Pro. (To be sure this was the correct path I did a search and found that the only place on my computer with a file with the words paint shop in it was in this very folder - I'll attach a pic.) And the option to always open this type of file with the selected program is checked. Hence, as far as I am aware, my default program for all jpegs is now PS Pro. Sooooo...... now (back at the folder containing 101_5108.jpg) I double-click the file (101_5108.jpg) to open it and get the long message from my original post - "The version of this file is not compatible with the version of Windows you're running. Check your computer's system information to see whether you need an x86 (32-bit) or x64 (64-bit) version of the program, and then contact the software publisher."


Now - why does the program work just fine when I open the picture file from inside the program (PS Pro), but when I try to double-click a file from an outside folder to have the program launch that way, the computer thinks the program (it actually says file) is not compatible with the OS?? I can even have PS Pro already open & it does the same thing.

I do TONS of picture editing and need the advanced features that come with PS Pro. Opening single pictures one-by-one is really not going to work for me.
Please help!! And I'm sorry if I was just misunderstanding your answers.

Heather

You know I just had an idea. can you go to the file that launches the app. right click the file and go to compatibility tab. set the compatibility to xp sp3, and try it

btw you 32bit or 64?

Thank you. I have 64-bit. I read something else about the compatibility tab, but mine happens to be missing. I'm looking at some other site now that says to download some zip file to fix it. I'm trying to figure out what else I can do to make the compatibility tab show up.
So, as soon as I can get that part to work, I will follow your advice.
(Oh I love and hate new computers!)

How weird. I just realized when I click properties for other programs, I DO have a compatibility tab. Is just doesn't appear when I try it for PS Pro. What a headache.

Heather

have you checked to make sure PS pro doesn't have a newer version? the versioon PS pro x2 supports vista, is that what you have?

I just checked their site. I have 7.05. Their site goes through 7.04 then skips to the 8.xxx's and doesn't even list 7.05. But if I click 7.04 it says there are no updates.