Why are my SOLIDWORKS Thumbnails and Previews missing? [PART 2]

If SOLIDWORKS thumbnails in Windows Explorer or in the Preview Pane of the Open dialog are not visible, there are several reasons that could cause this problem. Please follow the solutions listed below:

STEP 1:

Firstly, follow all the solutions mentioned in Part 1: Why are my SOLIDWORKS Thumbnails and Previews missing?

If the steps mentioned above didn’t fix the problem then:

STEP 2: 

Run SOLIDWORKS as Administrator > Start SOLIDWORKS > Tools > Options > File Explorer > “Restore File Associations”

Restore File associations

STEP 3:

If that does not work.

• Find the keys mentioned below in the registry editor.
• To do so, launch the Registry editor through Windows Search > Type Regedit > Right click and run it as an administrator.  This will launch Registry editor window.
• Locate each key and right-click on it and choose “Export”.
• After exporting/backing up the keys, right click and delete each of them.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.sldasm
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.sldprt
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.slddrw

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SldPart.Document
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SldAssem.Document
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\SldDraw.Document

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.sldprt
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.sldasm
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.slddrw

STEP 4:

When the keys are deleted run a repair on the install following the steps mentioned in this blog article.

The issue with missing SOLIDWORKS Thumbnail and Previews should now be resolved.