Member Avatar for deonnanicole

I wasn't sure where to post this, but since I am running Windows 98, I thought I would start here. I have Quicktime Pro, which is what opens photos and such when I have photos saved in My Documents. Before, every once in a while, when I would click to open a photo, I would get a message asking me if I wanted to upgrade to Quicktime Pro, to which I always clicked "later." Each time today that I have tried to open a photo from My Documents, I get that message, but I can't click on anything. It won't go away, and my photos won't open. I end up having to restart my computer to even get the message off of my screen. Any ideas about what could be causing it, and what I can do to fix it? Thanks!

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Dani AI

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A persistent QuickTime "upgrade" dialog on Windows 98 often comes from QuickTime’s background task or from leftover Control Panel applets left after an incomplete uninstall. That explains why could open pictures again after removing QuickTime but still sees orphaned Control Panel icons. The issue can be fixed cleanly without reinstalling Windows.

Safe, practical cleanup (in order):

  • Back up the registry first (Regedit -> Export) and copy any QuickTime folders from Program Files.
  • If possible, reinstall the same QuickTime build that originally came with the camera and then run its uninstaller so the installer can remove Control Panel pieces properly.
  • If reinstall isn’t possible, search the Windows system folder (commonly C:\Windows\System or C:\Windows\System32) for QuickTime-related .cpl files, rename those files (add a .old extension) and reboot. If the Control Panel items disappear, the renamed files can be deleted.
  • Remove QuickTime startup entries by checking the Start Menu\Programs\Startup folder and the Run keys in the registry (HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Run) — delete only entries that clearly point at QuickTime files.

Quick temporary workarounds: end the QuickTime task from the Close Program dialog (Ctrl+Alt+Del) or close the dialog (Alt+F4) when the upgrade prompt hangs. Always prefer renaming files over immediate deletion and keep the exported registry as a rollback point. If the leftover icons are purely cosmetic and no functionality is broken, leaving them is safe but untidy. Switching to a lightweight image viewer (as suggested by ) avoids future QuickTime updater prompts on this legacy OS.

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Member Avatar for Killer_Typo

It wants you to update i guess, but i dont use quicktime at all Quicktime=devil. also use somthing more like paint or, an image view program to look at pictures. theres no reason to be using a tool for watching movies to watch a picture (:P) to view with something else, just rightmouseclick the file go >Open With>choose a program:
on the list that shows up choose an image viewing program such as paint, Image View... and at the bottom click always use this program to view these files. and then click ok. but seriously it sounds like quicktime wants you to update now and wont let you hold off anylonger (not surpised though) but if do want to use a program to view movies and pictures, use windows media player in classic mode, or just install the really old version. then do what i said above but just selece windows media player. you will never get a message again about upgrading to anything because its freeeee!

Member Avatar for deonnanicole

The only reason I used Quicktime is because that was part of what was installed when I got my digital camera last year. That's what they provided to open the pictures and/or movies that I take with my camera. What I don't understand though is why it won't let me click on ANYTHING now when that message appears. I mean, it won't even let me click to upgrade! lol!

Member Avatar for deonnanicole

I have another problem...well, more of an annoyance I guess than a problem. I deleted Quicktime from my add/delete programs menu, and now I can open my photos in my document. But in the control panel, there are still icons for quicktime...2 of them. When I right click on them, it doesn't give me the option to delete them. Quicktime is no longer in my add/remove programs menu, so should I just ignore the other if its not messing me up?

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