ZoomBrowser EX is giving a "corrupted database" or "E_Fail" error message. How can I fix this?

ZoomBrowser EX keeps track of your photos using a database in a folder separate from that containing the images, similar to a card index at the library. This database can be "corrupted" if the photos in the Image Library do not match the index of the database. This can happen if photos are added to or removed from the Image Library folder by means other than the ZoomBrowser EX program (for example, by using Windows Explorer to move the image files). Often, ZoomBrowser EX recognizes this and makes recommendations to repair the index. Or, you can use the View / Refresh Online Libraries feature to re-index the database.

The database can also be corrupted if you experience a program hang or PC problems while working in ZoomBrowser EX. For this reason, ensure that you have plenty of free disk space on your hard drive when manipulating image files, and close any unnecessary applications while working with ZoomBrowser EX.

If the ZoomBrowser EX program will not start, giving you a "corrupted database" or EFail error message, there are at least two courses of action that you may pursue. The first is much easier and often will correct the problem. The second will almost certainly correct the problem, but is much more involved. Following are the two procedures.

Method 1 - Deleting and Rebuilding the Database

1. If it is still running, Exit ZoomBrowser EX.

2. Use Windows Explorer to delete the following three files: xxx.dat, xxx.idx, and xxx.zbd (where xxx is the name of the database, usually "My Database"). Usually, these three files will be found in the C:\Program Files\Canon\ZoomBrowser EX\Program folder.

3. If you find any files in this folder with an ".fcs" extension, such as D0000000.fcs, delete these files also.

4. Start ZoomBrowser EX again. If you receive a message advising you that the database has been deleted, click [OK]. On occasion, you may have to allow ZoomBrowser EX to close itself. Restart the program again. Also, if an "Open Database" dialog box appears, click [Cancel] to close it. (Note: If ZoomBrowser EX repeatedly gives you the "corrupted database" error, proceed to Method 2.)

5. From the File menu, select New Database.

6. When a "multiple databases" warning message appears, click [OK].

7. Navigate to the location where you want to save the database (see step 2 above), then type in the desired name of the new database and click [Save].

8. When you receive a message to identify an image library with your new database, click [Add image library now].

9. Navigate to the folder which contains your images. If you are using the default installed settings, this will be C:\Program Files\Canon\ZoomBrowserEX\Image Library One. With this folder highlighted, click [OK]. Be very careful that you do not select the wrong folder. The previously corrupted database should now be restored.

Method 2 - Uninstalling and Reinstalling the ZoomBrowser EX Program

1. If it is still running, Exit ZoomBrowser EX.

2. If you have images in the ZoomBrowser EX image library that you are not willing to lose, for safety copy them to another location. They are usually located at C:\Program Files\Canon\ZoomBrowserEX\ Image Library One\My Images. You may use Windows Explorer to copy them to another location.

3. Using Start, Settings, Control Panel, and Add/Remove Programs, locate the Canon ZoomBrowser EX program on the list and highlight it. Click the [Add/Remove] button to begin uninstallation. Answer [Yes to All] when queried about removing shared files.

4. Using Windows Explorer, locate and delete the entire folder which contained the ZoomBrowser EX program and database files. This is usually the C:\Program Files\Canon\ZoomBrowserEX\Program folder. Be careful that you do not delete the Image Library One folder located right next to the Program folder.

5. Reboot your computer.

6. When Windows is running again, close all unnecessary programs. You should see icons in the lower right corner of your screen next to the time indicator. Right-click on each of these and click Close or Exit. (These programs will restart automatically the next time you start Windows.)

7. Reinstall the ZoomBrowser EX program from the Canon PowerShot Solutions CDROM which came with your camera. (See the Software Starter Guide which came with your PowerShot camera for installation procedures).

8. When installation is complete, start the ZoomBrowser EX program. The sample images will already be indexed, as they were reinstalled with the program. To re-index your images, select View and Refresh Online Libraries.

Questions on using the ZoomBrowser EX program? See the ZoomBrowser EX Software Guide located at

http://www.powershot.com/powershot2/pdf/ZOOMBROWSER%20EX%20GUIDE.PDF.

This guide requires Adobe Acrobat to use. To download the guide for future use, click on the save icon (looks like a floppy disk on the Acrobat toolbar) and select where you would like the file to be saved.