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Windows Live Photo Gallery

Watch Other Folders for New Images and Videos

SUMMARY: Have Windows Live Photo Gallery scan for photos and videos in specified folders and add them to the gallery.

If you have photographs and videos stored elsewhere besides your "My Pictures", "My Videos", and shared multimedia folders, you may want these files added to your Windows Live Photo Gallery so they can be managed, shared, and edited. Instead of copying files to the aforementioned folders, you can have the application scan these folders for photos and videos.

1. In the Gallery view, right-click "All photos and videos" in the left pane. Or select the "File" menu.

2. Select "Include a folder in the gallery" from the popup menu that appears.

3. An "Include a Folder in the Gallery" dialog box appears. Navigate your computer to the folder you wish to add to the gallery and then click the "OK" button.

The folder will be added to the gallery. Windows Live Photo Gallery will prompt you that the software may run slower while photos and videos are added, especially if there are many items. If desired, check the "Don't show this message again" box to ignore this warning the next time.

The folder "Pics" added to Windows Live Photo Gallery (sample photos courtesy http://www.public-domain-photos.com/)

This tip was written for Windows Live Photo Gallery Version 2009 running on a netbook running Windows XP Home. Features, instructions, and screenshots for other versions / operating systems may vary.