My recent documents

go to
start
find
type in recent
hit enter
this will show you all your most recent activity. of course if you have run ad aware or spybot you may have removed these usage tracks.

i don't know what extension is on your pictures but here's an example:
if you are looking to see say only the jpg's in your recent file
then you would use your browser button open and go to
c:\windows\recent
in the find box type *.jpg*
hit enter
all your jpg's will pop up

these are shortcuts to the jpg and only represent the most recently opened or created jpg's. so highlight one and then right click on it. down at the bottom of the list it will say properties on the menu. click on properties and it will tell you where the actual jpg is -- see target.

you can make a new folder on your c drive call it lost pictures and put all the pictures in it as you find them.

as to why you can't open them i do not know. it maybe that this will change once you get the actual picture in your lost picture folder instead of the shortcut to it.

it maybe that once you have them in the folder you can tell your special picture program where the folder is and ask it to open that particular extension.

note: the recent folder is a hidden folder so you might have to make it visable fiirst.