From: chaznyc on
had the same problem...very frustrating.
This worked for me:
Click Organize at the top left in any folder
Choose Folder and Search Options
(clicking that opens a new box, Folder Options)
Click View at top
UNCHECK the first option/box in front of "Always show icons, never
thumbnails"
Click OK
and that should do it.

"Doug Robbins - Word MVP" wrote:

> In the Insert Picture dialog, click on the More options pulldown at the
> right hand end of the top border and select one of the following:
>
> Extra Large Icons
> Large Icons
> Medium Icons
> Tiles
> Content
>
> All of these show a thumbnail of the pictures.
>
> --
> Hope this helps.
>
> Please reply to the newsgroup unless you wish to avail yourself of my
> services on a paid consulting basis.
>
> Doug Robbins - Word MVP, originally posted via msnews.microsoft.com
>
> "Deej Hernandez" <DeejHernandez(a)discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:AE1F5D8A-14E2-4414-B4A0-3BD53F44DE24(a)microsoft.com...
> > In Word 2007 when I open the Insert Picture all I get is a list of file
> > names. If I change the view I get an icon but not the pictures. up If I
> > open the file through My Pictures the file opens with thumbnails but not
> > using Insert Picture in Word. How can I get Word to show the thumbnails?
>