Photo gallery cannot find pictures to edit

I am using Windows 7 Home Premium and Essentials 2012.  I can open my pictures from "My Pictures" library folders, but when I click to edit the photos, there are none shown - I get a dialogue telling me "try searching all photos - no items match my current search".  I have "managed" my library for photos to include all in "My Pictures" and they all show up when I open photo Gallery, but disappear when I try to edit.  The folders are in My Computer under a user which is password protected.  So are my videos, but they all show up.  I have tried reloading essentials 2012  and run the fix-it dealie, but nothing works.  I am stumped!