Just Digital

I found this useful little program from Microsoft that allows you to view Raw files the same way you can Jpeg's without having to open up Adobe Photoshop or lightroom.
Follow the link below to download it -
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=d48e808e-b10d-4ce4-a141-5866fd4a3286&displaylang=en

You do need a genuine copy of windows as it checks when it downloads, i have installed it and it works great, saves a lot of time.

It works for both Canon CR2 and Nikon NEF RAW files

Nice mate - I knew Vista can do out of the box, but Windows XP, cool.

For Vista to read them you just need the RAW Codec from either Canon, Nikon, Sony, Olympus, etc installed. Obtain from downloads section at the below link:

Microsoft Professional Photography site

Alos worth donwloading is SyncToy to backup/clone all you photos to any external harddrive for backup purposes. Its what I use for maintaining/backing an exact copy of my photos from my PC, inc. Lightroom catalogues.

I've been meaning to google for this for the times when my borrowed laptop goes back to it's owner.

Oddly he says it's very slow for him (5D owner), yet there's not really an appreciable difference between opening a RAW and and a JPEG in the standard windows viewer.

Thanks Nick