I use the FastPictureViewer codec (all of $10 to buy it) and it works great. "FPV" allows you to view virtually any RAW, TIFF, PSD and other file types that Windows normally can't handle, as thumbnails in Explorer or enlarged in Windows Picture Viewer (and possibly other built-in image viewers). I've used FPV with Canon CR2s, Nikon NEFs, Olympus and Pentax files... as well as 16 bit TIFFs, PSDs and more. It handles them all quickly and easily.
Be aware that Windows is uncalibrated and you are viewing unprocessed RAW files, so what you see will look lower in contrast and somewhat desaturated.
No, it's nothing like Adobe Camera Raw, which is the powerful RAW conversion "engine" at the core of Adobe Elements, Lightroom and Photoshop (it's integral in Elements and Lightroom and a separate module in Photoshop.... this simply means that it can be updated separately with PS... but to update it in Elements and LR requires an update of the entire program). ACR allows you to make all sorts of adjustments to the image and then convert a RAW file into another file type... JPEG, TIFF or whatever.
The FPV codec is merely a convenient viewer. It doesn't provide any means of adjusting and converting RAW files. Still, it's handy to have so you don't have to open another program every time you want to locate an image.
I wasn't aware of any "trial" version of FPV. Are you sure you downloaded the right thing? There are other software on that website. You just need the codec (I'd post a link, but it would probably be deleted because links aren't permitted here).
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Alan Myers
San Jose, Calif., USA
"Walk softly and carry a big lens."
GEAR: 5DII, 7DII (x2), 7D(x2) some other cameras, various lenses & accessories
FLICKR & ZENFOLIO
