Program for viewing photos and RAWs

[Overread]

Ok windows picture viewer has failed for the last time. Not only does it take an age to fully load a RAW file (it loads and is sharp, but keeps the loading sign for ages) but now it won't let me see a RAW file which is not in my photos section of my documents. It has this little photo selection system all of its own when you open a RAW it first opens this window where you have to select the RAW again (??) before you can view it in full -- but this new exporing window won't show any photos outside of the My Photos folder - even if you put a shortcut to the photos folder in there.

So long story short I need a new bit of software (preferably freeware) which will allow me to look at RAWs and pictures anywhere!