Photoshop Elements – Troubleshoot system errors or freezes in Photoshop Elements 5.0 on Windows

Photoshop Elements – Troubleshoot system errors or freezes in Photoshop Elements 5.0 on Windows

What's covered

Beginning troubleshooting

Intermediate troubleshooting

Advanced troubleshooting

This document can help you resolve system errors that occur when you use Adobe Photoshop Elements 5.0 on Windows XP. System errors can manifest themselves in many different ways, including (but not limited to) the following:

– A blank or flickering dialog box

– A frozen cursor or screen

– An error such as

"This program has performed an illegal operation and will be shut down. If the problem persists, contact the program vendor."

"Photoshop Elements caused a General Protection Fault in module [filename] ."

"Photoshop Elements caused an Invalid Page Fault in module [filename] ."

"Application Error."

"Unhandled exception detected. Application will be terminated."

"Illegal Instruction."

"Segment load failure in [filename] ."

"Unable to initialize Photoshop Elements because of a program error."

"Windows encountered a handling violation, no entry point found."

Different factors can cause system errors, including conflicts among device drivers, software, and hardware, and corrupt elements in specific files. Although a system error may occur only when you work with Photoshop Elements, Photoshop Elements may not necessarily be the cause–it may be the only application that is memory- or processor-intensive enough to expose the problem.

To get the most from this document, perform the tasks in order. Keep track of the tasks you perform and the results of each, including errors or other problems. Adobe Technical Support can use this information to better assist you, should you need to call.

Note: The procedures in this document are based on the default interface of Windows XP. If the interface has been customized, some procedures may vary.

Beginning troubleshooting

The tasks in this section can help you resolve the most common system errors. Before performing any of these tasks, back up all personal files (for example, Photoshop Elements files you created). Always restart the computer after a system error occurs to refresh its memory. If you continue to work without restarting the computer, then you may compound the problem.

Note: Some of these tasks require you to locate hidden files, and files by their full filenames, which include extensions (for example, filename.ini). By default, Windows Explorer hides hidden files, and filename extensions it recognizes.

To display all filename extensions in Windows Explorer:

1. Start Windows Explorer.

2. Choose Tools > Folder Options.

3. Click the View tab in the Folder Options dialog box.

4. Select Show Hidden Files And Folders.

5. Deselect Hide Extensions For Known File Types, and then click OK.

1. Make sure that the system meets the minimum requirements for Photoshop Elements.

Photoshop Elements may not run correctly if the system doesn't meet the following requirements:

– Intel Celeron, or Pentium 4 processor (or compatible) 1.3GHz or faster processor (dual-core processors and those with Hyper-Threading Technology supported)

– Windows XP Professional, Home Edition or Media Center Edition with Service Pack 2

– 256 MB of RAM (512 MB recommended)

– 1.5GB of available hard-disk space

– Color monitor with 16-bit color or greater video card

– 1024768 or greater monitor resolution

– Microsoft DirectX 9 compatible display driver

– CD-ROM drive (CD burner required to create VCDs)

To check how much RAM is installed, choose Start > Control Panel, and double-click System. The amount of RAM appears on the lower half of the General panel in the System Properties window.

2. Install the latest Windows updates.

Updates to Windows (also called Service Packs) improve its performance and compatibility with other applications. You can obtain Service Packs from the Microsoft website at www.microsoft.com . For assistance installing a Service Pack, contact Microsoft Technical Support.

If you've reinstalled an application or Windows after installing the latest Service Pack, reinstall the Service Pack. Some applications install commonly used system files, overwriting the updated versions installed by the Service Pack.

3. Re-create the Photoshop Elements preferences files and registry values.

Photoshop Elements stores information about plug-ins, features, and the application itself in its preferences files and registry values. Re-create the Photoshop Elements preferences files and registry values to eliminate problems that damaged settings files might cause.

To re-create the Photoshop Elements preferences files:

1. Exit Photoshop Elements.

2. Locate the Adobe Photoshop Elements preferences files. In Photoshop Elements 5.0, there are two preferences files, one for Organizer and one for Editor:

– Documents and Settings\[ user ]\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Organizer\psa.prf

– Documents and Settings\[ user ]\Application Data\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\Editor\Photoshop Elements 5 Prefs.psp

3. Rename the file extension (for example, to Prefspsp.old).

4. Start Photoshop Elements. Photoshop Elements creates new preferences files.

To re-create the Photoshop Elements registry values:

Disclaimer: This procedure involves editing the Windows registry. Adobe does not support editing the registry, which contains critical system and application information. Make sure to back up the registry before editing it. For more information about the registry, see the Windows documentation, or contact Microsoft.

1. Exit Photoshop Elements.

2. Choose Start > Run.

3. In the Open box, type regedit . Click OK to open the Registry Editor.

4. Navigate to the HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Adobe\Photoshop Elements\5.0\common\settings key in the left-hand pane of Registry Editor.

5. With the settings key selected in the left pane, choose File > Export, enter a filename and location, then click Save.

6. In the right-hand pane, Ctrl_click the following values: COLOR_SETTINGS, PRINT_UNITS, RESET_WARNINGS, SHOW_WELCOME, STARTUP_APP

7. Choose Edit > Delete. Click Yes in the Confirm Value Delete dialog box.

8. Go to File > Exit to close the Registry Editor.

9. Start Photoshop Elements. Photoshop Elements create new registry values.

If the problem continues, then the preferences files aren't the cause. To restore custom settings, delete the new preferences files and restore the original names of the previous preferences files. You should also restore the registry values by double-clicking on the file you saved in step 5 (above).

4. Run Photoshop Elements while no other applications run in the background.

Some applications that run in the background may cause system errors or freezes when running concurrently with Photoshop Elements. Before starting Photoshop Elements, disable other applications, including startup items (items that start automatically with Windows).

To disable startup items:

1. Quit all applications.

2. Choose Start > Run, and type msconfig in the Open box. Click OK.

3. Click the Startup tab, and click Disable All.

4. Choose any startup items that are essential for testing the problem. If you are unsure if an item is essential, don't choose it.

5. Click OK, and restart Windows.

6. Right-click items in the Notification area (called the System Tray in earlier versions of Windows) to close or disable them.

Then, try to re-create the problem:

– If the problem doesn't occur, one of the startup items conflicts with Photoshop Elements. Reenable startup items one at a time, testing each time until you determine which one conflicts with Photoshop Elements. Then contact that item's developer for an update, if available.

– If the problem recurs, startup items aren't the cause and you can reenable them:

a. Choose Start > Run, and type msconfig in the Open box. Click OK.

b. Click the Startup tab, and click Enable All.

c. Click OK, and restart Windows.

5. Set a PostScript printer as the default.

To determine if the printer driver for the current default printer conflicts with Photoshop Elements, install a printer that uses a PostScript printer driver, and then set that printer as the default. (In Windows, you can install a printer that isn't a physical piece of hardware, called a virtual or a ghost printer.) If the problem doesn't recur, the printer driver that you were using previously conflicts with Photoshop Elements; contact the printer manufacturer for an updated driver.

To install a printer that uses a PostScript printer driver:

1. Download the installer for the Adobe PostScript printer driver (AdobePS) from the following website at www.adobe.com/support/downloads/pdrvwin.htm

2. Double-click the installer file, and then follow the on-screen instructions.

To set a printer as the default:

1. Choose Start > Printers and Faxes.

2. Right-click the printer, and then choose Set as Default Printer from the pop-up menu.

6. Troubleshoot third-party plug-ins.

Remove third-party plug-ins from the Photoshop Elements plug-ins folder, and then restart Photoshop Elements. If the problem recurs, move the plug-ins back to the Photoshop Elements plug-ins folder, and proceed to the next section of this document, "Intermediate troubleshooting." If the problem doesn't recur, identify and address conflicting plug-ins.

To identify and address conflicting plug-ins:

1. Move one third-party plug-in back to the Photoshop Elements plug-ins folder.

2. Restart Photoshop Elements and try to re-create the problem:

– If the problem doesn't occur, repeat steps 1-2.

– If the problem recurs, contact the developer of the plug-in you last moved to inquire about an update.