"Photoshop not responding"

Score another one for Google. In the middle of posting this morning, we clicked on the desktop Photoshop icon as usual, and nothing happened. Uninstalled, rebooted, reinstalled, rebooted, and still nothing happened. Adobe.com didn't have the answer, so we took a deep breath and dialed their 800 number:

Tech support did their best, but it wasn't quite good enough. After many minutes of tapping our fingers while automated lists of options ran their course and rolling our eyes as bland interludes of Musak filled the on-hold interstices, a perfectly pleasant young man finally picked up on the other end. He walked us through a series of possible solutions, and finally we were able to open Photoshop, but not as Sissy Willis. We had to create a new, fictional user and open it under that guise. A workaround kind of solution, not an elegant one. Total cost, not to mention the sense of powerlessness: $39.

Then we did what we should have done in the first place: Opened Google and typed in "Photoshop not responding." Clicked on a likely website -- a kind of forum where a voice in the wilderness types in her computer problem, and geeks write back with likely solutions. A Canadian geek calling himself *manyk at something called deviantART had the answer:

What I would suggest is deleting your Photoshop Preferences file. Then relaunch Photoshop so it can remake it. It MAY be corrupted. The files should be in "Documents and settings/user/application data/adobe/photoshop 7" folder. This is typically hidden, so you may have to enable hidden folders if you don't have it so now.

Total cost, not to mention the sense of empowerment at finding the answer ourselves: $.00.

Comments

[Elle]

Photoshop was responding but taking minutes to respond to each click/task - I re-installed - the problem was still evident. - so...... like many before me - I googled "Photoshop not responding" and found your solution 1st time - Thanks a million! - you saved me a lotta time and heartache!

[sssss]

OK
I DONT GET IT

[Joss]

Argh i cant find the file, theres no settings folder, where will it be?

[Joss]

I cant find the file ahhh, any help?

[Sissy Willis]

Joss . . .

I haven't used Windows for years . . . am on a Mac now . . . Can't remember how I fixed Photoshop other than what was included in the blogpost at the time.

I understand your frustration and suggest perhaps contacting someone at Photoshop.com.

There must be a way to fix it.

Best of luck to you.

[Frank Moore]

Once again google comes through. I like so many others on this thread spent hours trying to find our why photoshop had come performance challenged. A quick Google search and now photoshop is smoking again. I seem to remember having this problem a couple of years ago and I think it took a Google search to fix it that time also.

[CherylM]

thanks! what a great help!

[joe]

I'm having the exact same problem, but when i press ctrl/shift/alt nothing happens, And also the folder you suggest to delete is nowhere to be seen?? its so frustrating

[natia]

OMG! I love youuu!!! finaly my photoshop is working! Thanks sooo much!!!!

[izzie]

Superb Thank you so much. I'd already reinstalled from fresh twice and was still stuck on the dropper tool, with almost all menu items ghosted out and total lack of response. This was a longshot and worked like a dream.

[desperate]

My photoshop does not work either, Im a little slow with computers... so exactly how do I get to the "Documents and settings/user/application data/adobe/photoshop 7" folder." part I tried looking for it but I just dont seem to find it where would I be able to access this??

[Sissy Willis]

I can't remember exactly. That was awhile ago,and I've been using iMacs of late, but I think you'll find the file in one of the drop-down menus along the top of your window. If you can, ask a computer-knowledgeable friend to give you a hand. Good luck!

[Grahmanf4]

I myself have had the same problem recur twice, and each time I just googled in "Photoshop not responding" and found my own invaluable post at the top of the list http://www.hotfilemediafire.com

[M]

Photoshop not responding- simpler way to change preferences

Hi Sissy Willis,
Thanks for the useful info- it led me to a simpler way.
Based on the instructions I "searched" for .psp files (including hidden files) and found all the Photoshop preference files for the various users of the computer. I clicked on each "Adobe Photoshop CS3 Prefs.psp" file in the "Search" window and it launched photoshopCS3. It cribbed and showed a box saying "wrong file type" which I simply closed. The program remained open and after that I can open any file.
Works for me!
M

[Alison]

Woo hoo, Thank you!

[Rawan]

OMG ... many many many thxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx ,,,,

[Sissy Willis]

lol. Glad to have been of assistance!