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Author Topic: Hatrack Help: Photoshop on a Mac
pfresh85
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I've been running both Photoshop Elements and Photoshop CS on my iMac for quite a while. Up until recently, it had worked fine. The last week or so though, I cannot open images in either of them. Both give me a nondescript error message: "The image could not be opened due to a program error." No error number, no details, just some vague "program error." I thought maybe this was a result of the new OS update to 10.4.7, but no one else seems to be reporting a similar problem.

Here's a list of things I've tried so far: reinstalling both Photoshop Elements and Photoshop CS, redoing the 10.4.7 update, repairing my permissions. Any other ideas for what I could try to do? I'm feeling a little bit lost and rather frustrated at this point.

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human_2.0
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You reinstalled CS and it still doesn't work? Are you using CS2?

You could try deleting any preferences in ~/Library/Preferences that have photoshop in the name.

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pfresh85
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I reinstalled CS and it still doesn't work. I'm using CS, not CS2.

I'll try the deleting preferences thing and see if it helps any.

EDIT: Nope, no help there. I still can't open anything in either program.

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fugu13
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How did you redo the 10.4.7 update?

I would delete all preference files, application support files ( check /Library/Application Support and ~/Library/Application Support), and application files, then reinstall. Reinstall first Photoshop, and see if that works, then if it doesn't uninstall it all and reinstall Elements, and see if that works. Only if one works try reinstalling the other after (little point, otherwise).

Try turning back your date, too, it may be a license-related issue, and if they work after that might narrow things in.

It could still be 10.4.7 related, though that would be odd. Oh, we should look in the logs, too. Are you familiar with how to use Console.app?

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pfresh85
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I was googling and found someone suggesting that you reinstall 10.4.7 from a .dmg file off the Apple site. I downloaded the 10.4.7 .dmg file, loaded it, and reinstalled 10.4.7.

I'll try reinstalling Photoshop CS. I can't mess with Photoshop Elements at the moment as the disc is at my apartment (while I'm still at home at the moment).

The only reason I think it might be 10.4.7 related is because I didn't have these problems prior to the 10.4.7 update. I'm not familiar with using Console.app though, unfortunately.

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fugu13
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This should take you through the basics: http://www.informit.com/articles/article.asp?p=169576&seqNum=9&rl=1

You'd be looking for things that look anomalous in the system log, and in any photoshop-specific log.

Make sure you delete all the things in Preferences and Application Support before reinstalling.

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pfresh85
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I deleted all Adobe and Photoshop files/folders in Preferences and Application Support (both at the user level and at the global level). I then uninstalled and reinstalled Photoshop CS. Still no luck. Any image file I try to open gives me the vague error message.

I'm beginning to contemplate whether I should just do an Archive and Install of 10.4 (maybe uninstalling Photoshop and Elements before I do it). The only thing I dread about that is backing up stuff that I'm extra worried about losing. That would take several hours of DVD burning to do.

EDIT: Not only can't I open any files, I cannot create any new files in Photoshop either. I get a similar vague error message when trying to create a new file. Blah.

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fugu13
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Is what you posted above the exact error message? Its not giving me any google results. Also, did you try turning back the date?
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pfresh85
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Here's the exact error messages:

Attempting to open a file: "Could not complete your request because of a program error."

Attempting to create a new file: "Could not create a new document because of a program error."

I haven't tried turning back the date, but I don't know why it would fix anything (particularly in the case of Photoshop Elements, since the copy is a few years old).

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fugu13
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You never know, its just one more thing to rule out.

Also, the log output might be very helpful, see if you can navigate the logs and then send the chunks around the timestamps where you try to open and save a file to my email.

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pfresh85
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Okay, I tried the turning the date back thing, and that didn't do anything. It pulled the same error message. I did make sure to turn the date back to a period when I know the program was working. So yeah no luck there.

I'll try and navigate the logs. I'll send you anything I can find.

EDIT: I sent you an e-mail with the log information that I could get. It's sort of odd though.

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human_2.0
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You know what I always do when debugging apps is open Terminal and run this command:

sudo fs_usage | grep Photoshop

You have to be admin user and enter your password to do it. It will print out a lot of info that Photoshop tries to do. There will be a lot of info. To stop it, press cntl-c.

Another thing to try is to quit Photoshop, then this:

sudo ktrace /Applications/path/to/Photoshop.app/Contents/MacOS/Phot

You want to press the tab key after "Phot" and if it autocompletes, you entered the path correctly. If not, you have to fix the path. I have no idea what CS1's path is so I can't tell you in advance. Hopefully CS1 doesn't detect kernel tracing because CS2 does and wont let that work. Anyway, after it startsup, then do what you need to to get the error. Then go to Terminal and press control-c again to cancel. Then type "kdump". Lots of info. You would want to send it to someone who knows a bit of programming. You can email me if you want. I've debugged Photoshop before this way.

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pfresh85
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The first command does nothing for me. The cursor turns into a gray block and it just sits there. I can type more stuff in, but it doesn't do anything.

The second command I'm not sure what path I am supposed to be typing. I tried the one you suggested (hitting tab after Phot), but it didn't do anything either (other than give me the sort of "no" sound). Since I didn't know exactly what path I was supposed to be using, I had no clue what to type.

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pfresh85
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I finally got it to work! Hooray!

I was getting really frustrated, so I started digging through Google with my exact error message and my specs. I stumbled across an Adobe document addressing problems. It offered me a list of solutions (two of which I tried before restarting Photoshop Elements): first, deleting any printers you have (this may have been what caused the problem as I recently tried to add my parents' printer across the network and it never really worked, although I never figured this would mess up Photosho) and second I followed this bit of advice:

Solution 2: Re-create your preferences files.

1. Hold Command+Option+Shift when you start Photoshop.

2. Click Yes to the message, "Delete the Adobe Photoshop Settings file?"

Somehow between those two, Photoshop CS and Photoshop Elements work once again. I can finally edit pictures again. Hooray.

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human_2.0
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Yeah!
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