Constant Photoshop Preference File corruption

[MoltresRider]

I am getting quite frequently where Photoshop will freeze when "reading preferences" and will do this every time until I go into the app data and manually delete all files with prefs or preferences in the name. Various websites say that the preferences file is corrupt. After deleting the file, Photoshop now opens smoothly, but I only get maybe 3 or 4, 5 if I am lucky, opens before Photoshop freezes up on 'Reading Preferences' again. I delete the preferences files again, but the same thing occurs after 3 or so opens. repeat repeat repeat to infinity and beyond. All hard drive tests pass with flying colors, including Seatools long test and it is only Photoshop preferences, nothing else on my computer is even phased.

Does anybody know what is going on with the Photoshop preferences files?

 

[Tom Mann]

Have you also run a test of your RAM? BTW, how much RAM do u have?

What about the size of PS's scratch file? If it's on a different drive / partition, have you tested that drive?

Have you checked that your video card is supported by the version of PS that you are using?

Are you running a legal copy of PS, i.e. one NOT, shall we say, "gotten on the Internet"?

Have you done a thorough scan of your system for viruses and other malware?

Have you checked bus voltages for droop under heavy CPU load? (I.e., is your Power Supply marginal, or about to die?)

Have you re-installed PS from scratch? Have you re-installed your OS, and then re-installed PS?

Tom M

 

[MoltresRider]

4 GB Ram, can be upgraded to 8. The computer is a Dell Optiplex 780. Video is Intel Q45/Q43 Chipset. Where can I find the scratch files? I am in the process of buying a new HD just for scratch files. The voltage and everything should be fine, it came with the computer. AVG Internet Security scans my computer every startup and normally doesn't find anything in the way of viruses, a tracking cookie here and there, but in the life of the computer, maybe one detection and a few false positives. No, I have not reinstalled PS. and it is the Photoshop from Adobe's website, just have it blocked with my Firewall to disable license check.

 

[gedstar]

just have it blocked with my Firewall to disable license check.

And why would you need to do that?

 

[Tom Mann]

4 GB Ram, can be upgraded to 8. ...

I don't know what OS and what version of PS you are using, but as soon as my computer wakes up, it immediately uses 4.35 G out of the 64 Gig of RAM I have installed. If I fire up PS (with no image loaded), AI, a browser and a few other utilities, my RAM usage goes up by at least another 2 Gig. The minimum RAM requirements for the newer versions of PS is 2 Gig (and they recommend 8 Gig), so if your setup is anything like mine, having only 4 Gig of RAM, you're probably right at the hairy edge of not having enough RAM, then when PS is in the middle of loading, it runs out. Also, you didn't answer my question about whether you tested the RAM that you do have. Also, by any chance might you still be running a 32 bit OS? If so, upgrade.

The computer is a Dell Optiplex 780. Video is Intel Q45/Q43 Chipset. Where can I find the scratch files? ...

re: scratch files: http://bfy.tw/6xNN .

Also, YOU (not me) need to go through the trivial amount of effort it takes to check for compatibility between your video system and the version of PS that you are running. At the very minimum, have you updated your video drivers?

I am in the process of buying a new HD just for scratch files. ...

That's a nice idea, but if it were me, I would first check everything that I mentioned, NEXT spend money to get more RAM, and only then purchase another HD.

The voltage and everything should be fine, it came with the computer. ...

That's not true if something has gone wrong in your system since you bought it. Just go measure the voltage. It will take you a few minutes to do and cost you nothing: http://bfy.tw/6xNT Doing so may eliminate one more of the many possible sources of problems.

AVG Internet Security scans my computer every startup and normally doesn't find anything in the way of viruses, a tracking cookie here and there, but in the life of the computer, maybe one detection and a few false positives. ...

Good!

No, I have not reinstalled PS. and it is the Photoshop from Adobe's website, just have it blocked with my Firewall to disable license check.

Given your low RAM situation and the many other possible causes for the problem, including the simple fact that your computer is a bare-bones entry level system, probably never intended to work with serious programs like PS, I would strongly suggest that you first work on each of the things that I mentioned above (including getting more RAM, updating video drivers, etc. etc.), and only then, reinstall PS.

Good luck.

Tom M

PS - Just thought of another couple of maintenance issues. If you haven't cleaned your registry lately, download the free version of CCleaner and do so, or, even better, just start from scratch by formatting your HD, and reinstalling your OS and PS. If you haven't run chkdsk c: /F lately, do so to make sure your HD isn't developing problems.

PPS - Haven't we already been through this a couple of months ago?

 

[MoltresRider]

On another system. That was a laptop. This is a Desktop. KVCC (my college) says that it can run Photoshop. It has the same specs as the computers that run Photoshop at the college when I bought it from their eBay page.

 

[MoltresRider]

I'm wondering if my constant turning fonts on and off in Suitcase Fusion 6 is screwing something up in Photoshop. Also, I thought I'd give Photoshop 2015.5 a whirl. I thought that it was kinda weird that it made an entire new install directory rather than just updating my old 2015.2 installation and did not preserve any of my additions such as brushes, styles, etc. I manually moved the .psp files over. 2015.5 runs more smoothly imo.