problem with opening image files 1

[tripleshine]

i am having trouble opening images that i have either created with ps or manipulated. these files are psd bmp jpg and gif formats. i can open the ones i have created recently and thats it. it is now causing me some concern as i need access to these now and im at my wits end i have tried reinstalling the software after setting a restore point on my xp unit and after backing up all my image folders on the 98 unit. this didnt effect the new recent images, i can still open them, but i still have no access to the rest. i am wandering would it have any effect if i tried dual booting the biggest unit i have with both operating systems and buy the cs version of photoshop again this is not what i need buying software or taking my three units offline at the same time right now its not an option. i am very frustrated with this as i have never encountered anything like this before with photoshop and imageready. can anyone help me please.

 

[mscallisto]

You can try deleting your preferences file.

Start PS then immediately hit CTRL + Alt + Shift.
If PS loads you will need to exit out and try again.

You most likely will have to try this a few times as you only have a few seconds to hit the Ctrl Alt Shift keys.

Answer the question to delete the preferences file YES

 

[tripleshine]

thanks mscallisto i will try that now and come back to you in a bit to let you know how i got on cheers tripleshine

 

[jmgalvin]

First of all, try opening some of them in any program placing them in a web doc or something like Word - just to make sure they're ok. Also make sure you don't have 2 versions of PS. If you do, the old ones will be looking for the old PS. Then try setting PS Cs as the default opeing app for .bmp. .jpg, etc. See it that helps.

You might try using the Open command in PS rather than clicking as a second check. If that works at all Save As and see if the pic then opens automatically in PS.

If you want to reinstall you might consider a few things: Run the Uninstaller for Photoshop - all versions. One of the problems with apps - on any platform - is the the preferences get corrupted. Often the reinstall does not wipe the old prefs and you're left with the same problems after the reinstall. I'm hoping that Uninstall will wipe the prefs, but I don't know. I use a mac (had a Win 98 machine too but it died) so I can't tell you whre to locate the PS prefs folder on your machine. If you can find it, you can trash it.

Lastly, make sure that antivirus software is turned off when you reinstall. No program should ever be installed with AV enabled as the AV might look at a part of the inastall as a virus and screw up the install. You also might not set a restore point as bad PS files might preceed that setting.

 

[tripleshine]

firstly i have tried deleting the preferences on both photoshop and image ready this is what happened photoshop on the 98 it asked if i wanted to delete the settings file which i tried. when i opened a choice of images i know i cant open i received this error message "cannot open "c:\blah blah\ backdrop1 .gif" because file format cannot parse the file"
image asked if i wanted to delete the preference file so i did again i tried opening certain images and received this message cannot open because of an unknown error

so thanks MSC and to jmgalvin i will check the versions and i have tired using the open command i will try the other suggestions next i think i should mention that i am using photoshop 7 on both units and not cs yet as i havent got that one yet it was as an option i may have to consider for the big unit with a dual booting system. would there be a problem having the same version on both a fat32 and an ntfs partition where the ntfs would be able to see the complete drive but 98 would be restricted to its partition. what if i used the same product key on both to see if this would help and would there be a great difference because of the age difference (they both use the same direct x the same I.explorer and share the same mdac version plus i havent installed service pack 2 onto the xp unit ) helllp

 

[jmgalvin]

The problem with having 2 versions of an app on the same drive/os is that the prefs gets fouled up once you use one version than the other. You really don't need 2 versions of any app - just the most recent that you created work in so you can open those files with any version specific effects.

You did not say, or I missed it, if you tried placing any of the pics into something like a web design program - just to make sure that they did not get corrupted.

A lot of the stuff you're talking about is sort of "computereze" and probably not best ansered on a Photoshop forum. You might try one of the Windows forums for that stuff. Personally, I follow the KISS system: 1 plain machine with a couple of hard drives for storage, an outboard drive for file backup, a older desktop as a backup machine in case of a hardware failure adna notebook for when i need it (rarely).

Again, prefs cause the most headaches and if you can ditch ALL ps prefs and reinstall, things should get better.

 

[tripleshine]

ok i am gonna reinstall i think that sounds the best route that is after i try installing them into the index file on a page iam doing at the mo ill ref them and see if ican view them in IE. i think what you have told me is excellent i dont like dual booting but i do like different choices and different methods that these two O/S offer i must admit i feel more comfortable with the 98 unit as it has never let me down and didnt seem half as unsecure as xp i wonder what longhorn will be like if i havent moved over to linux by then is there a distro for linux type O/S
thanks again ill post later and let you know how things went or didnt cheers triple shine