Photoshop hangs during simple operations

BJ
Posted By
Brian_j_Gutierrez
Jul 21, 2007
Views
367
Replies
8
Status
Closed
I recently upgraded to XP x64 so that i could use more ram in After Effects.

Since i made this change photoshop has been the program that suffered. The program hangs during simple operations, and becomes nonoperational with large PSD’s and anything that requires some horsepower…for that matter.

I’m running:
XP x64
Dual-Dual core AMD Opteron 270’s
3gb ram
RAID O
and my 3 scratch disks is are nearly empty 250gb, and doesn’t include system drive Nvidia Quadro FX 4500
I also have about 11000 fonts installed
Tyan K8WE (s2895) Motherboard

i’ve spent a mint getting this thing together. After Effects is crazy fast, renders are just as slow as before. Premiere gets better gas milage on large projects.

Has anyone been through this and have they fixed it? Please don’t give me a douche answer like "x64 not supported", because although it isn’t, lots run it just fine.
Related Tags
hang operation simple

MacBook Pro 16” Mockups 🔥

– in 4 materials (clay versions included)

– 12 scenes

– 48 MacBook Pro 16″ mockups

– 6000 x 4500 px

MS
Michael_Stetson
Jul 21, 2007
I’m running XP x32 but I get the same problem in Photoshop CS3 extended. If I have multiple files open, the app just hangs and I get corrupted menus all over the screen. Even though I’m on XP32, I use the /3Gb switch to use more than 2 Gb of ram. I wonder if PS CS3 is having problems with more than 2gigs? CS2 works no problem. This problem is unacceptable.
CC
Christopher_Carvalho
Jul 21, 2007
Brian,

I have a similar configuration to yours, but I’m running XP Professional. I’ve seen the same issues in Photoshop CS2. I have had some relief, but I still suspect a race condition and an unhandled exit somewhere in Photoshop’s multiprocessing code. Be sure you install the latest multiprocessor plug-in from Adobe, also apply all fixes to XP64 from the Microsoft Knowledgebase related to multiprocessing on AMD processors. You will also need to update the AMD processor driver to the latest version. Call Adobe support and report the problem to them. Maybe if they hear from more than one person they’ll start to look into the cause more than they did with me. Direct them to my reply here if they doubt you. They have my phone number and email address and I’d be happy to talk to them more if they express interest in running a debug version or a test fix.

The one operation that seems to be the most likely to hang (the race condition) is to open a large 16-bit image (greater than 100 MB in size) and then run a filter such as Unsharp Mask, Median, or Maximum on an alpha channel. When I rapidly alter the Radius setting with the preview enabled, I can often get Photoshop to go out into the weeds. XP is still running OK. In some cases, the application simply quits with no error message and nothing in the event log. This is a clear indication of an unhandled exit somewhere in the code, a very elementary programming error.

Adobe needs to scrub their code with a fine-tooth comb and find out where this exit is happening, and remedy the problem. If the problem were in the OS or a driver, there would be an error event recorded and there aren’t any.

I’ve gone so far as to run Photoshop with a log file enabled, and when these things happen there is no log entry that Photoshop quit. So the normal code for quitting the application never runs.

Note to Adobe: There is no way I’d spend money for CS3 when I paid for CS2 and a rudimentary programming error is causing me lost work, time, and money. If they’d fix this problem, upgrading would be something I’d consider but not until I know I won’t see the same problems all over again.
BJ
Brian_j_Gutierrez
Jul 21, 2007
I’m going to try the updates for 64-bit processors. i’m apprehensive to alter anything because i’ve gotten After effects to work with out problems. I don’t want to throw a wrench into anything that’s working. But this sounds like i might get some fix.
BJ
Brian_j_Gutierrez
Jul 21, 2007
I forgot to mention that i’m using PS CS2 from the Production Studio Premium. i don’t know why i left this out.
BJ
Brian_j_Gutierrez
Jul 21, 2007
at this point i’m turning into a post w h o r e but i can’t find the multiprocessor update.

is this something i have to let the update manager do? or is it something i can do on my own?
CC
Christopher_Carvalho
Jul 21, 2007
For Adobe updates, go to:
< http://www.adobe.com/support/downloads/product.jsp?product=3 9&platform=Windows>

Get Photoshop 9.0.2 if you don’t have it. The Multiprocessor update is on the list under CS2, titled "Multiprocessor Support for Adobe Photoshop CS2 for Windows"
Note that these did not make the problems go away. They only reduced the frequency, and not by very much.

Interesting that you have nearly the same configuration; I’ll bet this platform wasn’t tested very well by Adobe. I too am frustrated that this very fast system isn’t compatible with CS2, when it runs great with everything else I have. Do call support and report the issue. They did not charge me for the call.
FD
frank_darrington
Jul 28, 2007
This problem seems to begin with CS. I have an AMD 64×2 5000+ with 2 gb ram. CS will slow to a crawl as I work with typical brushes such as erase, clone, etc., while the machine is trying to catch up writing virtual ram. Some filters, like texture, experience a ‘not enough ram’ error.
However, if I launch PS7, everything is perfect and FAST. I can’t find a file large enough or work a bush fast enough to slow the machine down.
I was going to upgrade to CS3. But not if Adobe can’t get this fixed. What would be the point of going to CS3 when PS7 is better? Or I have to get my old computer back.
CC
Christopher_Carvalho
Jul 30, 2007
Frank,

Please call Adobe Support and report the problem also. If they hear from enough AMD owners, they may look into the multiprocessing code and fix the issue. I believe Adobe still doesn’t get it that Intel and AMD have vastly different multiprocessing architectures, and the code needs to be tailored to each processor family in order to get it to work right. I too won’t upgrade to CS3 until my CS2 copy is working properly. Make sure the support tech hears that message.

Must-have mockup pack for every graphic designer 🔥🔥🔥

Easy-to-use drag-n-drop Photoshop scene creator with more than 2800 items.

Related Discussion Topics

Nice and short text about related topics in discussion sections